From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1432-1433
 
GEORGE H. SMITH.  The subject of this review enjoyed a distinctive prestige 
among the enterprising men of Walworth county of a past generation, having 
fought his way onward and upward to a prominent position in the circles in 
which he moved, and in every relation of life his voice and influence were on 
the side of right as he saw and understood the right.  He was always 
interested in every enterprise for the welfare of the community and liberally 
supported every movement calculated to benefit his fellow men.  Although the 
last chapter in his life drama has been brought to a close by the "angel with 
the backward look and folded wings of ashen gray," who called him to a higher 
sphere of action, his influence is still felt for good in the community long 
honored by his residence and he is greatly missed by hosts of friends and 
acquaintances, for he was a man in whom the utmost confidence could be 
reposed, scrupulously honest in all his dealings with his fellows, always 
making good his promises, was kind and obliging, especially to the unfortunate 
and a man whom all respected and admired.
 
George H. SMITH was born in Andover, Vermont, on August 17, 1827.  He is the 
son of Sewell and Nancy (MANCER) SMITH, who spent their youth in New England 
and married there in 1823.  In 1841 the family came to Walworth county, 
Wisconsin, and settled in East Troy, then a straggling village, where the 
elder SMITH engaged in merchandising, on the site where the bank now stands, 
and there he continued successfully in business until 1855.  He was the first 
postmaster at East Troy.  He lived retired several years before his death, 
which occurred in 1881 at the advanced age of seventy-eight years, his widow 
surviving until 1884, dying at the age of eighty-one years.  Sewell SMITH 
built the store where Marshall & Son are now located.  Politically, he was a 
Republican, but he never sought office, though he held several local offices, 
having been the first township clerk, and he was chairman of the board of 
supervisors and was also treasurer of the town.
 
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sewell SMITH, five sons and two 
daughters, of whom five are living.  George H. SMITH was fourteen years old 
when he came to East Troy township, this county, and here he grew to manhood 
and attended the early day schools here.  In 1852 he went to Whitewater and 
there engaged in business as a member of the firm of Sewell, Smith & Sons, 
returning to East Troy in 1855 and here engaged in business, but in the same 
year he again went to Whitewater, and was in business there until 1868, then 
returned to East Troy, where he continued in business until 1897, when he sold 
out to Marshall & Zinn.  He had been in partnership with his brother, C. W. 
SMITH, under the firm name of C. W. SMITH & Company, which enjoyed a large 
trade with the surrounding country.  From 1897 until his death, in February 
1903, Mr. SMITH lived retired.  He had been very successful as a business man 
and left considerable property at the time of his death.  The death of his 
wife occurred in September 1904.
 
George H. SMITH was married in 1856 to Anneliza BURGIT, who was born in Tioga 
county, New York, on July 27, 1829, the daughter of Jacob BURGIT, a complete 
sketch of whom is to be found on another page of this work.
 
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George H. SMITH, namely: Ida C. who 
lives in East Troy, and Warren E., who is a resident of New York City.  The 
former was educated in the public schools of Whitewater and the East Troy high 
school, graduating from the latter; she was also graduated from the Ladies' 
Seminary at Oconomowoc.  She made a specialty of painting and music and has 
long been very successful as an artist, her fine work being admired wherever 
shown, having much natural ability in that line.  She is a lady of culture, 
education and refinement and a favorite with a wide circle of admiring friends.
 
Submitted by Carol