Omaha daily bee., 1901-01-11
why lie was Called "Doc."


why Tie WAS Called "Doc."
George Smith was fond of telling his
newer friends how II happened that his
Christian name came to be forgotten by all
but intimates and the soubriquct. Doe"
was accepted in its stead a good many years
ago. He explained IL by telling OF time
when he was schoolboy in the Buckeye
state and remained away from his recita-
tons for weeks at time to nurse a sick
mother. While the rest of the family went
about their usual vocations he remained at
the bedside. The family physician said that
he was more efficient than any man of pills
and plasters in his acquaintance. From
that day on the name of Doc" stuck to
him.
George Smith came to Nebraska from his
native state, Ohio, in 1856. having stopped
on the way two years in Cedar Rapids, la.
The homestead on which he lived was pre-
empted by him on his arrival and an in
cident that happened in this connection is
typical of him and his methods through life
At that time there was a claim club whose
chief usefulness was to protect it's NOM
bers from interlopers and to promote the
scheme Of holding 800 acres OF land in
stead of 100, as the homestead law pro-
vided.
III lUul udy SHDllU was new III oIndnds
He located his claim running back from the
banks of the Missouri and built a hut to
| live in. At the outset his presence on
the land was declared repugnant to the
claim club and committee visited the
hut one night Immediately after his oc-
| cupation with the notification that con
! tinuation of his residence would result in
| a cold and unceremonious bath in the big
Muddy" The threats failed to intimidatc
Smith held his ground in both senses OF
| the word. The committee kept its word
In that a group of men came to the hut
not long afterward and carried it's owner
across the river, leaving him on the Iowa
| bank with the admonition that IL he ever
returned it would be sure death to him.
lie is Not Intimidatcd.
Smith did not return at once. He jour
neyed to Leavenworth, Kan, and as he
had surveyed the claim it was not a diff
fcult matter to place "A filing on 1t. The
same fall he made the trip back to Omaha
and spent the winter in an improvisioned
home in a stone quarry just below the
site of the old Union Pacific bridge. In
the spring he sent word to the president
of the claim club to inform the members
at the next meeting that he was a good
man, n remarkable shot with a gun and
that If he were not molested in the pos
session of his claim none of the members
would be harmed. The claim club took
the hint and Smith got the land
Doc" Smiths popularity with the poll
ticians with all parties enabled him to hold
the office of county surveyor from 1866,
when he received the first nomination, until
1887, when he resigned in favor of G. r..
House. In 1891 he was again elected to the
Office and held it one term. being succeeded
by Charles b. Howes. He was the first
man to run a line over Omaha real estate
for the purpose of converting 1t into city
property. In 1884 while county surveyor,
he plated the site of South Omaha. his
certificate bearing the date of July IS of
that year
George Smith was married in 1868 to Miss
s. M Converse, who survives him The
funeral will take place Saturday morn
ing from the home. The nterment will be
at Prospect Hill cemetery.