The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-08-28
OBITUARY..

corn IN Belmont county, OntO, NOFeu-
Der q, 1887 When yet child his father,
Thomas Smith, removed to Monroe
County, purchased farm, and reared a
family consisting of four boys and one
girl, near the pleasantly situated town of
New Castle. James, therefore, commenc-
ed his experience In life on the farm. But
on account, perhaps, OF his having a fee
BILE Constitution and suffering considera-
BILE from attendant ,ffliction in his early
youth, having also fine nervous temper
ament, he, while yet boy, characterized
himself by his early departure from
both in thought and acton-the occupa-
ton Of his ancestor, who, together with
his affectionate mother, fortunately did
all they could do to encourage him in the
line of his new undertaking. His early
education was procured in his own imme-
diate neigbborhood, from attending to his
primary studies under the directions Of
such teachers as were employed in the.
rural districts, in the days of log school
houses. His youthful superiority as
student, Notwithstanding his physical de.
bility, was soon acknowledged by all who
came in social contact with him, to be the
result of more than ordinary intelection,
Hence, while yet STRIPPING, he commenc.
ed to teach in the common schools of our
county. In this occupation the public
received from him the benefits which al
ways result from the operation of clear
and practical mind. Not satisfied, how
ever. to rest content where many other
young men would stop, he left for short
time the teachers desk in exchange for
that of the student, and entered the
Barnesville Institute He remained at
the school duringa q considerable portion
of the time designated by the presence
of Profs. Tompson and Davenport, the
founders of that notable and valuable In.
stitulion, surpassed, at that time, by none
in Eastern Ohio.
Many students who had the pleasure of
his society, while at Barnesville, and who
are scattered throughout the States Of
our Union-now middle aged-will, no
doubt, yet be able to recall the slender
form. the placid features, the cool deter
minstion, the self confidence and the
clearly intellectual character Of the man,
so unassuming under trying circumstan-
ces, and yet so correct in his conclusions
A short time after leaving Barnes, lille, he
entered the Normal School at Lebanon,
where he finished one of the classics pre-
paratory to entering into the study of his
favorite profession. Following his return
from Lebanon he took charge of the
Mathematical Department of the Woods
field Union School. in connection with
Prof John Moore, late of Monroe Coun-
ty When, shortly after the completion
Of his labors at Woodsfeld, on the 22d
day Of February, 1860, he came to Clar
ington and commenced the study of med
icine under the instruction of the late DR.
o Conner. On his entering this new
field of scientific and intellectual research,
he Immediately applied his peculiar pow.
ers of abstraction, comparison and CON-
bination with such intelligence and sue.
cess that, in short time his Preceptor
became astonished at the rapidity of Lis
progress. With mind susceptible of
erasping the finest minutie, and the pow
er of classification surpassed by none, he
stored away, as it were, all the proceeds
OF his intellectual research in separate re-
ceptacles, only to be drawn out when sp.
plicahle to such cases as, in the contin-
gencies of his profession, bis judgment
dictated their use. The knowledge and
practice OF medicine and surgery seemed
to him to be paramount to all other earth.
| ly attainments Hence, while reading
the textbooks of his profession, nothing
of bearing foreign to his subject was
permitted 10 engrnss his mind. While
yet a student his preceptor was elected by
his fellow-ctizens to the Senate of his ma
tive State and, relying upon the superior
qualifications of the young Doctor, he
left him in charge of his.practice, which
was, indeed, very large and responsible
trust But the confidence was not mis-
placed; nor did an appreciative people
suffer, in the least, from the change. This
occurred twice during the Doctors Sena-
torship, with the same results. When, in
the Winter and Spring of 1864, DR.
Smith attended the Lectures st the Col
lege of Medicine and Surgery in Cincin
natl, and received the chartered compli.
ments of that Institution on the 22d OF
June, 1864; after which he returned to
Clarington and resumed his practice, in
which he continued with unremilting
success. The Doctor, shortly after be
commenced his study with O'Connor
formed an acquaintance with an accom-.
plished young lady of Marshall County,
West Va, Miss Cresap, then quite
young. In the zeal and ambition with
which the young Doctor pursued hie
studies, this acquaintance began only in g
friendly recognition, but in the course oI
few years was renewed, and eliminated
in O matrimonial union on the 10th Of De
cember, 1872.
The Doctors ambition in the line o
his profession now being to certain ex.
tent gratifed, it only required small
lportion of his leisure time to keep pace
with the progress of the profession, which
he always did But the activity of his
mind, together with his regular and in
dustrious habits, created in him restless
ness. to appease which he occupied {
considerable part of his leisure time ir
the reading and investigating of the Holy
Scriptures, in which, during the last ter
years Of his life, he became greatly inter
ested and much delighted. He was in
deed ine Biblical scholar. One of hi!
chief pleasures was to impart instruction
to his Bible class in Sunday School, ani
Fat this particular school be alway put il
an appearance, unless prohibited by sick
ness in himself or others, Hence til.
little folks were always expecting him :
His instruction to them was always sivel
with earnestness He relied on the Bible
alone, as the all-sufficient moral and spir
itual guide, and taught the same to hi:
pupils. His social characteristics. which
while young man seemed to be cloudet
over with the earnestness and zeal that ht
exerted to prepare for future usefulness
became developed at middle age to de
gree unsurpassed by few men With {
healthy vivacity in his disposition, he hat
the apparently peculiar prerogative o
diopopoipu m IN oil wit IN uh n m ho ooSon;oto,