Gabriel Benjamin Smith

Gabriel was born to a wealthy merchant family living in Bragernes, Drammen, Norway. He was educated to become an agriculturalist. In 1847 Gabriel was visiting with his brother-in-law, John Collett, when Gabriel had a romance with a local farm girl. The romance produced a son, Sebjørn Gabrielsen Smith, who later emigrated to America.

In about 1857, Gabriel's father, Elias, turned over the management of the Hotel North to Gabriel, along with Gabriel's brother-in-law. In 1865, Gabriel was living in a large apartment with a widow, Eleonore Johanne Bergh, and was unmarried. He was working as an administrator. Four years later he married Maren Sofie Schive, a union that produced nine children, six of whom grew to adulthood. At the same time as his marriage, he became the first manager of the agricultural institute "Kauffeldske" at the farm Overby in Vardal. In 1883, he became an agriculturalist with Toftes Gave at Helgoen. From 1885 - 1893, he was overseer of Øvre Ekers in Sjøl. In 1893, he retired and moved to Oslo. He died there at the age of 84.

Source: Drammensfamilien Smith, Genealogiske og Personalhistoriske Oplysninger ved A. Iuel, 1934.

Gabriel Benjamin Smith

Sources

• Birth and baptism records 1827, Buskerud county, Bragernes, Parish register (official) nr. I 7 (1815-1829), page 336: Gabriel Benjamin Smith