Nevada Genealogy Trails Elko County George J. Smith Biography

GEORGE J. SMITH, who is one of the successful mining men of Nevada, had the foresight to recognize the possibilities of the great west, and, coming to this section of the country, has taken an active part in the development of its natural resources. Nature has been bountiful in her gifts to all portions of this great country. There are the forests of Maine and of Wisconsin, the great agricultural states of the Mississippi valley and the coal fields of other sections and the mining interests of the west. Mr. Smith has so directed his efforts as to improve the advantages that nature has offered, and in his mining operations has met with gratifying success.

He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1858, his parents being Thomas and Margaret (McElroy) Smith, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former having been born in county Cavan. while the latter's birth occurred in county Tyrone. James Smith, one of the signers of the declaration of independence, was of the same ancestry. Thomas Smith was a resident of Dublin. Ireland, and in the year 1835 he crossed the Atlantic to America, establishing his home in Vermont. His occupation was that of dyeing silks and fine dress goods, and after living in the Green Mountain state for a time he removed to Concord, New Hampshire. While a resident of that city he joined the army under General Pierce for service in the Mexican war. Following the close of hostilities with the southern republic, he settled in Philadelphia, and for thirty-five years did an extensive business as a dyer of silks, satins and other fine goods. Late in life he removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where his last days were passed. his death occurring in 1872. when he was sixty-seven years of age. Thomas Smith was twice married, his first wife beiug Miss Margaret Davis, a native of England. There were twelve children by the first wife, and of the second marriage there were fourteen children, so that the family numbered twenty-six in all. Seven of the number yet survive, two being residents of Reno, namely: George J. Smith, and Walter J. Smith, who is also a mining man.

In taking up the personal history of George J. Smith we present to our readers the record of one who has become widely known in the west. He was educated in Natrona, about twenty-four miles distant from Pittsburg. When his father died he was but fourteen years of age, ami soon afterward he began to earn his own living by learning the tinsmith's trade. In following that pursuit he not only provided for his own wants, but also aided in the support of his mother. Attracted by the development and business opportunities of the great western district, he came to Nevada in 1878 and here began mining for wages, following that pursuit in Tuscarora, Elko county. He worked in the Grand Prize, out of which many millions of dollars were taken, and through practical experience he became an expert miner and a splendid judge of the quality of ore. He also went to Tombstone. Arizona, and after working in the mines there for a time he engaged in prospecting for four months in Mexico. On the expiration of that period he returned north-ward, making his way to San Francisco by way of Los Angeles and thence to Tuscarora, where he engaged in prospecting. He discovered the Eyrie mine, out of which he took one hundred and eighty thousand dollars, and then sold the property to Salt Lake City and Boston capitalists for ten thousand dollars. He has since retired to Reno and established his family here in a beautiful home at the corner of Washington and Fifth streets, one of the finest residences of the city. He has not, however, lost his taste for prospecting for the yellow metal, and has discovered a number of silver and gold claims near Reno, among which are the Viola, St. Joseph. Metallic and the Seldom Seen. He is still prospecting and engaged in development work and his business interests are of an important character.

In 1891 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Nevada Burner, who was born in Elko. this state, and is a daughter of Professor J. F. Burner, a prominent representative of educational interests and of journalistic note. Mr. and Mrs. Smith now have two children: Viola, who was horn in Tuscarora; and Harold, whose birth occurred in Reno. The Smith household is the center of a cultured society circle. Mr. Smith is in his political views a Democrat, and he and his family are valued members of the Roman Catholic church. His life has been one of untiring industry, and he is still an active worker in the realms of mining development. He is to-day the same genial, courteous gentleman that he was always known to be in his earlier years, prosperity having never changed in the slightest degree his kindly nature or caused him to forget old friends.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904