USA > Massachusetts > One of a thousand, a series of biographical sketches of one thousand representative men resident in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89; > Part 85
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In 1866 Mr. Smith was elected town clerk and treasurer of Colrain, and has retained that office ever since.
SMITH, CHARLES HUNT, son of Abner L. and Mary W. (Howe) Smith, was born in Dover, Norfolk county, April 5, 1850.
CHARLES H. SMITH.
He obtained a common school educa- tion.
In 1868 he was connected with the Grant Locomotive Works, Paterson, N. J.,
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as engineer. He subsequently chose the vocation of farmer, as better suited to his tastes, and settled in his native town.
Mr. Smith was married in West Ded- ham, November 26, 1876, to Mary Hardy, daughter of John Humphrey, a com- mander in the United States navy during the rebellion, and Mary S. (Hardy) Hum- phrey, sister of the late Hon. Alpheus Hardy. Of this union are : Bessie M., Maud C., Abner H., and Edith H. Smith.
Mr. Smith has been chairman of the Unitarian parish committee, and a trustee of the Barden library fund ; treasurer of the Norfolk county Republican committee for the past six years; was one of the originators of the Norfolk Club, and has been one of the executive committee of the club since its organization ; has been town clerk for the past thirteen years, hav- ing succeeded his father, who had held the same office twenty years ; and has been a member of the board of selectmen, over- seers of the poor and board of health for six years - having lately resigned to ac- cept the position of county treasurer.
SMITH, FRANK, son of Albert L. and Sarah E. (Howe) Smith, was born in Dover, Norfolk county, June 11, 1854.
He received his educational training in the public schools.
In 1872 he was appointed teacher of the Dover east school ; two years later he be- came teacher of the centre school, where he remained several years. In 1882 he entered the educational department of the publishing house of Thompson, Brown & Co., Boston, as agent for their school books, in which business he has since con- tinued.
Mr. Smith was married in West Dedham, October 17, 1888, to Jennie Gertrude, daugh- ter of Samuel F. and Hannah ( Ellis) Allen.
Mr. Smith has been superintendent of the Unitarian Sunday-school for thirteen years ; chairman of the Dover school board, and superintendent of public schools since 1883 ; lecturer in the Middlesex and Norfolk union grange ; was a representa- tive in the Legislature from the oth Nor- folk district in 1887, and served on the committee on education. He was distin- guished as a Prohibitory Democrat.
He delivered the Dover centennial ad- dress in 1876, and the address at the dedi- cation of the town hall in 1878.
SMITH, GEORGE EDWIN, son of David HI. and Esther (Perkins) Smith, was born in New Hampton, Belknap county, N 11., April 5, 1849.
SMITH.
He received his early education in the common schools of his native town, and was fitted for college in Nichols's Latin school, Lewiston, Me., and the New Hampton Liter- ary Institute, N. H.
He was graduated from Bates College, Lewiston, Me., in the class of 1873. He then studied law in the office of Hon. Wil- liam P. Frye (Frye, Cotton & White), Lewiston, Me. He was admitted to the bar in Boston, in May, 1875, and was asso- ciated in business in the same city with the late Horace R. Cheney. On the death of Mr. Cheney, in December, 1876, he as- sumed the business himself, which he still carries on.
In 1883 and '84 Mr. Smith was one of the representatives to the Legislature from the 8th Middlesex district. He is one of the trustees of the Everett public library, which position he has held for about eight years. In 1879 he was elected by the alumni a member of the board of overseers of Bates College, and in 1884 he was chosen by the corporation a member of the board of president and fellows of the same insti- tution. He belongs to the Palestine Lodge of Masons, Everett, where he now resides.
Mr. Smith was married at Buxton, Me., October 31, 1876, to Sarah F., daughter of Charles E. and Eliza (Allen) Weld, by whom he has one child : Theodosia Weld Smith.
SMITH, GEORGE HERBERT, son of Ed- mund H. and Lucy (Blanchard) Smith, was born in Chicopee, Hampden county, July 4, 1840.
His earlier education was received in the common schools, and after taking a partial course in the high school at South Hadley Falls, he entered the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, from which he graduated in 186 !.
Immediately after graduation, he com- menced the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. R. T. Chaffee of Windsor, Conn., and pursued his studies until Sep- tember, 1862, at which time he enlisted in the 25th regiment, Connecticut volunteers, and became a member of the expedition to Louisiana, under command of Gen. N. P. Banks. In March, 1863, he was appointed to the surgical staff of his regiment, which position he occupied during his term of service. After his return from the scene of active hostilities, he resumed his studies and graduated from Bellevue Medical Col- lege in March, 1865.
