Biography of Alton L. Smith - Mercer Co. WV

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
Page 374

Alton L. Smith- Bluefield

     Long experience in the practical details has made Alton L. Smith a
thoroughly expert electrical engineer. For the past ten years he has
been the expert manager of the West Virginia Armature Company of
Bluefield, of which he is vice president and general manager. This is
one of the most important industries of Bluefield, and the company was
organized September 1,1911, with W.A. Bishop, president, Mr. Smith, vice
president, and W.A. Bailey, secretary and treasurer. The company started
with a very small shop, but there has been a steady and satisfactory
growth of the business, and its service and output now cover a large
territory around Bluefield. The company first rented a small plant on
the north side of the railroad tracks from the Superior Supply Company,
but the business is now housed in a new plant, with every facility of
modern equipment, located on Bluefield Ave. and Pine Street.
     Alton L. Smith was born in Monroe Co., West Virginia, at Lillydale,
December 24, 1881, son of James R. and Harriet Houston (Vass) Smith.
James P. Smith was a carpenter, contractor and builder, and for a number
of years lived at Hinton, West Virginia, where he died in 1900, at the
age of fifty-one. The mother and her two daughters now live at Sulphur
Springs, Virginia.
     Alton L. Smith, being the only son, had to assume responsibilities
as a boy and at the age of sixteen became the principal support of the
family. His two sisters are now teachers. He acquired his early
education in Monroe County and at Hinton, and at the age of fifteen went
to work in the marble establishment at Hinton owned by R.E. Moel. He was
there two years, and then found work in the line where his talents have
been chiefly expressed. For two years he was a night engineer at Hinton
for the Light & Power Company, and then took charge of the lighting
system of the Dunglen Hotel at Thurman. He was next employed as
electrician by the Nutall Coal and Coke Company at Nutall, West
Virginia, and two years later joined the Pocahontas Fuel Company as
electrician at Switchback. He was in charge at Switshback for seven
years, and on leaving that corporation moved to Bluefield and assisted
in organizing the West Virginia Amature Company.
     In 1910 Mr. Smith married Lula Crow daughter of P.C. Crow of
Swithcback. They had five children, Ruth, Harry, Helen, Jack and Nancy
Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Church. In
politics he votes for the man rather than the party, and is deeply
interested in civic affairs, always taking a progressive attitude.


Submitted by Joan Wyatt <mewyatt@uakron.edu>

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