My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE N. SMITH, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of Center township, Buffalo county, was born at Goffstown, N. H., October 30, 1843. His father, William Smith, was born at New Boston, N. H., in 1802. The senior Smith was married, in 1826, to Susan Eastman, by whom he had five children, namely — Richard (deceased), Esther (deceased), Esther Ann, Thomas and William. His second marriage was in 1835, to Betsy Rowell, who bore him eight children — George W. (deceased), David R. (deceased), George N., Esther A., Erastus K. (deceased), Reuben G., Susan A. (deceased), Isaac (deceased). Mrs. Smith died April 6, 1859, a devoted christian woman and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. William Smith’s third marriage was in 1861, to Mary Hook. Thomas Smith, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of New Hampshire. He was the father of thirteen children and a man of prominence and influence, especially in church affairs, being a Presbyterian deacon for forty years. The maternal grandfather, Rowell, was also a native of New Hampshire.

George N. Smith enlisted August 17, 1864, at the age of twenty, in the First New Hampshire heavy artillery, and served one year. He cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln while in the field. Soon after returning from the war he met and married, August 25, 1866, Elizabeth Dunbar. He then engaged in the hotel business at Woodstock, Vt., but was not pleased with hotel life, and after an experience of two years he returned to the old homestead in New Hampshire, where he remained one year. He emigrated to Gibbon, Buffalo county, Nebr., in October, 1871, and on November 3d of the same year he took up a homestead in Center township. There were only three or four families then in that township and the surrounding country looked wild and desolate. In exactly ten days from the time he settled on his claim, there was a terrible blizzard, which lasted three days, during which time there was great suffering and some loss of life, and considerable stock perished for want of food and shelter. The following winter was a noted one for the large snow-fall and intense cold weather. He built a sod house and in the spring of 1872 was joined by his wife and family. When he arrived at Gibbon seventy-three cents was all the money he had, and it was two years before he had any stock of his own. The country was full of Indians, who hunted and trapped along the Platte and Wood rivers. In the summer of 1873 he raised his first crop — seven and a half bushels of wheat. During this year a great many settlers came in, and by fall the population of the county had increased quite materially. The three following years the crops were almost entirely destroyed by the grasshoppers, and it was not until the year 1877 that a fair crop was harvested. During these discouraging times Mr. Smith was in destitute circumstances financially and was compelled to live within his means. He made hominy and ground corn in his coffee mill. He had no flour and no money to get any. The following winter he received two sacks of corn meal from the general supply store at Kearney, and never felt richer in his life. There were scores of families in a destitute condition at that time and provisions were sent in from the Eastern cities to supply the needy. He has had apparently more than his share of bad luck. In the spring of 1875 he lost seven head of horses and one thousand dollars’ worth of hogs at one time. He now owns one of the best farms in the county, on which is some valuable timber set out by his own hands. He has paid particular attention to fruit, and has some fine apple trees ready for bearing. Mrs. Smith’s father, William Dunbar, was a native of New Hampshire and a tailor by trade. Her mother was Catherine (Humphry) Dunbar, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Humphry of New Hampshire. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely — Minnie B., born in New Hampshire February 20, 1868 (wife of John Power); William (deceased), born March 18, 1870; George W., born February 24, 1872 (deceased); Grace P., born April 21, 1874; Flora A., born August 17, 1876 (deceased); Bert, born July 26, 1878; Arthur G., born August 10, 1880, and Orren, born July 10, 1882 (deceased). Mr. Smith has filled various local offices, is a member of the G. A. R., I. O. O. F., K. of L., O. U.W., Modern Woodmen of America and Farmers’ Alliance. August 30, 1890, Mr. Smith was nominated for senator from the twenty-sixth senatorial district of Nebraska, by the Farmers’ Alliance, endorsed by democrats.