U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Smith, William (1774-1858) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 514-515 CAPT. WILLIAM SMITH is probably the strongest character whose memory has ever been impressed upon the citizens of Mercer County, West Virginia. He was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1774, and when a mere lad removed with his father, Isaac Smith, to what is now Giles County, Virginia. He was descended from a hardy English stock, that had fought under Cromwell, and settled in Virginia shortly after the accession of Charles II. Capt. William Smith, when young, bore a part, in the Kanawha Valley, in the Indian war then pending. When the county of Giles was formed, in 1806. he was appointed one of its first set of magistrates. For 13 years he served as a member of the Virginia General Assembly, representing Giles County. He was largely instrumental in forming the county of Mercer, in 1837, and in 1838 he laid out, on lands belonging to him, the town of Princeton, the county seat of Mercer, donating to the public the beautiful public square and town spring, still in use. From that time Captain Smith made the new town his home, and was a prominent and leading figure in the town's life; there was never a thought of disputing his decisions as a magistrate. Some of his wise sayings may still be heard throughout the county, many of them being aphorisms full of wisdom. When some of the older residents remark that "the law is nothing but common sense," or "an ounce of fear is worth a pound of love, at any time," the stranger may feel sure he is listening to one of the shrewd remarks of this venerated father of the town. After a long, happy and useful life of 84 years, he passed away. In memory of his public services the County Court caused his portrait to be placed in the Court House, an honor never conferred on any other citizen of the county. This portrait was unfortunately destroyed by fire, when the town was burned in 1862, and we have been necessitated to use an inferior one. Although the world is often forgetful of its heroes, the esteem and respectful remembrance in which this old pioneer is still held by his fellow citizens does much to prove that sterling traits of character and true worth sometimes erect monuments more valuable than those made of granite and marble. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Register of Deaths, Mercer County, WV (Page 7, Line No. 24) FULL-NAME: William Smith, Sr. BIRTH-PLACE: Rockingham County DEATH-DATE: February 8, 1858 AGE-AT-DEATH: 82 years DEATH-PLACE: Mercer County, (W)Va. OCCUPATION: Farmer PARENTS: Isaac & Eliz'th Smith CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Typhoid Fever INFORMANT: Benjamin S. Smith, nephew ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Mercer County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/mercer/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------