Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MRS. REBECCA (CRITES) SMITH
Mrs.
Rebecca (Crites) Smith, of San Jose, was born in Athens, N.Y., a daughter of
John Crites, the latter a native of Pennsylvania, who in the very early days of
the middle west came to Wisconsin in company with
Juneau, and became a pioneer farmer of the state. He located in Walworth county on the lakes and proceeded to improve his land, at
the same time securing for each of his sons a farm in the state. He remained in
that location until his death, at the age of seventy-three years. In his
political preference he was first a Whig and afterward followed the same
principles into the Republican party. His wife,
formerly Elizabeth Geiger, was also a native of Pennsylvania, whose father
opened and owned the first iron mines in that state. The famous Miss Geiger,
spy and noted Revolutionary dispatch carrier, was a relative of this family.
Mrs. Crites died in Wisconsin at the age of sixty-four years, from the results
of a fall. Of her family of eleven children ten attained maturity. One son,
Alexander, made a trip to California in the early days, but returning east
about 1864, enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and served throughout the
remainder of the Civil war, dying a few years afterward. Of the children now
living, William Crites started for California in the fall of 1849, arriving in
the following year, and now resides in San Jose; Julia became the wife of
Alexander Fraser, who came to California in 1849. Mr. Fraser planned and built
the Negro Hill canal and later built the first ditch into the mines in Nevada county, and afterward the Yuba canal. He now resides in
Walworth county, Wis., engaged in the banking
business.
Rebecca Crites was reared in Wisconsin, in
Walworth county, and received her education in the
district school in the vicinity of her home, and the Ladies’ (sic) Seminary in
Rochester, Wis. In 1857 she came to California via the Isthmus of Panama,
having a most enjoyable trip, and went at once to Miss Atkins’ (sic) seminary
at Benicia, which is how known as Mills College, in East Oakland. In Sacramento
July 3, 1860, she was united in marriage with Francis Smith, and in 1871
removed to San Jose. For years the family lived in the old house framed in the
east and shipped around the Horn in sections. The present residence of the
family on Bascom avenue,
between San Jose and Santa Clara, was erected in 1893, and at the same time
many other improvements were added which enhanced the value of the property.
There are nearly two hundred acres in this fine property, the greater part of
which is given over to the cultivation of fruits, among which peaches and
Imperial prunes are carefully tended.
Mrs. Smith has been quite a traveler,
having traveled extensively in Europe and made many trips east via the Union
Pacific railroad, and has made four trips to Australia. A cultured and refined woman, she has gathered about her many friends who
appreciate her for her many fine qualities and the spirit of hospitality which
takes in all who seek her.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 274-277. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.