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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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GEORGE H. W. SMITH, a well-known boot and shoe dealer and jeweller of Ware, was born in Amherst, Mass., June 15, 1860. The family was originally from England, as the name indicates. John W. Smith, great-grandfather of our subject, was one of the first settlers of Westerly, R.I., and was a man of note in his day. He had a factory in Westerly, and was the inventor of a shearing cloth. At his death he left a good property. His son, also named John W., resided in Westerly, and was a dyer by trade.

He, like his father, accumulated a good property. His death took place in Amherst about 1886, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He married Augusta M. Rathbone, of Hartland, Conn.; and they were the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, including triplets, two of the sons and a daughter being born at one birth. One of these three, a son, died in childhood. The other two are now living, one being Augusta, wife of Avery R. Cushman, of North Amherst, and the other, Frank, being a wholesale meat dealer in Providence, R.I. Mrs. Augusta M. Smith, the mother, died in North Amherst when eighty-four years old.

George W. Smith, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Enfield, Mass., about the year 1828, and learned the trade of mechanic, which he has followed most of his active life. He now lives retired on a small farm at North Amherst. He stands high in the community, and is a Master Mason. He married Cynthia Collis, who was born in 1830 in Brimfield, Mass. She was the daughter of Jonathan Collis, of Herkimer, N.Y., who died at Brimfield at the age of seventy-six. His wife, mother of Mrs. George W. Smith, was Phoebe Parker, a native of Warren, Mass. She died in Brimfield when seventy-two years old. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Smith one son and one daughter died in childhood.

George H. W. Smith was the youngest child of his parents. He was educated in the common and high schools of his native town, and began business for himself at the age of twenty years. He came to Ware, October 1, 1889, after being for some time engaged in the jewelry business in Providence, R.I. His experience as a jeweller has covered some twelve or fifteen years in all. He keeps a select stock, embracing the latest novelties in both departments of his business, and is well known as a skilled workman and a thoroughly reliable merchant. Mr. Smith was married September 23, 1889, to Jessie V. Blanchard, of Providence, R.I. Mrs. Smith’s parents are the Rev. Albert D. and Mary D. Blanchard, now residents in Salida, Col. They are the owners of a fine ranch in Missouri Park, and Mrs. Smith’s father is a Baptist minister. Mr. Smith is independent in politics, but usually votes with the Republican party. He has hitherto escaped the responsibilities of public office, and prefers to devote his attention to the management of his growing business. He and his wife are among the most respected residents of Ware.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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