Edwin C. Smith
March 9, 1916; Oregonian, p 5
"Edwin C. Smith, Dead"
Grants Pass, Or., March 8

   Edwin C. Smith, who built the first house in Grants Pass, died here Monday, aged 82.

   Mr. Smith was born in Philadelphia in July, 1834.  Attracted by the discovery of gold in California he came West in 1849, and for a time mined in the American River district.  Later he spent many years of his life at Jacksonville, Or., and was an early owner and developer of some of Jacksonville's most productive placers.  In the early '50s he moved to Portland and was at one time a part owner in one of the first sawmills constructted on the Willamette River at Portland.  In the early '50s he was employed by The Oregonian as a carrier.

   In 1863 Mr. Smith married at Old Williamsburg, which is the historic predecessor of the present postoffice of Williams, in this county, and then a flourishing mining camp.  Miss Minerva Victoria Fiddler, the daughter of a pioneer family, who survives him.  His surviving children are Sam C. Smith, an editor, of Hayward, Cal.; Robert G. Smith, of this city, who was for many years a representative of Josephine County in the State Legislature; Anna C. Smith, who for more than 20 years was associated with the Portland postoffice, but who is now residing at San Francisco; Mrs. Mary Martin, of Oakland, cal.; Mrs. Myra A. Dorden, of Los Angeles; Will E. Smith, of Marshall, Wells Hardware Company, Portland, and Mrs. R. A. Fenton, wife of Dr. Ralph A. Fenton, of Portland.

   Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church in this city this afternoon and were well attended.