Dr. Smith commenced practice in Sims- bury, Conn., where he remained till Sep- teniber, 1866. Failing health induced him
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to remove. to Sycamore, Ill., where he practiced successfully until November, 1868.
He then returned to Massachusetts, set- tled in Holyoke, and has since become a permanent resident of that city, and has established a large and lucrative practice.
Yielding to the wishes of his fellow-citi- zens. Dr. Smith has been elected to various local offices, which he has filled to the satisfaction of his constituents. In 1875 he served as a member of the common council, and re-elected in 1876, he was chosen president of the council.
In 1877 and '78 he was a member of the board of aldermen, during which time he was a director of the Holyoke & West- field Railroad, in which the city is inter- ested. Since 1881 he has been a member of the school committee. He is also a member of the park commission, and chairman of the board of health.
Dr. Smith was married June 8, 1869, to Ada M., daughter of Dr. Charles W. and Cornelia (Cushman) Babcock. Three chil- dren, of whom two are now living, are the fruit of this union.
SMITH, JAMES GODDARD, son of Na- thaniel and Betsey (Goddard) Smith, was born at Phillipston, Worcester county, De- cember 22, 1820, and was educated at the common schools.
In Natick he learned the trade of a car- penter, returning to his native place in 1844, to take charge of the homestead farm, which had been in the family for three generations, and where he remained until 1888, when he moved to Athol, where he at present resides
In Athol, on the 26th of May, 1847, Mr. Smith was married to Eunice, daughter of Jotham and Hannah (Taft) Haven. Their only child died in infancy.
Mr. Smith was selectman, assessor, and overseer of the poor in the town of Phil- lipston, and in 187 1 a representative to the General Court. He is at present a director of the National Bank of Athol, and a trus- tee of the Athol Savings Bank.
In religious matters he is a prominent leader and a deacon in the Congregational church. Politically he has for forty years been actively identified with the work of the Republican party.
SMITH, JONATHAN, son of John and Susan (Stearns) Smith, was born in Peter- borough, Hillsborough county, N. H., Octo- ber 21, 1842
He attended the district schools, fitted for college at the New Hampton Literary
Institute, and was graduated from Dart- mouth College in 1871.
He served as principal of the academy at Lancaster, N. H., for several terms, and from 1871 to '73 was editor of the "Coos Republican," Lancaster. He relinquished this pursuit by reason of ill health. He then studied law with Hon. David Cross, Manchester, N. H .; was admitted to the bar of Hillsborough county, N. H., in 1875 ; practiced in Manchester till 1878, when he removed to Clinton, Mass., where he now is in practice of the law.
Mr. Smith's first marriage was on Decem- ber 13, 1876, with Tirzah A. R., daughter of Levi and Hannah (Drake) Dow, of Can- terbury, N. H., by whom he had two chil- dren : Theodore (deceased), and Susan Dow Smith. Mrs. Smith died August 28, 1881. He was again married in Clinton, February 23, 1886, to Elizabeth C., daugh- ter of William and Mary Ann (Brown) Stearns.
Mr. Smith is a prominent Mason, and has served in the various offices of lodge and chapter ; was city solicitor of Man- chester, N. H., two and one-half years ; special justice of the second district east- ern Worcester, five years ; he was elected a representative to the Legislature in 1886, serving as a member of the com- mittee on probate and insolvency, and as chairman of the committee on parishes and religious societies ; is a notary public ; was appointed master in chancery in 1886 ; town solicitor of Clinton 1889 ; a member of the Republican town committee seven years, during three of which he served as chairman ; and is president of the " Twen- ty-five Associates," a co-operative savings institution of Clinton.
He enlisted in company E, 6th New Hampshire volunteers, in November, 1861; was discharged in January, 1863 ; drafted July, 1863, but rejected on account of physical disability ; enlisted in company E, Ist New Hampshire cavalry, 1864; was appointed a sergeant and served until the close of the war. He served through two campaigns, and participated in several severe battles while in his first enlistment. He is a member of the G. A. R., and takes a great interest in anything affecting the welfare of the organization.
SMITH, METCALF J., son of Samuel and Lucy (Metcalf) Smith, was born in Middlefield, Hampshire county, September 7, 1830. The early training in the house of his father, who had six sons and three daughters, bore abundant fruit in his later life. This family circle was one of great
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industry, where education, next to religion, was considered the one thing needful. For this, money was freely spent, and the fire- side-school occupied the winter evenings. After the preliminary training in the public schools of his native town, he entered Wil- liston Seminary, and was in the New York Central College from 1851 to '55. He then became a teacher in the latter institution, remaining until 1858.
