Wood County, West Virginia Biography of WILLIAM DIXON SMITH This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 526-527 Wood WILLIAM DIXON SMITH. It is the laudable ambition of every self-respecting, normal man to endeavor to succeed in his chosen vocation, to ultimately have the self-satisfying realization that he has taken the best possible advantage of his opportunities. When success has come to him in the business field, perhaps through years of toil and stress, .con- tentment and happiness may far enhance its value if it is crowned with the esteem of devoted friends, the confidence of business associates and the sincere respect and well deserved faith of his fellow citizens. This is the kind of success that gives cheer and encouragement to one of Parkersburg's solid, dependable men, William Dixon Smith, internationally prominent in the hardwood lumber industry, whose chosen home has been this city for more than a score of years. William Dixon Smith was born at Scramerston, near Berwick-on-Tweed, County of Northumberland, England, December 19, 1852, a son of Samuel Smith and the eldest of his nine children. In boyhood he attended the public schools, but before his twelfth birthday began to be self-supporting by working as a helper on a stationary engine. Later he served an apprenticeship of a five year's indenture at the wheelwright trade with John Harbottle of Hebron, and in this work he acquired an insight into oak and hardwood lumber. Shortly after attaining his majority Mr. Smith was em- ployed by a lumber concern owned by John Cutter, of Mor- peth, England, to look after their manufacture of wheels and wagons, and proved so satisfactory and efficient in that capacity that he was promoted to the office of manager, and continued in the service of this firm for nineteen years. It was in the interest of this concern that he came to the United States in 1887. He located at Grafton, West Virginia, and began buying hardwood lumber for this firm and shipped it to England. Later on he transferred his services to the firm of Dobell, Beckett & Company, of Quebec and London, and in a similar capacity served this firm until about 1908 when, owing to the deaths of Messrs. Dobell and Beckett the firm became Singleton, Dunn & Company, with which cor- poration Mr. Smith has been identified ever since. His work is confined entirely to hardwood lumber, and the greater part of his buying is in West Virginia. Few men in the state have a more intimate knowledge of the state's hardwood resources. From Grafton he moved to Parkersburg, and since that time he has made four trips abroad for his firm to Russia and France. On November 23, 1879, Mr. Smith married Miss Jane Mackay, daughter of William Mackay, editor of the Morpeth Herald, Morpeth, England, and they have the following children: Margaret, Mrs. Henry Morlang; Mary Jane, widow of Frederick T. Roberts; William Mackay, cashier of the First National Bank of Parkersburg; Henry Edward; Elizabeth, Mrs. J. Ira Davis; and Helen, Mrs. J. Alonzo Palmer. As soon as Mr. Smith became satisfied that his future home would be in the United States he set about acquiring citizen- ship, took out his naturalization papers, and to all intents and purposes is as much an American as if he had been born here. He is able to adapt himself to all classes, is of genial personality and engaging presence, and the impression he makes on a stranger of being an honest, upright Christian gentleman is his attitude with his neighbors and fellow citi- zens at all times. He was made a member of the Masonic fraternity in England, and since then has had his membership transferred to the United States. From boyhood in his native land he belonged to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, but for many later years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and both as a church member and as a Mason he endeavors to observe the spirit for what these organizations stand. There are many of his fellow citizens who can speak feelingly of his upright Christian life, of his kindness and charity, and allure united in the declaration that in him is found a man whose word is his bond.