Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 57] mayor of the city of New Castle, is a son of Dr. William Smith, and a grandson of Samuel Smith, who was born near Pittsburg, Pa. The grandfather of our subject was a potter by trade, and also followed mercantile pursuits throughout the twenty years previous to his death; he engaged in his trade of a potter in Darlington, Beaver Co., Pa., and was a merchant of Newport, Pa. He was living in Mahoning Co., Ohio, when he enlisted for the War of 1812, and was present at Commodore Perry's signal naval victory over the British fleet on the waters of Lake Erie. He lived to be upwards of eighty years old. His wife, Susan Tidd of Pittsburg, passed away when about three score years and ten had silvered her hair, and enfeebled her frame.
Our subject's father was born in Mahoning Co., Ohio, and received his education in the schools at Darlington and in the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. He began his practice in Austintown, Ohio, where he married Margaret Henry, daughter of James Henry, a native of the Buckeye State. From Austintown he moved to Darlington, whence after a short residence he removed to Hookstown, Beaver County, where he made his home and practiced for thirteen years. He was elected to the State Legislature from that district in 1848 and again in 1849, but declined a third term because of ill health. He then changed his residence to North Beaver township, Lawrence County, in 1853, where he went on a farm, which he soon sold and moved to Enon Valley, where he died, aged sixty years. In his political attachments, he was a Whig and then a Republican. Religiously, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His first wife, already mentioned, died between the ages of thirty-eight and forty, leaving him three children: Samuel W.; James H., and Nancy J., who died at the age of twenty-five. He was again united in marriage to Mrs. Samantha Wallace, who now lives in Enon Valley. Charles W., the only child of this second union, lives in St. Paul, Minn.
Samuel W. Smith was born in Darlington, Pa., Oct. 20, 1837, and lived on the farm and acquired a district school education until 1864, when he enlisted in Co. B, Fifth Pa. Heavy Art., and was with Gen. Auger in the defense of Washington, being mustered out in August, 1865. On his return to civil life and the pursuits of peace, he engaged in the drug business for thirteen years in New Castle. He married Mary McConahy, daughter of William McConahy of North Beaver township, and has two children: Clara M. (Gregory); and Frank W., who holds a position in the National Bank of Lawrence County. Mr. Smith was appointed mayor by the council Oct 27, 1894, was re-elected in 1895 to serve the unexpired term of ex-Mayor Richardson, and in February, 1896, was elected for a term of three years on the citizens' ticket. He is a prominent Mason, and is a member of the following orders: Mahoning Lodge, No. 243, F. & A. M.; Delta Chapter, No. 170, R. A. M.; Hiram Council, No. 45; Lawrence Commandery, No. 62; he is a past officer in the lodge, chapter, and commandery. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, No. 100.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 14 Apr 2001