Notebook of Aristotle Smith, Eden, West Virginia

Notebook of Aristotle Smith, Eden, West Virginia

Brought by hisdaughter

Mrs. Dorsey SmithPierce

2101 McKinley Avenue

St. Albans, WestVirginia

August, 1972

Retyped by M. BlaireWilson

May, 1998

Althoughthere are many spelling and punctuation errors in this document, to preserveoriginality I have typed it as closely as possible to the original document,leaving all spelling, punctuation, and paragraph beginnings and endings as theywere originally penned by Aristotle himself.

Aristotledied on his birthday, March 25^th, 1911 in Calhoun County, WestVirginia.

Aristotle and I were2^nd cousins 5 times removed.

M. Blaire Wilson

14538 Oak Cluster Drive

Centreville, Virginia 20120

25 May, 1998

                THE BIOGRAPHY OF ARISTOTLE SMITH

                Iwas born March 25^th, 1863 on Timber Ridge on the farm sold by myfather to Jerry Hicks in 1867 or 8, and one half mile from the old brick tavernon the north western grade on Back Creek, Frederick County, Virginia abouteleven miles north west of Winchester. My father was Dr. Isaah Dorsey Smith the youngest of four (five)¹ childrenof Capt. George Smith by his third wife who was a widow Albens whos firsthusband was the victom of hydraphobia being bled to death by old Dr. Brown ofPew town to avoid the terrible agonies attending the consequences ofrabies.  She prior to her first marriagebeing an Ellis and her mother being a Lee of the old Virginia family of Lees bymy grandmother Smiths first marriage to Albens she was the mother of threechildren one of whom was Wess Albens whose descendents live near Plesant dalein Hampshire county West Va. and by her second marriage to grandfather Capt.George Smith there was four children ⁽²⁾   Jermiah Smith the oldest who lived and died in south westernMissouria and whose off spring are scattered over Missouria and Kanses thesecond was Dr. Joseph F. Smith who emigrated to Iowa in 1850 and lived and diedat and near Taintor Mahaska County whos obituary follows as taken from the NewSharon Star.

                Dr.Joseph F. Smith was born in Virginia December 13, 1823; died at his home inTaintor Iowa at 1:35 a.m. March 26, 1895, after a brief illness, from heartfailure.  The deceased had long been aleading citizen and practicing physician; having settled in Mahaska county in1850, remaining a continuous resident except seven months spent in Nebraskauntil removed by death.  His early lifewas spent on the farm during which time he received a common schooleducation.  He began life’s career inteaching school.  In 1852 he began thestudy of medicine under Dr. Rinehart of Oskaloosa, and after attending the St.Louis Medical College two years began the practice of his chosenprofession.  He graduated from thatcollege in 1856.  In 1854 he was unitedin marriage to Miss. Ellen Cunningham. To them were born three sons, one dying in infancy.  George F. of Taintor, and John C. of Denver,Colorado survive their father to share their mother’s grief in the death of afaithful husband and indulgent father. In May 1864 he enlisted in the Service of his country and wascommissioned assistant Surgeon of the eighth Ioway Cavalry and served in thatcapacity until the close of the war. Col. J. B. Door adjutant general of Iowa, says. From June 11, 1864 thedetachment at Kingston, Georgia and the entire regiment from September 25, 1864was under the medicle care of Dr. J. F. Smith assistant surgeon.  He has been with it during the entirecampaign and shared in all its hardships and proved himself a most efficientand skillful officer as well as in all respects a gentleman.  The health of the command is the bestevidence of his efficiency.  Thedeceased has long been well and favorably known to a large circle ofacquaintances and friends.  A warmhearted generous man, he never lacked for friends and never lost an opportunityto make himself useful to others when in his power to do so.  While making no profession he was friendlyto churches and liberal in their support. He lived honorably, dealt honestly and gained the reward of an honerablelife, meeting death bravely, expressing no regrets for his life’s work.  The funeral services were conducted by Dr.Hugg and other members of Hiram Chapter, No. 6, Royal Arch Masons ofOskaloosa of which the deceased was an honored member.  On Thursday March 28, at the late residenceof the deceased and interment was made in the Baldwin cemetry.  The funeral cortege was one of the largestever witnessed in the country, showing with what universal esteem the Doctorwas held by those with whom he lived and labored so long.

