"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 563.  Malheur County.

CHARLES SMITH

     This worthy pioneer and substantial citizen of Malheur county, is deserving
of a place in any compilation that purports to give the history of this section,
since his labors have been here for many years toward the development and
progress of the country, and since he is a man of ability and has achieved a
goodly success as the reward of his labors and thrift.
     Mr. Smith was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 18, 1835, being the
son of John and Susan Smith.  At the age of eight he went with his parents to
Illinois and there remained until 1854, when he came across the plains with his
brothers, in an ox train, to Siskiyou county, California, and there engaged in
mining.  He made some good discoveries and later, 1858, went to the Cariboo
mines at the time of the Fraser river excitement, whence he returned to
Portland, then to Salem, and there followed his trade of brick mason.  In 1878
he removed to Jackson county and remained three years and then went to
Mugginsville, California, where he mined until 1880.  The next year he came to
Malheur county, and located the place where he now lives as a homestead, ten
miles northwest from Rockville, and devoted himself to farming and stock
raising.  His place is under the irrigating ditch and well improved and he has a
good band of stock.  Mr. Smith mines some, being interested in several good
properties.
     The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Mary, daughter of John and Frances
Ramsey, was solemnized in Salem, on November 9, 1865, and they have become the
parents of three children, William W., residing in Malheur county; Fannie, wife
of Mr. Ford, a stockman of Malheur county; George V.  Mrs. Smith's parents
crossed the plains in 1863, and her father died in Salem in 1875, but her mother
is still living in Malheur county.  Mrs. Smith was born on May 11, 1865.  She
has some fine relics, as gold rings and so forth, the gold of which she pounded
out of the rocks with her own hands in California.
     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.