GARRETT DAVID SMITH

Sacramento County

Biographies

GARRETT DAVID SMITH

GARRETT DAVID SMITH.--Born at Isleton, November 26, 1863, Garrett David Smith is the son of Hart F. and Maggie (McKever) Smith, who were early settlers in Sacramento County, and figured prominently in the development of its resources. The father was a native of Illinois, born April 16, 1832. He came to California in 1852, crossing the plains with an ox-team, and settled on Brannan Island, buying what was supposed to be a section of land, but upon being surveyed it was found to be 595 acres; this was tule land and the pioneer rancher started in reclamation work by building the first small levees with Chinese labor and wheelbarrows. Every few years these levees broke during high water and the land was flooded and laid waste; it was only in the later years of his life that the high levees were built, and even then, in 1907, after his demise, the family ranch was flooded out again. During his lifetime Hart F. Smith took an active and helpful part in public affairs, always interested in the welfare and advancement of the county, and he served for several years as justice of the peace, and was known throughout the locality as Judge Smith. A member of the Masonic fraternity, he was buried with the rites of that order at his death, which occurred October 3, 1902. His good wife died aged sixty-two; she was born in Ireland, March 25, 1843, and had come to the state a little later then he, and they were married in California August 4, 1860.

Garrett D. Smith was the second child in a family of ten children born to these worthy pioneers, and received his education at the grammar school of Isleton district, supplementing his studies with a course at Clark's business college in Stockton. After finishing his schooling he worked with his father until the age of twenty-two, and then started on his own way in life, working for the next four years at the carpenter trade and part of the time as engineer, running and installing pumps in the Delta country. He then went to ranching, and cultivated a sixty-acre ranch on Grand Island, a part of the ranch known as the John Kennedy place; he later fell heir to this acreage and his efforts have brought it to a high state of cultivation, one-third of it being in fruit and the balance in asparagus and vegetables. In 1916 the home he had built on the ranch was burned to the ground, and he erected the new family residence. Mr. Smith owns a ranch of 132 acres on Brannan Island, a part of the old Hart F. Smith ranch, which he devotes to growing asparagus and beans. He is a member of the California Asparagus Growers' Association and the California Canning Peach Association. In 1913 Mr. Smith purchased a residence at San Mateo, where he made his home for several years until he returned to again manage his ranch.

On February 2, 1886, at San Francisco, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Mrs. Marie Louise (Anson) Garrett who was born at Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Patrick F. and Anna (McCrow) Anson. Patrick F. Anson was a captain in the 35th Iowa Regiment, Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War. After the war he came to San Francisco, where he was a business man. Mrs. Anson was a literary woman, contributing articles to the local press and magazines. Mrs. Smith was the eldest of seven children. She came to California when three years old with her parents and received her education at Notre Dame Convent, in San Francisco. Mr. Smith was bereaved of his affectionate wife January 15, 1922, when she passed away mourned by her family and friends. She had taken part in civic and social life in Grand Island and vicinity, and was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. Three children had come to Mr. and Mrs. Smith; Vida C., who was educated at Mt. St. Gertrude's Academy, Rio Vista, presides competently over her father's home. Warren A. was attending Rio Vista high school when, at seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the World War, serving in the 1st air craft battalion. He was sent overseas, and served thirteen months abroad, rising to the rank of first sergeant. Returning to California, he was honorably discharged as the youngest man in his company. He then took a course at White's Preparatory School in Berkeley and is now surveying in Washington. He married Bernice Holman and they have one son, Garrett E. Hart F., who is a graduate of Rio Vista high, married Mabel Peterson and is ranching at Isleton. By her first marriage Mrs. Smith had one daughter, Charlotte M., also educated at Mt. St. Gertrude's Academy. She is now Mrs. Lynch of San Francisco and had seven children, six of whom are living; E. Walter; Philip G.; Camelia; Donald D.; Jack R.; Barbara I.; and G. Russell, deceased.

Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 817. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.