Harrison Co., WV: Bios - Charles Stratton SMILEY
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Submitted by Valerie Crook

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III
pg. 122
Harrison County

CHARLES STRATTON SMILEY. During the full strength
and vigor of manhood, when an individual is accomplishing
results beyond those of his fellows and gaining favor and
appropriation, his compelling personality may have much
influence, but after he has passed off the stage of life and
his achievements, his successes and his failures are viewed
with the cold and unbiased criticism that posterity accords
even its highest and greatest, his true character stands
forth and his measure of usefulness to mankind is clearly
revealed. The student of biography knows full well how
frequently this severe test brings only disillusionment.
When, then, a community can point proudly to an individual
the records of whose daily career disclosed true integrity
and probity, how valuable, how interesting is the story, how-
ever brief, and how far-reaching may be its influence. To
the memory of such a man, Charles Stratton Smiley, Clarks-
burg, West Virginia, pays tribute.

Mr. Smiley was born at Franklin, Venango County, Penn-
sylvania, September 3, 1861. a son of William and Jane
(Kinnear) Smiley. His father, a merchant, was one of
Franklin's well-known and highly respected citizens, and
the youth was given a good practical education in the pub-
lic schools of his native city. When he entered upon his
independent career it was in connection with the oil busi-
ness, an industry with which he continued to be identified
in various ways throughout his life. His first employment
was with the Eclipse Oil Company of Pennsylvania, and
when he was only twenty-two years of age he went to Phila-
delphia to become manager for the Logan-Emery-Weaver
Oil Company, a position which he retained for two years.
His next location was Bradford, Pennsylvania, where he
was connected with the Oil Well Supply Company for a
number of years, and about 1902 he came to Clarksburg,
West Virginia, and engaged in the manufacture of oil well
supplies. He also acted as agent for a broad territory
contiguous to Clarksburg for the Columbian Rope Com-
pany of Auburn, New York, the product of which concern
he handled on a large scale, at the same time giving much
energy and attention to the oil business in general, being
looked upon as one of the industry's successful men in West
Virginia. Aside from and in connection witn the foregoing

Mr. Smiley had a number of important financial interests.
He took an active part in the merging of the Peoples Bank
and Trust Company and the Traders National Bank, and
in this connection was one of the factors in the movement
that gave birth to the Union National Bank, in which he
was a member of the Board of Directors, as he was also
in the Empire National Bank. Mr. Smiley was a well-in
formed man, possessing an analytical mind, and his advice
was sought by many and freely given while his business
associates had every reason to place implicit confidence in
his judgment. Charitable to a marked degree, he gave to
all causes which he deemed worthy of support, and in his
death, which occurred at Clarksburg August 13, 1915, the
city lost a citizen who had been public-spirited and con-
structive in co-operating in movements for the general wel-
fare. He was a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, to which the members of the
bereaved family belong.

Mr. Smiley's first marriage was with Miss Araminta Kil-
gore, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, who died shortly after
the removal of the family to Clarksburg, leaving one child,
Frederic Stratton, now an oil man of California. Frederic
S. Smiley is a graduate of Culver Military Academy, Culver,
Indiana. When the United States entered the World war
he enlisted in the United States Army and was at once
sent to Port Sheridan, Illinois, where he was commissioned
a second lieutenant. Later he was ordered to the Univer-
sity of Illinois, at Urbana, where he served as an instructor
until the close of the war. He did not get an opportunity
to go overseas, the armistice being signed before he was
assigned for such service. On June 21, 1904, Charles S.
Smiley married Miss Pearl Siggins, a native of Bradford,
Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John W. and Jane (dark)
Siggins. Mrs. Smiley survives her husband with three chil-
dren: Jane Louise, Ruth Kinnear and Helen Bushnell.

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