George Washington Smith

Citations

1. [S2712] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, online Ancestry.com. Zion Lutheran Church, Harrisburg PA, Records of Marriages 1827-1861, p. 29, img. 224/592. George W Smith and Catherine Gillespie, both of Lancaster, marr. 15 May 1845.
2. [S1664] William Whelan (March 1863), Will and Probate of William Whelan, Philadelphia Court (1863) No. 536, online Ancestry.com. The will first provides one-eighth part (either directly or in trust) to each of six children of William (and presumably of Catherine). It then provides one eighth part "in trust for the sole and separate use of Catherine Feran, daughter of my deceased wife," revealing that Catherine had been married before her 1807 marriage with William. It goes on to provide the "remaining eighth part. . . in trust for the sole and separate use of Catharine Smith and Ellen A. Sheaff, granddaughters of my said wife in equal shares." This would appear to indicate that grand daughters Catharine and Ellen were not the daughters of Catherine Feran (who if they were would be receiving a greater share than her half-siblings) and were probably sisters, again proving for equal shares to eight offspring and their heirs. It is unlikely, but possible, that the Catherine, wife of William in the1850 census, is a second Catherine, but this genealogy will presume the first case, and presume that Catherine who married William in 1807 was a widow of another Whelan.
3. [S1570] Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1963/1964/1966/1968: Death cert. of Sarah Maria Smith, dau. of Christian Smith and Christiana Harmony, q.v, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, online Ancestry.com.
4. [S20] 1850 U.S. Federal Census. Geo. W (26), b. PA, merchant; Catherine (24), b. PA.
5. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census. G W (36), b. PA, manufacturer, real estate value $18,000, personal estate $500; Catharine (34), b. PA.
6. [S18] 1870 U.S. Federal Census. Washington (48), b. PA, bitter manufacturer, real estate value $35,000, personal estate $3,000; Catharine (44), b. PA, keeping house.
7. [S17] 1880 U.S. Federal Census. Geo. W (57), b. and parents b. PA, bitters manufacturer; Catherine (54), b. and mother b. PA, father b. Ireland, keeping house.
8. [S1666] Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, index and images, online Ancestry.com, Butler Co. Will Book P, pp. 492-494, imgs. 535-536/543. Last will of Geo W Smith, deceased of Allegheny Co. PA, 13 Oct 1884. Names sister Sarah Maria, res. West Vine St., Lancaster PA; wife Catharine; bother Harmany's two children; sister Mary of AZ; daus. Ellen Bayne (Bellevue, Allegheny Co.) and Lucy Hemmick; sons Christian W and A Lincoln, and names Davis Hostetter as Guardian for son A Lincoln.
9. [S2711] The Lancaster Intelligencer, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wed., 5 Nov 1884, p. 6. "Mr. George W. Smith, formerly of this city, of the firm of Hostetter & Smith, died at his residence on Ridge avenue, Allegheny City, at one o'clock Thursday morning. He had been ill for some months, and his death was not unexpected. All the member of his family, except his son Chris, who is engaged in business in San Francisco were present. Mr. Smith was born in Lancaster, on the 22nd of February, 1824. His father died when he was but eight years old, leaving but a small estate. The boy was ambitious and energetic and after attending school for a comparatively short time, he entered the dry goods store of Mr. Christopher Hager, a leading merchant this city. David Hostetter was employed in the same store and the boys became associates. Mr. Smith, after some years, accepted the position of storekeeper and paymaster in connection with the construction of the Pennsylvania railroad, and in this employment he was joined by Mr. Hostetter, who in the meantime had been in California. In 1853 Mr. Smith and Mr. Hostetter went to Pittsburg and established the business of manufacturing bitters in a small way, but the business rapidly grew into so large an enterprise that it required the greatest skill to manage it. Mr. Smith began branching out into other enterprises, the most notable of which was the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie railroad, and at the time of his death had accumulated a great deal of money. In his personal tastes Mr. Smith was severely plain. He was honest and honorable in all his dealings, and was very charitable to the poor. His charities were large, and in his giving of them, he was averse to anything like a display. He leaves a widow, Mrs. Catharine N. Smith née Gillespie, to whom he was married nearly forty years ago. Four children survive him—Chris. W. Smith, of San Francisco; Ellen R., the wife of Col. Thomas M. Bayne; Lucy A., the wife of Mr. R. J. Hemmick, and Linn A. Smith.
   "Mrs. Smith is the daughter of the Charles Gillespie, of this city. Mr. Smith has one brother, Benjamin Smith, residing in Lancaster. The body will be brought here, and interment will be made in the Lancaster cemetery."
10. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census.
11. [S18] 1870 U.S. Federal Census.