He was subsequently professor of mathe- matics in Eleutherian College, Indiana, until 1860 ; principal of Lewiston Academy, Pa., two years, and principal of the Collins- ville high school from 1862 to '65. He then returned to the old homestead and engaged in agricultural pursuits, where he still remains.
Mr. Smith was married in Cincinnatus, N. Y., December 30, 1857, to Harriet Louisa, daughter of Dr. Lyman and Adelphia (Carter) Eldredge. Of this union are seven children : Sophia Adelphia, Theodore Win- throp, Gerald Birney, Louis Carter, Kate Winnifred, Edward Cecil, and Samuel El- dredge Smith.
Mr. Smith has been active in church and Sunday-school work, serving as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school and as treas- urer and chairman of the executive com- mittee.
He was treasurer of the Highland Agri- cultural Society from 1865 to '89, and select- man from 1870 to '85. He was a member of the House of Representatives in 1885, serving upon three important committees. Aside from his devotion to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Smith has found time to teach high schools at Middlefield, Hinsdale, Ches- ter, and Huntington. His eldest daughter is engaged in teaching in the Sandwich Islands, and his eldest son, of Brown Univer- sity, is teaching in the Polytechnic Insti- tute, Worcester.
SMITH, NATHAN GILMAN, son of Phinehas B. and Margaret S. (Wiggin) Smith, was born at Roxbury, Norfolk county, March 30, 1840.
He received his early education in the Washington school at Roxbury, and in the Roxbury Latin school, and in 1858 began a business career in the employ of E. M. Stoddard & Co., dealers in ice, his father being a member of the firm.
In 1862 he enlisted in the 4ist Massa- chusetts infantry, afterwards 3d Massachu- setts cavalry, serving with General Banks in his Louisiana campaign. During the exciting and memorable siege of Port Hudson he participated in the assaults thereon, and was one of the famous "for-
lorn-hope storming party " which General Banks commended so highly for bravery at one of the darkest moments of the war, when manly sacrifices were necessary for the success of the Union arms.
After the capitulation of this most impor- tant post he was promoted to a captaincy, and given command of one of the com- panies of the 75th United States colored infantry, afterwards serving as commissary, quartermaster and post-adjutant, also as United States provost-marshal, until his regiment was mustered out of service in 1865.
After the war he decided to spend a few years in Louisiana among the ex- confederates, in the cotton planting busi- ness. In the winter of 1867-'68 he was appointed chairman of the board of registration for the Parish of Rapides. Returning in the summer of 1868 to Mas- sachusetts, he once more entered the ice in- dustry, and is at the present time treasurer and general manager of the Jamaica Pond Ice Company.
Mr. Smith was married at Hollis, Maine, April 25, 1872, to Julia Frances, daughter of Joseph Woodman and Philomelia (Broughton) Haley.
Mr. Smith was elected on the board of the Boston city council in 1881-'82, served on the board of aldermen in 1886, '87, and '88, receiving the honor of a nomination at the hands of all political parties. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R. and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, a Knight Templar of official rank in Joseph Warren Commandery, and also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
SMITH, NATHANIEL AUSTIN, son of Austin and Sallie (Montague) Smith, was born in Sunderland, Franklin county, Feb- ruary 13, 1821.
He received a good education in the public schools of his native town, supple- mented by a course at Williston Seminary, Easthampton. He then remained at home upon the farmi till he had reached his twentieth year, and for the five succeeding years taught school during the winter months.
He was married November 26, 1846, at Sunderland, to Clara J., daughter of Stephen and Esther Gunn of that place. He has two children : Austin D. and Em- ma F. Smith.
Mr. Smith has always resided in Sunder- land, and during the greater part of his life has been engaged in agricultural labors. He continued farming jointly with his
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brothers till 1855, when a division of the farm took place.
He is an active member of the Franklin Harvest Club and of the Franklin and Hampshire Agricultural societies, having been president of the latter for two years. He has also been a devoted member of the Congregational society and Sunday- school for fifty years.
In the local government he has held many official trusts, having been select- man, assessor, a member of the school committee, collector and treasurer.
SMITH, SAMUEL FRANCIS, son of Sam- uel and Sarah (Bryant) Smith, was born in Boston, October 21, 1808.
