George Smith and Magdalene Smith (Bigler) Family || West Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania
George Smith, born January 25, 1774, in Baltimore, Maryland, purchased 38 acres of farmland from Frederick and Elizabeth Shrontz on June 25, 1820, in West Bethlehem Township.
A 1929 article in the Washington Reporter claims that George Smith built a log house on that land in 1802. However, since the deed clearly records the purchase date as 1820, the earlier date is likely inaccurate. It’s possible the newspaper mistakenly reversed the last two digits of the year. Smith would have been 28 years old in 1802, and 46 at the time of the documented purchase in 1820.
In 2024, I spoke with an elderly neighbor who recalled the location of the old log house. According to them, it once stood approximately 100 feet from the corner of Highland Ridge Road and Grable Road.
It is also noted that the property—later maintained by George Smith's son, Israel-born 1814—was eventually purchased by a George Donahoo (This refers to George Wilson Donahoo, the brother of Albert Braden Donahoo, who owned another nearby parcel on Highland Ridge Road).
"One of the members of the Grable-Garber family connection who came from Ohio for the reunion here a week or two ago was W. G. Smith of Warren, who also wished to see the seventh generation of the family in the person of the great-grandchild of Demas Garret, of Bellevue. Mr. Smith, a carpenter by trade was born and reared in West Bethlehem township, on the old Walton ridge, near Martin's mill, on the farm which his grandfather George Smith, coming from Maryland, purchase in 1802, and where he made his home till his death at the age of 93 years. This farm passed to Israel Smith, father of W. G. Smith. Of the fifteen children in his family, six are still living, namely W. G. Smith, Mrs. Mary Miller, of 22 Buttonwood Avenue, with whom he has been visiting for a few days, J. M. Smith, of Pittsburgh. J. I. Smith, farmer of near Atwater, Ohio. Mrs. Sarah Tombaugh, widow of Eli Tombaugh, of Somerset township, and Miss Nancy Smith, of Johnstown. Israel Smith lived to be 77 years old, and W. G. Smith is now 73, and rugged and active. His grandfather's funeral- he died August 28, 1862- was conducted by the Rev. John Wise, pastor of the old Ten Mile Dunkard church and of revered memory in all that region. His funeral address text was Job 14:1-2-3.
After George Smith, in 1802 had built a log house and a log wagon making shop he went back to Maryland and married Mary M. Bigler, and together they shared the experiences of pioneer life, with its pleasures and hardships, its disappointments and achievements. As a boy in Frederick county, Md George Smith had held the hitching strap of the bridle of George Washington's mount while he entered an inn to lunch.
In the George Smith family were two sons, Israel and George Smith, and three daughters, Elizabeth whose married name was also Smith, Mary Smith Decamp and Catherine Smith Ball. Israel, father of W. G. Smith, occupied the old farm until his death, March 29, 1892. After his demise the tract passed out of the Smith family and is now owned by George Donehoo.
Mr. Smith, who expects to return today to his Ohio home, had with him an old document which he with good reason prizes highly. It is the indenture by which his grandfather, George Smith, was bound out and apprenticed to learn the trade of a wagon maker. This feature of society was common in that day, and was probably all right under traditions then prevailing, but had been out of vogue for many a long year. This is an interesting paper. Some of the words of the original were mispelled (sic), and have been corrected in the copy that follows. For instance linen is spelled "linnen", and woolen, "wollen". Even at that early day prohibition was thought proper for a bound boy, and the twelve days off provided for evidently mean back home to help harvest. The a____ of indenture reads as follows:"
'This indenture made the twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. witnesseth that George Smith son of Jacob Smith of Frederick county and the state of Maryland by and with the advice of his father, who is become party to these indentures hath put, placed and bound himself apprentice to Anthony Gnauff of York county and state of Pennsylvania, and with him to dwell, continue and serve from the ninth day of August seventeen hundred and ninety-five until the end and term of two years, six months and two weeks be fully ended. During all which time the said apprentice his said master shall serve, his lawful commands obey his secrets keep his master's goods he shall not damage or waste, at cards, dice or other unlawful games he shall not play, taverns he shall not frequent, from the service of his said master he shall not at any time depart during the term aforesaid without leave first obtained But shall and will to the utmost of his power, wit and ability so behave and conduct himself, as a good and faithful apprentice towards his said masyer and all his, during all the time aforesaid.'
'And the said master the said apprentice shall teach or cause to be taught, in the trade, art or occupation of a wagon wright, and in all its various branches in the best mode and manner he can; and shall and will during all the term aforesaid, find, proflide and allow unto the said apprentice good and sufficient meat, drink, washing, lodging and apparel, both linen and woolen, and all other necessaries fitting. And at the end of said term shall and will give the said apprentice a freedom suit of new clothes to the value of eight pounds in the lawful currency of Pennsylvania. And further the parties agree that the said apprentice shall not be put to any other work but his trade, and shall have twelve days to himself this ensuing harvest. For the true performance whereof both parties bind themselves to each other by these present'
(Signed) GEORGE SMITH
JACOB SMITH (his mark)'
'Sealed and dated ___ in our presence. R McH_____ MARY _____'
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A family burial area under a pear tree in West Beth, on private property on Grable/Highland Ridge Road. George Washington Smith (Born 1771 in Maryland-a Wagon Maker) and wife Magdalene Smith (Bigler)are buried here, and supposedly their 2 daughters buried there. Magdalene is the daughter of Israel Bigler who also lived in West Beth twp.. Her mother was Catherine Garber. Magdalene died on March 15th, 1829. Her grave appears to read "In Memory of Magdalene Smith Wife of George Smith Who Departed this life March the (15 or 16 or year of...) Aged 63 years 10 months...days....
