My Genealogy Hound

FLORIAN SMITH, watch-repairer, McKeesport, was born in West Newton, Pa., April 16, 1837, a son of Andrew and Julia (Rotharmel) Smith. His father, who was a native of Alsace Lorraine, served in the French army ten years, under Bonaparte, and participated in the battle of Leipsic. He came to America in 1817, and located at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., and later settled at West Newton, where he resided until his death. He died in 1880, at the age of eighty-eight years. He was a clockmaker by trade, at which he worked until within three weeks of his death. His wife’s ancestors were of French descent, and came from Holland, settling in Franklin county, Pa., in 1732. Mrs. Smith’s maternal grandfather, Capt. Stenger, served through the Revolution. Andrew Smith had seven children: Peter, Catherine, Hannah, Florian, Sarah, Adelia and Samuel. Florian was reared and educated in West Newton, and learned his trade with his father. He settled in McKeesport in 1862, and embarked in business as a watch-repairer, in which he has successfully continued since. He married, in 1865, Kellie, daughter of William Coyan, of McKeesport, and has one son living, Andrew. Mr. Smith is an attendant of the Baptist Church, of which his wife is a member. He is a democrat, and has served a term of three years as school director.