1764 – 1783: Arrival & Revolutionary War
Sebastian Mershimer (1753–1845)
Arrived from Lambsheim, Germany in Philadelphia aboard the Britannia on Sept 26, 1764. Settled in Berks County, PA, learning wheelwrighting and wagon making in the Conestoga Valley. Enlisted in the 4th/3rd/5th Pennsylvania Regiments under Gen. Anthony Wayne and Gen. George Washington. Served 7 full years through Canada, Valley Forge, and Yorktown. Awarded a 240-acre Donation Land Grant signed by George Washington in Shenango Township, Mercer County, PA.
1800s – 1910: Mercer County Homestead & Smith Shift
Henry Mershimer, Jesse H. Smith & Leesburg, PA
Sebastian's son Henry cared for the homestead. Sister Francis married into the Smith line. Over the 19th century, branches of the family anglicized Messerschmitt / Morscheimer to Smith. Jesse H. Smith (1827–1910) and Mary J. Smith (1836–1904) anchored the family line in Leesburg, Mercer County, PA.
1878 – 1965: Youngstown & Seifert Connection
Harry Walker Smith & Mary Josephine Seifert Smith
Harry Walker Smith (1878–1947) married Mary Josephine Seifert (1880–1965) in 1909. Buried at Leesburg, PA. Relocated to Youngstown, Ohio, raising John, Marian Francis, and Paul Charles Smith.
1918 – 2005: Patton's Cartographer & Master Artist
Paul Charles Smith
WWII cartographer directly to Gen. George S. Patton in the 3rd Army, mapping the European campaign. Founded Smith Advertising Agency in Youngstown, designing iconic corporate brand art (Amoco torch, Faygo, Shasta cans, McKelvey's, Carl's Furniture). Spent 20+ summers teaching watercolor in Little Switzerland, NC (at his green shed) and wintering at Hillsboro Cove in Deerfield Beach, FL. Created over 20,000 paintings.