Biography

06/19/1808 - 12/29/1890

Bedford, Cambria, and Fulton Counties (1856-1857), Cambria County (1858)

SMITH, George Nelson, a Representative from Bedford, Cambria, and Fulton Counties; born, June 19, 1808 in Youngstown, Westmoreland County, Pa.; served, Texas Army (1835-1836, Texas War of Independence); served, Pennsylvania Militia (1846-1848, Mexican American War); major, assistant paymaster, United States Army (1861-1865, Civil War); cooper; keel and canal boatman (1827-1835); contractor, building Louisville and Nashville Turnpike (1838-1840); toll clerk, Pennsylvania Canal, Johnstown (1840-1842); owner, river boats Excelsior and the San Jacinto (1842-1846); editor, the Democratic Sentinel, Johnstown (1844); manager, Ben Creek Furnace (1847-1849); owner, the Mountain Echo and Cambria Transcript, Johnstown (1849-1861); elected, delegate, Cambria County Democratic Convention (1850); cargo inspector, Johnstown, Pa.; elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1856, 1857 and 1858 terms; elected, Speaker Pro Tem (1858); appointed, member, Mexican American War Monument on Capitol Grounds Committee (1858); not a candidate for reelection to the House for the 1859 term; unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House for the 1860 term; elected, delegate, National Democratic Convention (1860); farmer; clerk, Philadelphia Customs House (1867); associate editor, The Four Quarters, Philadelphia (1871); engaged, copper ore mining, Tx.; died, December 29, 1890 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interred, Holy Rood Cemetery, Washington, District of Columbia.