George Smidley
A successful, self-made farmer of Marion township, is George Smidley, the owner of the "Elmwood Stock Farm" of three hundred and fifty acres. He is recognized as one of the energetic farmers of Fayette county, who, by his enterprise and progressive methods, has contributed in a material way to the advancement of the locality where he lives. In the course of an honorable career he has been successful along the lines to which his efforts have been directed, and enjoys distinctive prestige among the representative men of his community. He is a splendid type of a self-made American and has always borne his full share of the burden of civic life, being the trustee of his township at the present time.
George Smidley, the son of William and Elizabeth (Boblet) Smidley, was born July 3, 1867. in Ross county, Ohio. His father is still living in Illinois, while his mother is deceased and buried in the New Holland cemetery in this county. William Smidley was the son of Philip Smidley, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in an early day.
George Smidley was the only child born to his parents and was educated in the common schools of Ross and Fayette counties, coming to this county when he was thirteen years of age with his parents. He worked on the farm bv the month and day from the age of thirteen until he bought a farm of his own. It was located in Wayne township, Fayette county. He managed this farm for a number of years and then sold it and bought his present farm of three hundred and fifty acres in Marion township. In addition to farming his own farm he rents an additional one hundred and fifty acres. This gives him a farm of five hundred acres to operate, one of the largest farms under the control of one farmer in the township. The farm is well improved and equipped with all the latest machinery for successful farming. While he raises all of the crops usually grown in this locality, he makes a specialty of stock raising and sells several car loads of stock annually.
Mr. Smidley was married December 20, 1889, to Minnie Whitmer, the daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Brittenham) Whitmer. Mrs. Smidley's father was a native of Perry county, Ohio, while her mother was reared at New Holland in Fayette county. Mr. Smidley and his wife are the parents of six children: Mervin, deceased; an infant, deceased; and four children who are still living. Floyd R., Iva, Roy and Gladys.
The Democratic party claimed the support of Mr. Smidley for many years but he votes now for the man he considers best qualified to fill the office. He is now serving as trustee of Marion township and filling this oftice to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens, irrespective of their politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, while religiously, he and his family are loyal and consistent members of the Christian church. Mr. Smidlev has been a potent factor in the civic life of his community and has always taken a prominent part in the development of the best interests of his neighbors. He is a man of pleasing address and easily makes friends. Because of his upright character, marked ability and pleasing disposition, he is rightly classed among the representative men of his township and county.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)