Ed Smith was half Cherokee Indian and half Irish. He was born in Cherokee, North Carolina in 1883. He came to Crane Lake in June 1934. He created the guiding standards of Crane Lake. Ed guided for us for many years. After he quit guiding he helped Millie with the landscaping and yard work. He died in 1973 at the age of 90. Ed's first guiding trip. One Sunday evening he was studying maps of the lakes and talking to himself. John heard him say after looking at the map of Namakin, "That could be rainy Lake." Then he turned to John and said, "Can I have a boat and motor tomorrow?" John said, "Yes, are you going out to learn the lakes?" Ed said, "No, I'm taking them people." John said, "You mean you are going to be there guides?" Ed said, "That's what I came here for." John said, "Whereto?" Ed said, "Rainy Lake." John said,"You have never been to Rainy Lake-the only time you have been out of Crane Lake was with me yesterday when we went to La Croix." Ed said,"You know that, and I know that, but they don't."