George B. Smith – Rural Diary Archive

Two leather wallets, or small leather-bound booklets, are laid flat, one on top of the other, displayed on a grid-lined background, showing signs of wear and use.

Coverage Dates: 1868 to 1869

County: Wellington

Township: Arthur

Lot: 3

Concession: 9 & 10

Gender: Male

Year of Birth: 1851

Year of Death: 1940

Ethnicity: Irish

Religion: Church of England

Occupation: Farmer/student

Relationships:

Father: Sidney Smith
Mother: Eliza Ensko
Brothers: William, Robert, Harry, Sidney, Alfred, Samuel, and half-brother Thomas from father’s previous marriage
Sisters: Elizabeth, diarist Susanah, and half-sister Hannah

Archive: Archival and Special Collections, University of Guelph

Posted on Rural Diary Archive: Yes

Age During Diary: 17

Coverage: 1 year

Biography:

George hopes that keeping a diary will “repay the trouble in after years … and remind me of old times.” The Smiths are a leading family in Mount Forest with a 450-acre farm. George attends school, plays sports, and occasionally does farm work. They live in the “White Frame Mansion” and he frequents the “Canada House,” a general store owned by the Smith & Clarke families. His sister Susie keeps a diary too and they feature in each other’s entries. He eventually moves to Toronto and becomes a medical doctor.

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