Dr. Joseph Howard Smith Biography


	This biography appears on pages 289-290 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				DR. JOSEPH HOWARD SMITH.  

	Dr. Joseph Howard Smith is the oldest homeopathic physician in 
South Dakota in point of years of practice, having established his 
first office in this state in 1882. In the years which have intervened 
since that time he has gained success and prominence in his profession, 
for the duties of which he is eminently well qualified by reason of his 
conscientiousness, his unselfishness and his comprehensive knowledge. 
He is, moreover, entitled to a place in this volume as a veteran of the 
Civil war.  

	The Doctor was born in Macomb county, Michigan, in 1843, and is a 
son of Moses R. and Miranda (Howard) Smith, the former a native of 
Vermont and the latter of Lynn, Massachusetts. The family is of ancient 
origin and has been in America since colonial times. The father was an 
early settler in Michigan, locating there in 1833 and following the 
lumber business for a number of years.  

	Dr. Smith acquired his early education in the public schools of 
Michigan, and from that state enlisted for service in the Civil war at 
the age of eighteen years, joining Company K, Second Michigan Cavalry. 
One year later he was thrown from his horse and so severely injured 
that he was sent home with no hope for his recovery. He regained his 
health, however, and in January, 1864, reenlisted in Company A, Ninth 
Michigan Infantry, serving until the 15th of September, 1865, when he 
was honorably discharged. After the war Dr. Smith returned to Michigan, 
where he studied medicine, later entering the Hahnemann College of 
Medicine at Chicago, from which he was graduated March 1, 1868. He 
located for practice first at Lowell, Michigan, where he remained ten 
years, after which he removed to Pontiac in the same state. In 1882 he 
removed to Groton, South Dakota, and he has since engaged in practice 
in this state, being today the oldest homeopathic practitioner within 
its borders. Dr. Smith became a resident of Huron in 1898, and he has 
here built up a large and representative patronage, accorded to him in 
recognition of his superior merit and ability. He engages in the 
general practice of medicine, but specializes in the treatment of 
diseases of children, a field in which his gentleness and kindliness of 
spirit qualify him to do excellent work. He has never been known to 
refuse to make a call on account of the inclemency of the weather, and 
in the early days often drove many miles through snow or rain in the 
performance of his professional duties. He is imbued with a 
conscientious sense of the responsibilities which devolve upon him as a 
physician and is ever watchful over the interests of his patients.  

	On the 29th of April, 1868, Dr. Smith was united in marriage to 
Miss Ruby A. Robinson, of Kent county, Michigan, and they are the 
parents of two children: Carl, who is an engineer on the Northwestern 
Railroad; and Mrs. J. C. Jamieson, of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Dr. Smith 
had the rather unusual distinction of delivering his granddaughter, 
Mrs. Frank H. Bacheller, at birth of his great-grandson at the 
grandparents' home. 

	Dr. Smith is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and 
is prominent in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic, having 
served for some time as commander of Kilpatrick Post, No. 4, and as 
medical director for the South Dakota department of the G. A. R. He has 
been twice president of the State Homeopathic Medical Society, and 
through his membership in this body keeps in touch with the advancement 
of his profession, of which he has ever remained a close and earnest 
student. He is held in high honor and respect in Huron, not only as a 
successful and able physician, but as a courteous, straightforward and 
upright gentleman.