Pike Township Family Stories
THE GEORGE W. SMITH FAMILY
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, pages 288-289
By Melodi Smith MillsGeorge and Goldie Smith and their family moved to the old Mary Smith homestead, three miles east of Nichols, in 1941 from the Tiffin, Iowa, area. Their son, George Smith, now lives there; thus the place has been in the family for more than forty years [1984].
George Wesley Smith was born 29 October 1895 in Union township, Johnson county, Iowa, the son of Albert Smith and Rose Vrchoticky Smith. He was a veteran of World War I; he belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Muscatine and the Pike Grange. In addition to farming, he worked at Heinz in Muscatine and was not far from retirement when he died 28 February 1960 of a heart attack. He is buried in St. Mary’s cemetery west of Nichols.
George married Goldie Henrietta Stevens. She was born 3 September 1900, the daughter of Clarence Albert Stevens and Maggie Mae Johnson Stevens. She was an identical twin; her sister died at birth. The family belonged to St. Mary’s Catholic church in Nichols.
Goldie also belonged to Pike Grange and the Altar and Rosary Society of St. Mary’s church. She continued to farm after George’s death, and worked for a few years at Louis Rich in West Liberty. She died on 13 July 1968 of cancer and is also buried in St. Mary’s cemetery.
The couple had five children: Kenneth Smith, Betty Smith, Charlene Smith, Virginia Smith and George Smith, Jr. The three youngest are graduates of Nichols High school.
Kenny Smith is a retired farmer, living at rural Wellman, Iowa. He married Arlene Patterson of Wellman. Their children are Connie Smith, Cherry Smith, Charles Smith, Craig Smith (deceased), Carmen Smith, Cathleen Smith and Curtis Smith.
Betty Smith married Robert Brown, formerly of Hibbing, Minnesota. They now [1984] reside at 1504 Bidwell road in Muscatine. Betty has been employed in the offices of HON Industries for many years. They are the parents of four children: Barbara Brown, David Brown, Michael Brown and Dennis Brown.
Charlene Smith was a nurse for many years at Mercy hospital in Iowa City. She married Ralph Thomason from Iowa City. They had two sons, Richard Thomason and mark Thomason. Ralph died in 1967, and many years later she was remarried to Jim Seehan. They now live in West Chester, Iowa, and she is a nurse at the Parkview Manor nursing home in Kalona, Iowa.
Virginia Smith is married to Elmer Galloway, Jr. of Lone Tree. They reside on a farm just south of Lone Tree. They are parents of four sons, Douglas Galloway (deceased), John Galloway, Steven “Joe” Galloway and Keith Galloway. Virginia was postmistress at the Post Office in Lone Tree for several years, as was Elmer before her. She now works at the Post Office in Iowa City.
George Smith, Jr. resides on the family farm at Nichols. He is married to Charlotte Midkiff of Muscatine. They have four children: Melodi Smith, Wesley Smith, Bryan Smith and Susan Smith. He is employed at Plank Implement as a farm machinery repairman and shop foreman.
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Page created December 18, 2010 by Lynn McCleary