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, Arthur Boreman ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 625-631 ARTHUR BOREMAN SMITH was born on a farm, four miles south of Middlebourne, Tyler County, Virginia, now West Virginia. His ancestors were among the early settlers in that section and spent their lives there. Mr. Smith's great-grandfather, John Boreman, emigrated from England in 1770, landing at Havre de Grace, Maryland. Shortly afterward, he went to the Shenandoah Valley and settled at Woodstock, Virginia. On the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he espoused the cause of the patriots and was made a paymaster in the Continental Army. Among his other duties was that of paying the troops at Fort Pitt. His road to and fro each year was the "Braddock trail." He traveled as a peddler, with his gold beneath a false bottom of a small trunk on which was neatly arranged a supply of linen tablecloths and towels. A tea canister concealed his paper money. He served throughout the war without a suspicion arising as to his real character. The trunk and canister are the property of S. S. Smithy of Scenery Hill, Washington County, Pennsylvania. After the war, Mr. Boreman married Sarah Seaton, a member of the celebrated Seaton family, and shortly afterward removed to Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania. He became the first prothonotary of Greene County and held that office until his death. His family consisted of three boys and four girls. The oldest son, Kenner, was the father of Arthur I. Boreman, the first Governor of West Virginia, and afterward a United States Senator. Another son, still living, is U. S. Judge Jacob S. Boreman, of Ogden, Utah. Gilbert Smith, our subject's grand- father, was left an orphan at an early age, his father being killed while attempting to escape from the Indians by swimming the Delaware River. His mother was also killed by Indians, but the manner of her death is unknown. The children, three boys and one girl, made their way to the home of Dr. Carson, a relative, and remained there for a time, finally separating, never to be re-united. Gilbert drifted to Western Pennsylvania. He served in the army during the War of 1812. participating in the battles of Bladensburg and North Point. Returning to his adopted home, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, at the close of the war, he shortly afterward married Jane Hunt Boreman, third daughter of John Boreman. Purchasing a farm on the south bank of Middle Island Creek, four miles from Middlebourne, he removed from Pennsylvania to Virginia in 1825 and there remained. He at once became one of the foremost farmers of that section, noted for his energy, honesty and sturdy integrity. On election day, 1860, he announced his intention of voting for Abraham Lincoln, but was informed he could not do so as the names of the Lincoln electors were not on the poll books. He promptly presented the names of the electors and insisted that they be placed on the poll books, but was met by a positive refusal. He asserted his right as an American citizen, one who had served his country, paid his taxes and generally obeyed the law, to vote for the man or party of his choice. He further stated that he was now growing old and might possibly never again have an opportunity to vote for a President. The following Thursday he was killed by the falling of a tree. His wife lived to the ripe age of 98 years, dying early in 1895. Ambrose Smith, son of Gilbert Smith, and father of our subject, was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1822. His early life was spent on the farm. He was a strong, athletic young man, the leader in all local sports and, while educational facilities were not of the best, he acquired considerable knowledge. This was possibly due to one teacher, Ann Archbold, of whom he was much enamored. Miss Archbold is well remembered by old settlers. Her superior education, strong individuality and refined manners left their impress upon all who were so fortunate as to be her pupils. As a result, the moral and intellectual attainments of the neighborhood were and have remained high. Mr. Smith married young in life, being only 20 when he was wedded to Louisa McCay. He continued farming with slight intermissions until 1854, when he removed to Middlebourne in order, primarily, to give his children better educational opportunities. He engaged in carpentering and building until 1869, when he purchased the Tyler House and continued in the hotel business until 1891, when he sold his hotel and retired. His death occurred December 8, 1896. Mr. Smith was the father of six children, one of whom, George, died while an infant. The others are Jennie E., Isabel C. Furbee, Arthur B., Gilbert D., an attorney-at-law at St. Marys, West Virginia, and Lloyd E., proprietor of The Washington, Portsmouth, Ohio. Jacob McCay, of Scotch parentage, was born in Delaware, about 1788. But little is known of his early history, but his subsequent