Biographical Sketch of Hon. David L. SMITH (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 699-700. "HON. DAVID L. SMITH, of Pomeroy, an ex-member of the Pennsylvania house of representatives, and who served meritoriously as an officer on General Meade's staff during the late civil war, is one of that class of men whose industry and integrity have won them honor and success in life. He is the fourth son of Daniel Eleanora (Shrom) Smith, and was born at Carlisle, Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1827. David L. Smith was reared in Cumberland and Allegheny counties, received a good English education, and after following farming for a few years, and serving one term in the State legislature, was appointed chief clerk in the commissioner's office of Allegheny county. He resigned that position when the late war com- menced, in 1861, and enlisted in Co. A, 2d Virginia volunteers, of which he was elected first lieutenant. In February, 1862, he was appointed assistant commissary of volunteers, and on September 7th of the same year was assigned as chief commissary of the Twelfth army corps, which position he held up to March 16, 1863, when he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and aide-de-camp, and assigned to duty on the staff of General Meade, com- manding the Fifth army corps, where he served until the close of the war. Colonel Smith was honorably discharged from the United States service on March 16, 1866, after a continuous service of four years and ten months. He returned to Allegheny county, where he was again elected, in November, 1867, by the Republican party, a member of the Pennsylvania house of re- presentatives, in which body he served very creditably. In 1870 he was elected alderman in Allegheny city, which position he held until 1881, when he came to Sadsbury township, this county, where he has resided ever since, upon his farm at Pomeroy. "On September 7, 1852, Colonel Smith married Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of Robert Gordon of Pittsburgh. She died November 2, 1877, leaving three children, one son and two daughters: Frank C., now a resident of Chicago; Eleanora, widow of the late Quincy C. Burkhart, of Chicago; and Mary E., wife of Archibald Russell, who is engaged in farming in this county. On March 7, 1880, Colonel Smith married for his second wife, Mrs. Helen M. Armstrong, widow of the late Charles C. Armstrong, M. D., of Allegheny city, and a daughter of Arthur Wallace, of Highland township, Chester county. "David L. Smith comes of German lineage, and in the revolutionary struggle his paternal grandfather, George Smith, and four of his brothers, left their Chester county homes to fight for American independence. George Smith was born in 1753, and after serving in the Continental army, re- turned home to engage in agricultural pursuits, wherein he continued until the weight of years rendered him unable for active exertion. After his marriage in 1783, to Susan Wondulich, he removed to Cumberland county, be- coming one of the early settlers. He was a Lutheran in religion, and passed away from earth in 1837, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. "His son, Daniel Smith (father), was born at Carlisle, June 3, 1800, and served as a drummer boy in the American army during the last year of the war of 1812. After attaining his majority, he followed farming and black- smithing until 1836, in which year he removed to Allegheny county, near Pittsburgh, where he purchased a farm, and in addition to farming operated a blacksmith shop for some years. Daniel Smith was a whig and republican in politics, and a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and died July 22, 1874. His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanora Shrom, died September 17, 1845, at the age of forty-four years. She was a daugh- ter of Joseph Shrom, of Carlisle, and a native of Lancaster county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reared a family of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, all of whom are still living, the youngest being over sixty years of age. "In politics David L. Smith has always been an active republican, who has given his party efficient service. While in the State legislature he served upon several important committees, was safe and conservative in his views upon public affairs, and never neglected the interests of his constituents. In educational as well as civil and political matters Mr. Smith has taken great interest and done good service. He served several terms in the city council, and for twelve years as a member of the school board of Allegheny city, and was active in many important measures that tended largely to build up and increase the efficiency of the schools of that city. David L. Smith is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, of energy and intelligence, whose integrity of purpose cannot be questioned, and who in his adherence to what he considers right, is firm and decided."