BIOGRAPHY OF EDWARD GRANDISON SMITH, HARRISON CO,
WEST VIRGINIA

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Submitted by Valerie Crook
(vfcrook@earthlink.net)


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 645
Harrison

EDWARD GRANDISON SMITH. In the practice of law, it
has been said, many men seek to find the necessary stepping
stone to other vocations, but the true lover of his pro-
fession starts out with no such object in view. He finds
in it an inspiration, and a congenial, satisfying situation
that is sufficiently useful, honorable, responsible and re-
munerative. Such, perhaps, may be the attitude of Edward
G. Smith, recognized as one of the ablest members of the
Clarksburg bar who, for almost thirty years has devoted
himself exclusively to the practice of law at Clarksburg,
many times during this interval declining public honors and
turning aside tentative offers of change.

Mr. Smith is a native of West Virginia and of old Harri-
son County stock. He was born on Horse Run, Harrison
County, April 8, 1868, and is a son of Thomas Marion and
Amy Minerva (Hoff) Smith, and a namesake nephew of
Capt. Edward Grandison Smith, who served in the 17th
Virginia cavalry in the war between the states. Thomas
Marion Smith was born in Harrison County, February 24,
1845, a son of Charles and Mary (Grant) Smith. Charles
Smith was born November 3, 1796, the first white child born
on Duck Creek, Harrison County, and was a son of Watters
and Elizabeth (Davisson) Smith, the former of whom was
born in New Jersey, July 15, 1767. He married in 1793 and
in 1796 came to Harrison County and settled on Duck
Creek, where he bought a farm from John Prunty. His
parents were Thomas and Sarah (Green) Smith, the former
of whom was born in England, May 23, 1743, and came
to America in 1760, married the second child of Joseph
Green, son of William Green, in 1764, and settled near
Trenton, New Jersey. He served as a soldier in the Revo-
lutionary war, later was a farmer and died October 17, 1799.
His son Watters was also a fanner and a man of sterling
character. He was one of the founders of the Broad Run
Baptist Church in 1804, and survived until 1849, dying in
his eighty-second year.

Three children were born to Thomas Marion Smith and
his wife: Edward Grandison, Harvey Faris and Ella Earle.
During his active years he was a farmer, grazer and miller,
but he and wife now live retired at West Milford, where
they are well known and highly esteemed. Mr. Smith has
reached his seventy-sixth year and Mrs. Smith has passed
her seventy-first birthday.

Edward Grandison Smith was reared on his father's farm
and attended the public schools of West Milford. Later.
he spent four years in the University of West Virginia and
from that institution received his degree of LL.B., in 1889,
and in 1892 the same degree from the Washington & Lee
University, which institution he represented in the Southern
Intercollegiate Contest in oratory, in 1892 at Vanderbilt
University, winning the medal. Admitted to the bar in the
above year, Mr. Smith entered into practice at Clarksburg,
and has won high honors at the bar, during his long period
of practice taking part in some of the most important eases
of litigation coming before the Harrison County bar.

In October, 1899, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Jessie
Blackshere, who is a daughter of John Blackshere, of
Mannington, West Virginia, and they have two children, a
son and daughter: John B. (Jack) and Gill.

Mr. Smith belongs to the Masonic fraternity. In his
political preference he is a democrat. In 1912 he was put
forward as his party's choice for the office of judge of the
Supreme Court of Appeals, but otherwise has not con-
sented to the use of his name in connection with public
office. He is one of Clarksburg's representative citizens,
honored in his profession and respected as a private citizen.