San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MRS. CAROLINE M. SMYTH
A representative pioneer woman of
San Joaquin County is Mrs. Caroline M. Smyth, who, for over sixty-two years,
has borne her share in the advancement and development of the Linden section of
the county, where she still resides, honored and respected for her many
admirable traits of character. She
resides on the ranch nine miles east of Stockton to which she came as a bride
in the year 1860, and where her children were born and reared. Her husband, James H. Smyth, whose useful
life came to an end on April 19, 1885, was one of California’s Forty-niners,
and from the period of early settlement until the time of his death was
prominent in the agricultural and public life of San Joaquin County. In business he was an excellent and sagacious
manager, and in the various affairs of social and community nature he always
manifested a large degree of public spirit and showed himself capable of the
highest American citizenship.
Mrs. Smyth was born in County Derry,
Ireland, November 27, 1833. She was
reared and remained in her native land until her marriage with Mr. Smyth, which
occurred January 3, 1860, a sketch of this pioneer also appearing in this
history. Mr. and Mrs. Smyth were the
parents of eight children, six of whom are living: Mary M.; Annie E. has recently returned from
a trip to Europe, a member of the Lundy party that toured Europe, where she
spent a most enjoyable time; Carrie M.; Herbert is the manager of the home ranch;
Helen; and J. Hudson, a prominent medical practitioner of this part of
California, who has a son, J. Hudson, Jr.
The fourth child, Grace, died when four years old; and
the youngest, Samuel Edgar, at six and one half years. Mrs. Smyth’s ancestors were English who left
for Ireland during the reign of Charles I in order to enjoy religious freedom,
and for many generations the family have been Presbyterians, Mrs. Smyth being a
member of the First Presbyterian Church of Stockton. For the past thirty years, Mrs. Smyth has spent
a portion of each summer at her cottage by the sea, which is located near
Capitola. She is a highly esteemed
member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the San Joaquin Society of California
Pioneers, and in all her relations of life has proved herself worthy of the
esteem with which she is held in her locality.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
851. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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