Grant County, West Virginia Biography of Isaac D. Smith ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Sue Schell, , March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, Pg. 394 BIO: Isaac D. Smith, Grant Co., WV Isaac D. Smith. Still a young man and a product of the agricultural community, Isaac D. Smith, prosecuting attorney of Grant County, has gained a recognized place among the lawyers of this section. His keen faculties of perception and analysis, and his mastery of the principles of the common law have made him a striking and successful prosecutor. If there is a close legal point involved in any issue his examination of authorities bearing upon it is exhaustive. With a thorough knowledge of the case in all its bearings and unerring and ready application of the principles of the law, his address before court and jury are necessarily models of clearness and convincing logic. Quick to perceive and guard the weak phases of his own case, he never fails to assault his adversary at the point where his armor is defective. In a word, Mr. Smith has developed the necessary talent of the modern court lawyer, to think and act both powerfully “on his feet.” Mr. Smith was born on a farm near Petersburg, Grant County, West Virginia, January 11, 1890, and is a son of Isaac D. and Mary L. (Harper) Smith, [note: Isaac is the son of Jacob Smith who married a member of the old Davis family of South Fork, Pendleton County] and a grandson of Henry Smith, who lived an industrious life on his farm, his home being located near the Pendleton and Grant County line. Mr. Smith never saw his father, who passed away in October, 1889, after nearly all of his life had been passed in farming and raising stock in Grant County. He married Mary L. Harper, a daughter of Amby and Elizabeth (McClure) Harper, the latter being a sister of John McClure, the well know stockman and capitalist of Pendleton County. They became the parents of four daughters and six sons: Oceola M., of Petersburg, one of the leading merchants of Grant County; Harry S., of Petersburg; Jacob A. and Charles A., also residents of this city; R. G., of Keyser, West Virginia; Mrs. Bessie L. Crawford, of Petersburg; Mary P., the wife of Carroll Elliott, of Oakland, Maryland; Sue M., the wife of W. H. VanMeter, of Mitchell’s Station, Alabama; Nellie, now Mrs. George Copland, of Healdton, Oklahoma; and Isaac D., Jr., of this review. The years of his childhood and early youth were passed at the family home in the country near Petersburg, and when he was sixteen years of age Isaac D. Smith, the younger, succeeded in securing a license to teach. After two years he entered the preparatory school of West Virginia University, at Keyser, for additional educational training on his own account, and there passed two years. This gave him sufficient credit to enter Washington and Lee University, where he enrolled as a student in 1913, following which he pursued a law course of two years and graduated with the Class of 1915, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Continuing his preparation for his chosen life work, in the fall of the same year he entered Emerson College of Oratory, at Boston Massachusetts, and took part in the class work of the sophomore, senior and post-graduate classes, specializing in all studies pertaining to public speaking. On leaving the Boston Institution Mr. Smith returned to his home and was admitted to the Grant County bar in January, 1916, at Petersburg. His first certificate to practice was issued in November, 1915, and when he returned from New England he opened an office to practice his calling. In the summer of 1916 Mr. Smith became a candidate for the office of prosecuting attorney of Grant County, being nominated in the primaries and elected in November following, on the republican ticket. Succeeding Arch J. Welton, he assumed his duties in January, 1917, and his records show him to have been industrious, honorable and careful in the preparation of his cases. Being a trained public speaker, he was not only efficient, but it was not long before he had impressed his merits upon the minds of his constituents, and he has achieved a rare popularity. In the general election he had no opponent. In 1920 he was not opposed for a renomination for the office in hie own party, but the democrats put up a candidate to oppose him in the fall election. This, however, did not affect his party vote. >From early life, even in youth, Mr. Smith has been a republican. When hebecame of age he espoused his party’s cause actively. His first presidential vote was cast for William H. Taft, and his party fealty has been constant ever since. He believes in the achievements of the Grand Old Party, and is proud of the statesmen which it has given to the country. In local affairs, Mr. Smith takes and active part in the movements calculated to be of benefit to the community, and is a supporter of education, religion and charity. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in both of which he is popular. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian denomination, and his active church work is done as a teacher in the Sabbath School. In a business was Mr. Smith is a stockholder in the Grant County Bank, and one of the charter members of the Potomac Valley Bank, both of Petersburg. His work during the World war was done as United States Government appeal agent of Grant County until he entered the army. He became a member of the army under the selective service act, July 16, 1918, and was assigned to Headquarters Company of the Thirty-second Field Artillery at Camp Meade, where he received his honorable discharge December 10, 1918. Mr. Smith attained the rank of corporal, and during a part of his service he was in charge of a regimental canteen. Mr. Smith is unmarried. He has been more than loyal to the maternal home, and the principal events of his life have been those affecting his standing as a citizen and a man and his career as an honored and capable member of his profession.