Hi Carol. I'm an Arvin native and wondered if your Will Smith was known to work in the oil fields. The reason is Arvin is mostly agricultural and not known for it's oil fields. There were only four families in 1908 and a Tule hut for a Post Office in 1910. The Highway arrived in 1923.
He might have worked in Taft or Fellows area. There is a group of people, "oldtimers" in Arvin who are gathering local history of the town. You might try and send the Public Lib., on Campus Dr., Arvin, CA 93203 a request. Sorry I can't give you a better address or name of the group. Happy Hunting, Carol