Biography of Jackson Smith JACKSON SMITH. After twenty-four years in the Court House of Raleigh County at Beckley, at the close of his present term in the capacity of county clerk, or two terms as circuit clerk and two terms as county clerk, the verdict of the people of this county is that Jackson Smith has ren- dered services that have been highly efficient, strongly con- scientious, markedly faithful and at all times courteous. His record as a public servant is one that compares favor- ably with those of any other men who have held office in this part of West Virginia, and should serve as an example worthy of emulation by other men placed in positions of responsibility by the voters. Mr. Smith was born on a farm which was situated on the present site of Pear, Raleigh County, October 21, 1868, a son of James and Susan (Bennett) Smith and a grandson of Jacob Smith. Jacob Smith was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and as a young man moved to Muddy Creek, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, whence he went to the present site of Quinnimont, Fayette County. He was the owner of 1,000 acres of land, on a part of which was later built the towns of Prince and Quinnimont. He car- ried on agricultural pursuits all his life and died in 1882. James Smith was born at Quinnimont, West Virginia, in 1841, and as a young man engaged in farming. When the war between the states came on he enlisted in the Union army, and served until the close of the struggle, when he returned to agricultural operations. He was a capable busi- ness man and an able farmer and made a success of his career. He was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, and died in that faith in 1919. He married Susan Bennett, who was born at Pear, West Virginia, a daughter of Jacob Bennett, who was born in what is now Raleigh County, but was then Logan County, and owned a large tract of land, approximating 1,500 acres. He was well-to-do and highly respected and lived to a ripe old age. Mrs. Smith still sur- vives her husband, at the age of eighty-two years, and is a member of the Baptist Church. She and her husband were the parents of the following children: Thomas L., who is engaged in the timber business in Fayette County, specializing in supplying timber used in the mines; Jack- son, of this record; Ervin, who is engaged in mining at Glen Morgan, Raleigh County; Mary Ann, the wife of E. B. Stover, engaged in the timber business at Sylvia, Raleigh County; Nancy, who is the wife of Harvey Gill, a miner of Grand View, Raleigh County; Martha, the wife of Cyrus Houchius, a merchant at Pride, Mercer County; and Susan, the wife of Allen Bennett, a farmer on Meadow Creek, Summers County. Jackson Smith attended a subscription school at home and one at Grims Landing in Mason County, and at the age of twenty years adopted the profession of teaching, his career in this connection beginning with a school at New, Raleigh County. During the next sixteen years he con- tinued his educational work, and in that time taught eight- een schools. Many prominent citizens of Raleigh County went to school to Mr. Smith, who was at all times regarded as a very efficient and popular instructor of the young. In 1890 Mr. Smith began his public service to the citizens of Raleigh County by taking the census of Richmond Dis- trict, and from that time to the present has been constantly before the people in some official capacity, in which he has given an excellent account of himself. In 1902 he was elected circuit clerk of Raleigh County, taking office Janu- ary 1, 1903, and was re-elected in 1908, in which year, so well had he performed his duties, he was given the un- qualified endorsement of three parties, the republicans, the democrats and the prohibitionists. In 1914 he was elected county clerk, an office to which he has since been re-elected. His first election, in 1902, was somewhat close, as he re- ceived a majority of only 550 votes, but at the present time his record is such that he is considered practically unbeat- able. He is a republican in his political views, but has never allowed partisanship to affect the manner in which he discharges the duties of his office. Reared in the faith of the Christian Church, he has been active in the work thereof for a number of years and a teacher in Sunday schools for a long period, and since coming to Beckley has been a deacon. In 1891 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Minnie May Hurt, who was born at Beckley, and to this union there have been born the following children: Aubrey Overton, who is chief clerk in the sheriff's office, formerly a student at the Officers' Training Camp at Morgantown; Thelma Harland, who is her father's assistant in the county clerk's office; Orliff Jaxon, who is attending the Beckley High School; Wendeall Ware, attending Fishburne Military School, at Waynesboro; and Alma Evelyn, who is attending school. All the members of the family are active in the work of the Christian Church. Source: The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III pg. 139-140 Submitted by Valerie F. 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