life was such as to stamp him as an honest man, frugal and industrious. He crossed the Alleghanies shortly after Fulton launched his steamboat on the Hudson. Settling in Western Virginia he engaged in the charcoal business, supplying iron furnaces with fuel, a trade he had evidently learned in Delaware. When and where he met and married Elizabeth True, the writer of this sketch is not informed. Suffice it to say he found a woman of rare intelligence and true worth. She was of English parentage, was well educated and devoted her best energies to the education and training of her children. They lived for a time at the Laurel Iron Works, Monongalia County, at which place their daughter Louisa was born. Thence they removed to Tyler County and settled on a farm about three miles west of Middlebourne. Although his wife was sorely afflicted of rheumatism for 40 years, so much so as to be practically helpless, Jacob McCay kept a brave heart, cared for his large family as well as the most prosperous of his neighbors and possessed a competence at his death, which occurred January 8, 1875. His wife survived him four years, dying January 18, 1879. Louisa (McCay) Smith died March 25, 1898. Arthur B. Smith, notwithstanding the efforts of his parents to give him an education, did not succeed to any considerable extent. When a child, his right ankle was accidentally dislocated. The attending physician failed to ad- just it, with the result that he was maimed for life. Schools in Virginia 40 years ago were very different from those of today. The rod ruled. Woe betide the urchin who crooked his finger in a direction disapproved by the "master." Notwithstanding the handicap imposed, at the age of 13. Arthur possessed the rudiments of an education. He was a fairly good reader, had mastered descriptive geography, a study of which he was passionately fond, had a smattering of grammar and had reached percentage in arithmetic. His school days ended one bright morning in May, 1861. The Civil War was on in all its fury. Tyler County was intensely loyal to the Union. A lady rushed into the school room and bade the teacher to "let these children go." The children went. The shrill notes of a fife and tenor drum were heard. "Old Glory" was flaunting in the breeze. Boys and girls rushed pell mell down the street like a cyclone. There were soldiers wearing the blue of the Union. No more school for that crowd of youngsters. A year later he entered the office of the West Virginia Plaindealer, a Union newspaper owned and edited by J. Edward Boyes, first Secretary of State of the new State. For three years no one read the exchanges with more avidity than did the youngest member of the force. The paper languished and died, but free schools were being organized. Teachers were scarce and young Smith became a teacher. It is no flattery to state that he succeeded. His services were in demand at the highest salary paid. There was considerable opposition to the schools. He soon gained a reputation for ability to control unruly youths. To establish the free school system required endless labor. Not content to spend his time in country schcK)ls, he aspired to teach schools of higher grade in the towns. This necessitated hard study, but he won a place in the front rank of the teachers of the State. On the third day of June, 1874, at the home of the bride's parents, in Duncan's Falls, Muskingum County, Ohio, Arthur B. Smith and Anna C. Gordon were united in marriage. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Rev. David and Jane (Dickey) Gordon. Her father was one of the pioneer ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and for 40 years was an honored member of the Pittsburg Conference. He ranked as one of the two most highly educated men in that distinguished body of ministers. Her mother was a member of the Dickey family of Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Both of her parents were Scotch. Mrs. Smith was well educated and was also a teacher. About a year after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Smith removed to Ritchie County, where he continued to teach until 1878, when they returned to Middlebourne. Mr. Smith bought the Tyler County Star in 1881 and published it for several years, making quite a reputation as a safe and discreet editor. Having sold the Star in 1889, Mr. Smith accepted a position as proofreader in the Government Printing Office, at Washington. He was soon afterward transferred to the Congressional Record force and for four years rendered efficient service in performance of that most critical and exacting work. A change occurring in the administration, Mr. Smith resigned his position July 1, 1893, and purchased the Martinsburg Herald. He at once proceeded to publish a straight, clean-cut Republican newspaper. Berkeley County was close politically, but during the time the Herald was under his management there were no Democratic victories in the county. The panic of 1893 was severely felt in the Valley. There was no market for farm products. