George Smith, a grocer, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, July 15, 1846, and is a son of Robert J. (deceased) and Mary (Haines) Smith deceased, the former a native Maryland, of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Ohio, of English descent. He was educated in the graduated schools and raised on a farm. In 1851, he came to Richwood and followed farming as an occupation until twenty-six years of age. In his twenty-seventh year be began clerking for John Landon in the dry goods store and two years later assumed the management of the grocery department of Mr. Landon's store, in which he was engaged five years. In 1879, he began business for himself and has met with more than average success. In 1874, he married Mattie Landon, a native of Marion County. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he has been steward and trustee, and an active worker in the Sabbath school. He also takes an active interest in the cause of education, and is a member of the Board of Education of Richwood. He is a Republican in politics.