He received his early educational train- ing in the public schools of Boston, fitting for college in the Boston Latin school. He then entered Harvard, and graduated therefrom in the class of 1829. From Harvard he passed to the Andover Theo- logical Seminary, graduating in 1832.
His tastes were scholarly, and he was soon called to the professorship of mod- ern languages in Waterville College (now Colby University), Me. He had been called previously to the pastorate of the First Baptist church of Waterville, where he was ordained ; and he served for eight years in both capacities. He was subse- quently editor of the "Christian Review," Boston, holding this position seven years. He was also pastor of the First Baptist church, Newton, twelve and a half years, and afterwards connected with the Baptist mission rooms in Boston fifteen years. He is at present engaged in literary pursuits, residing in the city of Newton.
Dr. Smith has been a constant writer for the press since he was twelve years old. Hymns from his pen are found in the hymn-books of all Christian denomina- tions. One of the best known, "The Morning Light is Breaking," has been translated into many languages. "The Psalmist," a hymn-book used almost ex- clusively in the Baptist churches of the United States for thirty years - a book mainly compiled by him - contained about thirty of Dr. Smith's compositions, inserted at the request of his co-editor, Dr. Baron Stow. Dr. Smith has often been styled "the James Montgomery of America." Most of the songs in the " Juvenile Lyre," published in 1832 by Dr. Lowell Mason, were written by him. Among the miscel- laneous writings of Dr. Smith are : " His- tory of Newton," " Missionary Sketches," and "Rambles in Missionary Fields." The work of Christian missions has occu-
pied the larger portion of his later years, a work to which a useful and honored son of his has devoted himself with great energy and success in the Burman empire since 1863. In 1881-'83 Dr. Smith trav- eled extensively in Europe and Asia, and visited many of the missions of his own and other Christian denominations.
Dr. Smith's name is embalmed in Amer- ican history and in the hearts of the Amer- ican people, from the fact of his being the author of our national hymn, " America," written in February, 1832, while he was a theological student at Andover, and first produced on a festive occasion at a chil- dren's celebration of the anniversary of American Independence, at Park Street church, Boston, July 4th, the same year. Written without the slightest purpose to produce a national lyric, it was almost im- mediately taken up by the people, because it appealed to the popular heart.
SMITH, SYLVANUS, son of William and Charlotte (Poole) Smith, was born in the parish of Sandy Bay - now Rockport - Essex county, March 10, 1829.
His book education was acquired in the common schools of his native village. At the early age of eleven he began the pur- suit of fishing, for a livelihood, and by per- severance rose from an ordinary hand to be master and owner.
In 1864 Mr. Smith entered into partner- ship with Mr. Rowe, under the firm name of Rowe & Smith, as owners and outfitters of vessels, with wharves and offices at Gloucester, continuing their connection till 1867, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Smith then formed a part- nership with Mr. Gott. This relation con- tinued until 1877, the date of the retire- ment of Mr. Gott.
Mr. Smith carried on the business for some time alone, then admitted his son-in- law, E. A. Bradley, and eventually his son, Howard F. Smith, as associate partners.
Mr. Smith has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah P. Atwood, who died leaving no issue. His second marriage was with Eliza C., daughter of Charles and Harriet (Smith) Rowe, of Rockport, by whom he has had twelve children, five of whom are now living : Martha, Eliza R., Howard F., Horace, and Sylvanus Smith.
In politics Mr. Smith is an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party. His church connections are with the Baptist church, of which he has been a member many years.
He has been twenty-two years a director of the Gloucester Mutual Fishing Insur-
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ance Company ; fifteen years a director of the First National Bank, and four years a director of the Gloucester Net & Twine Company, and also vice-president.
SMITH, WELLINGTON, was born in Lee, Berkshire county, December 15, 1841. He was the only son of John R. and Par- thenia C. (Yale) Smith, and on his mother's side is a direct descendant of Captain Josiah Yale and Ruth Tracy, the first couple married in the town, and also a lineal descendant of Stephen Hopkins, who came over with the Pilgrims in the " Mayflower " in 1620.
Mr. Smith spent his boyhood in Lee and Russell, his father owning a paper mill in the latter town with his brother Elizur, and with Cyrus W. Field, since of Atlantic Cable fame. He gained his school education in the common schools, and by attendance at the higher schools kept by Alexander Hyde at Lee, and Joseph Hyde at Sheffield.