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, on which Martinsburg largely depended, was bankrupt. Men were idle, merchants did but little business and could not afford to advertise. Patrons could not afford to pay their bills. He could fight his opponents to a finish, but is was a greater task to keep the paper going. The campaign of 1894 resulted in the defeat of William L. Wilson, the great free trader and leader of the Democratic party. The Herald was a prominent factor in that campaign. It vigorously assailed Mr. Wilson's political record and with equal earnestness defended his unimpeachable personal character. When the campaign of 1896 was approaching, the Herald was the first newspaper in the State to declare for sound money. Many of his political associates differed from him, but they gradually fell into line, with the result that notwithstanding several Republicans joined the free silver movement, Berkeley County gave a Republican majority of over 400, and the senatorial district, composed of the counties of Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson, and known as a reliable Democratic district, also went Republican. Having assumed other duties, Mr. Smith severed his connection with the Herald in 1898. During the five years he labored earnestly for the advancement of the schools of the city. In this he was supported by the best people, regardless of party, and his efforts were eminently successful. Graduates from the Martinsburg schools are now admitted to the best colleges without examination. Although actively connected with politics for many years, Mr. Smith never desired nor sought political preferment. It was always a pleasure to him to assist others to positions of honor and trust. He possessed the confidence of the leaders and his advice always received due weight. When he sought a Federal appointment, his application was indorsed by practically all of the prominent Republicans in the State. During the past four years Mr. Smith has resided in Washington, D. C., still retaining his legal residence in Martinsburg. His family consists of his wife and three daughters, Margaret Gordon, Mary Forrest and Louise Jane. Margaret was married, December 26, 1898, to Oliver Miles Ruark, of Baltimore, in which city they reside. Their son, Arthur Edward, is a bright lad of three years, of whom his grandparents are excessively fond. Mary and Louise are still at home, the latter being a student in the classical department of the Columbian University. Mr. Smith is a special agent of the Post Office Department in the Rural Free Delivery service. It is in this connection that he has scored his greatest success. Daring the past five years, he has devoted his best energies to the development of the greatest boon the government has bestowed upon the agriculturists of this country. After receiving his appointment, he inquired as to the character of the duties he was expected to perform and was told to work out the best possible system. Congress had provided for "Experimental Rural Free Delivery" and the Department proceeded to "experiment." There was nothing on which to base the experiment. Systems in vogue in other countries were not applicable. Here Mr. Smith's constructive ability made itself manifest. The appropriation at that time was $50,000. The appropriation for the fiscal year, beginning July 1, 1903, exceeds twelve millions. The annals of no country present any such phenomenal growth in any branch of civil expenditure. That the money has been and is being properly expended cannot be doubted. It is the only item in any appropriation bill that is not criticised. The Department has experienced no difficulty in securing all the money it could properly expend. Indeed, the Postmaster-General has frequently been compelled to protest against appropriations larger than he could judiciously expend. Mr. Smith has had much to do with the development and systemization of the service. He has been unassigned and has worked from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It has fallen to his lot to make investigations for service in districts represented by the foremost men in the Nation. In Maine, his work was satisfactory to Thomas B. Reed; in New Hampshire, he received high praise from the exacting William E. Chandler; in California, he made a friend of Eugene F. Loud; in Iowa, he was thanked by David B. Henderson, and in Illinois, Joseph G. Cannon was by the thoroughness of his work converted from an opponent to an ardent supporter of the service. A host of others might be named who have bestowed upon him the highest encomiums for efficiency. His methods have been straight forward, without fear or favor. The best possible service, in the shortest possible time, at the least possible expense, has been his rule of action. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Tyler County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/tyler/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------