The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-09-21

administration OF freefoent BUCHANAN,
says Mr.. Smith, land l had the we'd
ding postponed in order that my wife
and could say that we were married
under the administration of Abraham
Lincoln. Immediately following the
ceremony and the felicitation of
friends we left for New York where
We took passage for California by way
of the lsthmus Of Panama.
'0n arriving In the Golden state we
went at once to Ell Dorado county
where an uncle of mine, Charles Bar
ker. resided and at whose requests I
had made my way west. | engaged q
number Of years in mining"
Later MIR. Smith was elected men,
ber Of the California general assembly
serving in this capacity during the
years l864-l865. In 1867 be was ap-
pointed territorial secretary Of the
Washington territory. He and his
wife arrived at Olympia in 1867. Dur.
ing a large portion of the time during
the period of his Office as territorial
secretary Mr.. Smith was also acting
territorial governor. At the expiration
of his official duties. Mr.. Smith, asso-
ciated with Geo. A. Barnes, q member
Of the first city council of Portland,
and William H. Avery, established the
first bank at Olympia.
On March l. 1876 Mr.. Smith with his
family, with my Lares and Penates,
as he today expresses it, arrived by
Columbia river boat at sandbar sew.
eral miles west of the present site of
the city Of Hood River. With lumber
shipped from Portland, a home on the
large estate he had purchased here had
already been erected.
MIR. Smith has made Hood River his
residence continually since that date
except for time when he was regis
ter Of the United States Land Office at
The Dslles. In 1889 he was speaker
Of the Oregon House of Representa-
tives.
Mr.. Smith and his family have be-
come widely known throughout the
Northwest. Mrs. Smith, whose death
occurred in 1912, was Q leading mem
ber of the Hood River Woman's Club.
She was beloved by all who knew her.
During her life she worked de.atig-
uably for the civic and social better.
ment of the community. Her charities
extended throughout the Mid. Columbia
district among Indians and unfortunate
whites. Mr.. Smith has four daugh-
ters. Two of them, Mrs. William
Stewart and Mrs. J. F. Watt, reside
in Hood River. Mrs. o. j. Nelson
and Mrs. William Rand live in Port
land.
Despite bis age of 70 years, MIR.
Smith ia hale, and is known In Hood
River for his stalwartnsss and sturdi.
ness Of tread. Failing vision has
robbed him of the pleasure of person.
ally perusing his favorite books. But
this loss is mitigated by the care with
which Mrs. Watt takes in reading to
him. Daily the daughter reads Mr..
Smith the Morning Oregonian. and
after she has pinned on the lapel of his
coat his daily bouquet, Mr.. Smith
takes his accustomed walk down town.
Throughout the week. be it rain or
shine, this walk is never missed, and
after his promenade of the streets. Mr..
Smith repairs to an Office In his build
ing to greet bis many friends who fire.
quently call on him.
In all the land there 10 perhaps no
more tried or true Republican than
MIR. Smith. No one displays q greater
interest in the coming election for the
Presidency than Mr.. Smith, who de-
clares himself optimistic over the sue
cess of the campaign of Justice
Charles E. Hughes and the return Of
Republican principles in the handling
of national policies.