At the age of fifteen Mr. Smith was en- gaged as clerk in the store of Smith & Bosworth in Lee, but a year after, at the age of sixteen, took charge of the store of D. C. Hull & Sons, as general manager of the store and business. Two years later, in company with H. S. Hurlbert, he began business for himself in a store and flouring mill. This was unprofitable, and he went to New York at the age of twenty, and became a salesman for Leonard Brothers in the silk business, at a dollar a day. His success was so marked that his salary was handsomely increased, and he was taken into partnership ; but in two years he left to enter the Smith Paper Company as treasurer. On the organization of the American Paper Makers' Association, in 1878, he was chosen first vice-president, and subsequently president. He is still a prominent leader in the paper-making business of the United States.
In 1874 Mr. Smith made a tour of Europe, and wrote home letters of great interest. At the convention of the 11th congressional district Mr. Smith was elected a delegate to the national Repub- lican convention of 1880. He proposed General Garfield before the meeting of the convention, and his views were published in the " New York Herald " and other pa- pers. In 1882 he was chosen executive councilor for the 8th district - the year Gen. Butler was elected governor, and in the same year was president of the Berk- shire Agricultural Society.
In 1861 Mr. Smith married Mary, daugh- ter of William A. and Juliet (Clark) Shan- non, of Lee, who died in 1877, leaving two
children : Augustus R. and Mary Shannon. In 1878 he married Annie, daughter of James and Harriet (Bulkley) Bullard. They have three children : Wellington Bullard, Etta Lucy and Elizur Smith.
SMYTH, EGBERT COFFIN, was born in Brunswick, Cumberland county, Maine, August 24, 1829. His father was Pro- fessor William Smyth, so many years oc- cupying the chair of mathematics in Bow- doin College. His paternal grandparents were Caleb Smyth and Abiah Colburn.
EGBERT C. SMYTH.
His early education was shaped in pri- vate schools, under the tutorship of Rev. Smith B. Goodenow and Alfred Pike. Fitting for college at Dummer Academy, Byfield, Mass, in charge of Rev. Frederick A. Adams, M. A., Ph. D., he entered Bow- doin College in 1844, and was graduated therefrom in 1848. After a season of school-teaching in charge of a high school at Farmington, N. H., he entered the Ban- gor Theological Seminary, and after con1- pleting the junior year, served two years in Bowdoin College as tutor of Greek and mathematics. Returning then to the seminary, he graduated in 1853. In July, 1856, he was ordained as a Congregational minister, having passed the interim as professor of rhetoric and oratory in Bow- doin College.
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From 1856 to '63 he held the Collins pro- fessorship of natural and revealed religion in Bowdoin. In 1862 and '63 he studied abroad, principally in Halle and Berlin.
Since 1863 he has held the chair of Brown professor of ecclesiastical history in Andover Theological Seminary ; being also lecturer on pastoral theology, 1863-'68. He received the degree of D. D. from Bowdoin College in 1866, and from Har- vard University in 1886. He is a member of the American Antiquarian Society, and of the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Dr. Smyth was married in Portland, Me., August 12, 1857, to Elizabeth B. Dwight. He has been an overseer of Bowdoin Col- lege, and trustee of the same since 1877. He has also been a trustee of Abbott Academy ; and was a member of the pru- dential committee of the A. B. C. F. M. from 1875 to '86. He is president of the faculty of Andover Theological Seminary, and has been a co-editor of the " Andover Review " since January, 1884.
SNOW, FREDERICK, son of Timothy and Ruth Snow, was born in Becket, Berk- shire county, March 21, 1820.
FREDERICK SNOW.
He received a common school education in the public schools of Becket, and subse- quently studied in select schools in Becket and Otis.
He turned his attention to farming in early life, and has ever since followed his chosen occupation.
Mr. Snow has never accepted any polit- ical office, but has served his town and church in various relations.
He represents in character, as well as descent, the old New England stock now rapidly disappearing from the Berkshire Hills.
He is a liberal reader of whatever bears upon agriculture and kindred pursuits, in- terested in all its improvements, with a genuine attachment for his vocation. He resides on his broad patrimony of acres, possessed by his sterling ancestry since the settlement of the town. He is a true rep- resentative of the prosperous New England farmer.
Mr. Snow is unmarried.
SNOW, SAMUEL, son of Alvan and Almira Snow, was born in Hyannis, in the town of Barnstable, Barnstable county, April 14, 1828.
He received his education in the com- mon schools of his native place.
During his early manhood he sought the sea for a livelihood, but this he relin- quished in 1847, and engaged in the lumber trade in Hyannis until 1869, when he retired.
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