The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-31

Southern origin. His remote ancestors
came from England and settled in the
colonies at an early date. His fathers
family was identified 18th Virginia for
many generations and then moved south
ward into the Palmetto State. His moth
er's ancestors first settled in New Eng
| land, and then removed to the South.
Two generations ago the two lines came
together in South Carolina There, in the
last generation, John E. Smith was born
and was married to his wife, Mary E.
Smith, who was also of South Carolina
nativity. Mr. Smith was farmer by oc-
cupation, at Marion in Marion county, on
the historic soil by tle Great Pee Dee
River.
AT Marion, of such parents, Charles Ed
ward Wingate Smith was born on Septem-
Der Is, 1852 He was first educated at.
local schools; then prepared for college
at the Union Academy, in Robson coun-
ty, North Carolina, just across the border
| from Marion county; and finally finished
his academic career at the Randolph
Macon College, in Virginia; thus in his
birth and education spanning the three
historic Southern States.
Mr.. Smiths early life was spent upon
his fathers farm, where he performed the
duties incidental to the life of farmer
1t was not until he was seventeen years old
that he saw his way clear to securing a
higher education and to fitting himself
for a business career. Then he went to
the Union Academy for a few months.
paying his tuition by working outside of
school hours. Finding that unsatisfac to-
ry. he left the academy for a time, and
taught a small ungraded school, where
| out of his small salary he was able by
dlnt OF great economy to save a few dol
lars. With such savings he returned to
the academy and paid his tuition for a
few more months Again he became teach
er of small country school, and again he
saved every cent that could be spared
Thus he accumulated enough to enable him
to enter Randolph Macon College and to
pursue a course of study there. In 1875,
at the age of twenty he left College
and returned for a third time to the
school teachers desk He was appointed
principal of the high school at Laurin-
burg North Carolina, and held that place
three years. During that time he was
married
Mr.. Smith gave up the school in 1878
| to return to what had been his occupation
before he went to school His wife. had
received from her father the gift of
farm and he devoted himself for the best
part of two years to cultivating it. At
the same time he began to be interested
n the agricultural fertilizer business as an
gent Finding the latter more profitable
| than farming, he presently devoted his
whole attention to it, and became a dealer
in fertilizers on "A large scale at Laurin-
burg and at Wilmington, North Carolina
A considerable degree of prosperity was
attained by Mr.. Smith in that business,
and he had fair prospects of successful
career in it. But he looked to larger
undertakings in a larger place. Accord
ngly, in 1883, he sold out his business in
the South, and came to the North. He
settled in New York city, where he has
been ever since.
In New York Mr. Smith found himself
in the financial capital of the nation, and
he himself decided to engage in financial
pursuits He opened an office as a broker,
and quickly evinced his aptitude for that
business. He devoted his chief attention
to negotiating the sale of stocks and bonds
put upon the market by railroad eompa-
MES and other substantial corporations
| AS a rule he thus finances the entire is
sue of such a security. and thus plays
an important part in the market of in
vestment scrip.
] Mr. Smith is a broker pure and simple,
and nothing more His business is con-
fined to bankers and similar capitalists,
who alone are able to deal in the entire
issues of securities which he places upon
4 4 4S,
refrain from official connection with the
enterprises whose securities he sells. and
his name is not, therefore, on the direc-
tories of any corporation. with one or two
exceptions, recently being connected as
temporary treasurer with the American
lGold and Copper Mining Company and
the Consolidated Copper Company. These
companies are developing large mining
properties in Arizona
He is now the President of the United
Cold and Platinum Company, a close and
wealthy corporation with a capital stock
of s20,00O,000. -Four years ago Mr.. Smith
discovered platinum in Arizona and it is
TO develop this find that the company was
formed. Associated with Mr. Smith in
this enterprise are A. j. Ryan Atwood
Violet, Isidore Kernshem. l. J. r.
Muurling. H. j. Beemer, OF Montreal;
ICharles Sooy Smith, of New York; S. W.
ITraversl secretary and treasurer of the
Virginia Carolina Chemical Company, and
other men of like calibre.
Mr.. Smith is also interested in the de-
velopment of nickel property in Jackson
county n. c. He has secured a large
tract of property and is preparing to
erect a power plant and reduction works
Mr. Smith is deeply interested in pub
lie affairs and has been prominent in poll