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, Charles A. (b. 1869) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 728-729 CHARLES A. SMITH, an attorney-at-law of Parkersburg, has been a member of the Wood County bar since 1895. His untiring efforts have built up a large and lucrative practice which has every promise of future permanency. He was born February 14, 1869, St. Valentine's Day, in Wood County, West Virginia, and is a son of Benjamin Smith and grandson of Hilander Smith. Hilander Smith removed with a brother from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to the Augusta district early in the 19th century, and together they secured large tracts of land. Benjamin Smith was born in Wood County when it was known as a part of the West Augusta district, and died in November, 1889, at the age of 57 years. The mother of Charles A. Smith, whose name before marriage was Rebecca Watkins, was born in the Susquehanna Valley, Pennsylvania; her parents, with two children, removed to Wood County, Virginia, now West Virginia, about 1850. She died in 1899, at the age of 61 years. Her brother Francis resides in Jackson County, West Virginia. Charles A. Smith who is one of several children born to his parents, remained at home until the age of 19 years when he began teaching school. During the six terms in this profession, he utilized all his spare moments in the study of the law, deciding to make that his life work. About 1890 he acquired proficiency as a telegraph operator and for some months was in the employ of the Ohio River Railroad Company. In 1893 he devoted his attention entirely to his legal studies, in the office of Daniel E. Johnson, and on December 30, 1895, he was admitted to the bar and practiced with Mr. Johnson until April 28, 1897, when he opened an office for himself. Mr. Smith has abstained from politics, even refusing a proffered nomination as a member of the House of Delegates which would have been equivalent to his election in 1902. In his profession he turns his attention entirely to civil business, making something of a specialty of chancery work. His first speech before a jury occupied two hours and he won his case, his success bringing him many hearty congratulations from older members of the bar. He is most comfortably and conveniently located in commodious quarters on Court Square, Parkersburg. Religiously Mr. Smith belongs to the First Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is associated with the Modern Woodmen of America. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Wood County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/wood/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------