Extracted from the book, Montana, Its Story and Biography: A History of Aboriginal and Territorial Montana and Three Decades of Statehood,
GEORGE E. SMILEY
It has long been a recognized fact that the great corporations of the country are on the outlook for men of ability for they realize that with such men in charge of the various affairs of the business efficiency is secured and the number of serious mistakes brought to a minimum. Because of this tendency another fact has come to light, that there are very few men connected with these organizations who have not already proven their fitness for the work under their supervision, and that employment in these concerns is the mark of real capability. One of those who is worthy of the consideration of his company and fellow citizens in every way is George E. Smiley of Butte, Montana, assistant division manager of the Continental Oil Company, who has risen to his present position through individual merit.
George E. Smiley was born in Clarke County, Mississippi, on December 31, 1885, a son of E. M. Smiley. The Smiley family was founded in the United States by the great-grandfather of George E. Smiley, an Englishman who came to this country at any early day. E. M. Smiley was born in 1860, in Clarke County, Mississippi, where his father had located, and there he was reared, educated and married, and there he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1905, when he moved to Heidelberg, Mississippi, and since then has been engaged in conducting a mercantile establishment. He is a democrat. The Baptist Church holds his membership, and he is active in its work. For years he has been a Mason, and he also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. E. M. Smiley was united in marriage with Maggie L. Goodwin, born at Meridian, Mississippi, in 1864, and their children were as follows: George, who is the eldest; Eunice, who married William Campbell, a carpenter and builder of Heidelberg, Mississippi; Estelle, who married Harry L. Brashier, of Meridian, Mississippi, a traveling salesman; Willie Ray, who married John Arledge, a farmer of Vossburg, Mississippi; and Bessie, who is attending the Heidelberg High School, resides with her parents.
George E. Smiley attended the rural schools of Clarke County, Mississippi, and the Meridian High School, from which he was graduated in 1904. Immediately thereafter he began working for the R. G. McCants Cotton Company, cotton brokers at Meridian, Mississippi, and continued with that company for two years, leaving it to form connections with his present company at Denver, Colorado. He started with the Continental Oil Company as a general clerk and with the determination to master the details of the business in such a manner that when an opening occurred above him he would be ready for it, and his subsequent career proves that he has lived up to that determination in a remarkable degree. His first rise made him order clerk, his next, price clerk, and then, having by that time proved his aptness, he was transferred to Havre, Montana, to assume the responsibilities connected with the position of district superintendent, taking charge of that district in June, 1915. In 1917 he was transferred to Butte, Montana, as assistant to the division manager, and then, on January 1, 1920, was made assistant division manager under J. J. O'Neil, division manager. The offices and plant are located on Kaw Avenue.
Since coming to Butter Mr. Smiley has invested in city realty and owns his home at No. 1015 Dakota Street, a comfortable modern residence. Like his father, he is a supporter of the democratic party. For some years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Smiley maintains fraternal connections with Denver Camp No. 13, Woodmen of the World, and the Railroad Council of the Royal Arcanum at Denver, Colorado. He also is a member of the Iowa State Traveling Men's Association.
On September 10, 1910, Mr. Smiley was united in marriage with Miss Hattie D. Hardin, at Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Charles and Mary (Beer) Hardin, the former of whom is now deceased, after having been a pioneer farmer of Nebraska. The latter survives her husband and is now residing at Blue Springs, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley have one son, George Wayne, who was born August 31, 1917.
The grandfather of George E. Smiley was John M. Smiley, born in 1830 in North Carolina, where his father had settled upon coming to the United States. John M. Smiley went to Clarke County, Mississippi, in young manhood, and was engaged there in farming all of his active life, but is now living in retirement in Clarke County. During the ware between the states he espoused the cause of the South and was a brave and gallant soldier in defense of the "Lost Cause." The democratic party has always had his earnest support. Like his son E. M. Smiley, he has been a member of the Baptist Church all of his mature years.
John M. Smiley was united in marriage with Martha Smith [sic McCarty], born in Clarke County, Mississippi, in 1835, and she died in the same county of her birth during 1915. They became the parents of the following children: E. M., father of George E. Smiley, who was the eldest; John, who is a resident of Laural [sic Laurel], Mississippi, is a member of the police force of that city; James, who is a farmer of Clarke County, Mississippi; Clarence, Guy and Andrew, all of whom are also engaged in farming in Clarke County, Mississippi; Cora, who married Nicholas Slayton, a farmer of Clarke County, Mississippi; and Emma, who married John Thomas, a farmer of Clarke County, Mississippi.
George E. Smiley is the very prime of vigorous young manhood and yet has reached a position of importance at a time when some men have barely made a start in life. He is of the type that will go far and attain much, for he possesses the staying quality. He is a nature which does not shrink from responsibility, but rather courts it, and having gained the added duties, skillfully proceeds to discharge them efficiently and rapidly. His knowledge of the business and of men enables him to handle many problems which a less experienced and practical man might find difficult, and it is safe to say that it would not be easy to find another man so well fitted for the position now so expertly filled by George E. Smiley.
edited by Tom Stout (pp. 501-502), published by the American Historical Society (1921)