Biography of Jackson Smith

JACKSON SMITH. After twenty-four years in the Court
House of Raleigh County at Beckley, at the close of his
present term in the capacity of county clerk, or two terms
as circuit clerk and two terms as county clerk, the verdict
of the people of this county is that Jackson Smith has ren-
dered services that have been highly efficient, strongly con-
scientious, markedly faithful and at all times courteous.
His record as a public servant is one that compares favor-
ably with those of any other men who have held office in
this part of West Virginia, and should serve as an example
worthy of emulation by other men placed in positions of
responsibility by the voters.

Mr. Smith was born on a farm which was situated on
the present site of Pear, Raleigh County, October 21, 1868,
a son of James and Susan (Bennett) Smith and a grandson
of Jacob Smith. Jacob Smith was born in Rockbridge
County, Virginia, and as a young man moved to Muddy
Creek, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, whence he went
to the present site of Quinnimont, Fayette County. He
was the owner of 1,000 acres of land, on a part of which was
later built the towns of Prince and Quinnimont. He car-
ried on agricultural pursuits all his life and died in 1882.
James Smith was born at Quinnimont, West Virginia, in
1841, and as a young man engaged in farming. When the
war between the states came on he enlisted in the Union
army, and served until the close of the struggle, when he
returned to agricultural operations. He was a capable busi-
ness man and an able farmer and made a success of his
career. He was a faithful member of the Baptist Church,
and died in that faith in 1919. He married Susan Bennett,
who was born at Pear, West Virginia, a daughter of Jacob
Bennett, who was born in what is now Raleigh County, but
was then Logan County, and owned a large tract of land,
approximating 1,500 acres. He was well-to-do and highly
respected and lived to a ripe old age. Mrs. Smith still sur-
vives her husband, at the age of eighty-two years, and is
a member of the Baptist Church. She and her husband
were the parents of the following children: Thomas L.,
who is engaged in the timber business in Fayette County,
specializing in supplying timber used in the mines; Jack-
son, of this record; Ervin, who is engaged in mining at
Glen Morgan, Raleigh County; Mary Ann, the wife of E. B.
Stover, engaged in the timber business at Sylvia, Raleigh
County; Nancy, who is the wife of Harvey Gill, a miner
of Grand View, Raleigh County; Martha, the wife of Cyrus
Houchius, a merchant at Pride, Mercer County; and Susan,
the wife of Allen Bennett, a farmer on Meadow Creek,
Summers County.

Jackson Smith attended a subscription school at home
and one at Grims Landing in Mason County, and at the age
of twenty years adopted the profession of teaching, his
career in this connection beginning with a school at New,
Raleigh County. During the next sixteen years he con-
tinued his educational work, and in that time taught eight-
een schools. Many prominent citizens of Raleigh County
went to school to Mr. Smith, who was at all times regarded
as a very efficient and popular instructor of the young. In
1890 Mr. Smith began his public service to the citizens
of Raleigh County by taking the census of Richmond Dis-
trict, and from that time to the present has been constantly
before the people in some official capacity, in which he has
given an excellent account of himself. In 1902 he was
elected circuit clerk of Raleigh County, taking office Janu-
ary 1, 1903, and was re-elected in 1908, in which year, so
well had he performed his duties, he was given the un-
qualified endorsement of three parties, the republicans, the
democrats and the prohibitionists. In 1914 he was elected
county clerk, an office to which he has since been re-elected.
His first election, in 1902, was somewhat close, as he re-
ceived a majority of only 550 votes, but at the present time
his record is such that he is considered practically unbeat-
able. He is a republican in his political views, but has
never allowed partisanship to affect the manner in which he
discharges the duties of his office. Reared in the faith of
the Christian Church, he has been active in the work thereof
for a number of years and a teacher in Sunday schools for
a long period, and since coming to Beckley has been a
deacon.

In 1891 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss
Minnie May Hurt, who was born at Beckley, and to this
union there have been born the following children: Aubrey
Overton, who is chief clerk in the sheriff's office, formerly
a student at the Officers' Training Camp at Morgantown;
Thelma Harland, who is her father's assistant in the county
clerk's office; Orliff Jaxon, who is attending the Beckley
High School; Wendeall Ware, attending Fishburne Military
School, at Waynesboro; and Alma Evelyn, who is attending
school. All the members of the family are active in the
work of the Christian Church.

Source:  The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III pg. 139-140


Submitted by Valerie F. Crook <vfcrook@trellis.net>

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