Stanislaus
County
Biographies
MANFRED O. SMITH
When the era of California’s rapid
progress and development dawned upon her the majority of the citizens of the
rapidly growing commonwealth gave their attention to mining, and the hillsides
and river beds yielded of their rich metals, promoting individual wealth and
the general prosperity of the land. In
later years, when it was found that all could not profitably follow mining,
some of the Californians began to attempt other industrial work, and it was
found that California offered boundless advantages to the agriculturist and the
horticulturist. For many years
identified with mining interests in the state, Mr. Smith is now known as one of
the fruit growers, and from his orchards fine fruit is shipped to the various
markets of the country. He is a man of
resolute will, of strong determination and of indefatigable energy, and thus he
has worked his way upward to a place among the substantial citizens of the
community in which he is located. He
came to California in 1854 and is now living near Knight’s Ferry.
A native of the Green Mountain
state, Manfred Orlando Smith was born in the town of Waterford on the 3rd
of February, 1836. His grandfather,
David Smith, was a native of Rhode Island, and at an early date emigrated to Vermont, where Samuel Smith, Jr., the father of
our subject, was born in Waterford in 1806.
Having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Wealthy Foote, also
a native of Vermont, born in Middlebury.
In 1814 he came to California, by way of the Isthmus route, making his
way across the narrow neck of land on the back of a mule. On reaching the California coast he proceeded to Knight’s Ferry, and aided in building the first
grist-mill in the town. For some years
he engaged in mining. His wife had died
in the east leaving five children, but only two are now living, namely: Manfred O., of this review; and Mrs. Ellen
Britt, a widow who is now the proprietor of the Duncan Hotel at Santa Cruz.
Mr. Smith of this review came with
his father to California and with him was engaged in mining at Goat Hill, also
on the flat beside Knight’s Ferry. The
company turned the river and mined the entire flat. For a number of years Mr. Smith engaged in
searching for the precious metal, meeting with fair success, and then purchased
a ranch, a mile and a half west of Knight’s Ferry. He planted a portion of this in fruit and
sold it in 1863. It is now a fine fruit
ranch owned by David Emart. He then purchased the land in Knight’s Ferry,
becoming the owner of nine acres, the entire amount being utilized for fruit
raising purposes. He grows the finest
varieties of fruit of every description; his principal crops, however, being oranges,
peaches and prunes. His place is very
attractive, everything being conducted in an orderly manner, while in matters
of horticulture Mr. Smith is extremely well versed and his opinions are largely
received as authority by the people of the community. On the place is a
commodious and comfortable residence, and his orchard and his grounds show that
he is a man of excellent taste and of marked enterprise. Any shipment of fruit which bears his name as
the shipper is regarded as reliable, being exactly as it is represented.
He votes with the Republican Party,
but has neither time nor inclination for public office. His business claims his entire attention, and
having been well-directed it has brought to him a good return.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 638-639. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.