Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, ed. 8-B,
Boyd County

Capt. William Smiley was born in Pike County, Ky., September 14, 1854, and
is a son of Alex. And Sarah (Justice) Smiley.  Alex. Smiley was born in
Virginia, and when quite young came to Kentucky with his parents, who
settled near Tiger Creek, in Greenup County; he was a large lumber dealer in
his younger days, and did boating for the Government during the late war.
He afterward built a boat called the Red Buck, of which he was Captain,
running on the Big Sandy River; he died in December, 1882; he was a son of
William Smiley, who was a native of Ireland.  Mrs. Sarah Smiley was born in
Pike County, Ky., a daughter of Paton Justice.  William Smiley, our subject,
located in Catlettsburg, Boyd County, Ky., when he was eight years of age,
where he has since resided.  He was educated at the common schools, and at
the age of seventeen he commenced boating.  For a while he was a partner of
his father in the boat Sandy Fashion, and was afterward with R.K. Price on
the same boat; he was captain and pilot.  This boat was blown up, Mr. Smiley
having been from his post (that of pilot) only two hours, and the gentleman
who was acting as pilot was killed.  Mr. Smiley then bought a boat, took the
machinery, and in partnership with J.H. Wright started a mill, in which
business he was engaged one year.  He then built a large business house in
Catlettsburg with the intention of engaging in the wholesale grocery
business, but not having any experience in that line of business he gave up
idea, rented his house, and purchased an interest in the steamer Sea Lion,
of which he was captain for about two years.  He then organized the Sea Lion
Towboat Company, of which he is superintendent and vice-president.  In 1884
he, in partnership with Mr. Wright, opened a grocery store under the firm
name of Wright & Smiley.  October 11, 1876, he married Annie E. Powell, of
Boyd County, Ky., a daughter of Burr and Nancy (Smith) Powell.  Two children
have blessed this union, Proctor Knott and Emma Cramer.  Mrs. Smiley is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  Mr. Smiley is a Master
Mason, and politically he is a Democrat. 

Smiley Justice Price Wright Powell Smith 
=
Pike-KY Greenup-KY VA Ireland 
http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/boyd/smiley.w.txt