                Thirdwas Aunt Caroline born in 1827 who married W^m. Cather a sonof Hon. James Cather a man of more than ordinary distinguishment of his daybeing twice elected to the legislature of Virginia as a Whig from Fredrickcounty.  Her family consisting of threesons one of which died young and George Perry and Charles F. who live inWebster county Nebraska.  And fivedaughters two dying in infancy and three living to grow to woman hood and dyingwith consumption whose names were Alverna and Alfretta being twins andVirginia.  W^mCatherwas a man of sterling character being quite a financier and during the stormydays from 1861 to 1865 he was a conspicuous figure in interceding in behalf ofthe citizens and those who participated in the rebelion he being a unionest andthe only man at this voting precinct who dared to vote against sesation whichdistinction afterwards served his country a good purpose his interpositionsaving many their lives and possessions and on the conclusion of hostilitiesand the reconstruction of Virginia he served as a Justice of the peace and alsoSheriff of Fredrick County: emigrating to Nebraska in 1877 he acquired aconsiderable of an estate he died in 1887. My father was the fourth and youngest child of Capt. George Smith whowas an unassuming plain farmer whose life was only characterized by his simplepiety he was as was my father born and reared up on the old homestead enteredand taken as a tomahaw right by his father Capt. Jermirah Smith our of LordFarifaxes grant about the years of from 1736 to 1756 ^{the patent was madein 1762} and surveyed 1748 by George Washington over which he and my greatgrand father had an altrication and came to blows.  Capt. George Smith was married three times having children by hisfirst and last marriage the issue of latter marriage being already given andthose of first marriage being three sons as follows George distinguished asdeaf George William and Samuel and three daughters one marrying a Clutter whoemigrated to Missouria one married an Anderson and moved to Indianna and onePatience who never married but lived with W^m or old Bill ashe was designated.  My grand fatherGeorge Smith was the youngest child of his father Capt. Jermiah Smith who wasmarried twice having two sets of children two sons of his first marriageserving as soldiers in the revolutionary war securing our indipendence of GreatBritton and one of them went to Ohio just after the revolutionary war was overto lay his land grant as a soldier and the other one settled near Prunty townin Taylor County West Virginia⁽³⁾ by his second marriage there were several children sons and daughtersSamuel Smith who lived and died an old bachelor leaving a son by a woman namedFrum who was chrisened Sam’s son Frum and always went by the name of SamsonFrum who settled in Taylor County West V^a.  My grand father Capt. George Smith theyoungest of his fathers children was born in 1769 and was sixteen years oldwhen his father died.⁽⁴⁾  Hewas cutting wood in the wood yard and came to him to adjust his clothing whichhe did during which he leaned heavily over on my grandfather who on looking upfor the cause of his so heavily leaning on him found that he was dead which wasin the year of 1785.  My great grandfather Capt. Jeremiah Smiths father emigrated from England to the Jerseyslanding on the New Jersey shore just below Philadelphia Penn. In the wildernessin 1710 and in the night after landing my great grandfather was born under awhite oak tree thus it will be seen that he came into this world and made hisexit from it beneath the broad canopies of heaven beared of any of the domesticdomiciles of man.⁽⁵⁾  He cameto the Valley of Virginia from Philadelphia when a young man and explored thecountry round a bout Winchester in a bout from 1735 to 1740 and blazed out twotomahawk rights one near Winchester and one on Back Creek after which hereturned to Philadelphia Penn. And shortily after returned to the Valleyaccompanied by a man by the name of Baker to whom he gave the tom hawk rightthat he had taken near Winchester retaining the one on Back Creek he and Bakerarriving in the Valley where they desired to pitch the camp a long in the afternoon with a horse loaded with a supply of the necessaries of back woods menturned their horse out put up a three sided camp stored a way their goods andjust before sundown took their guns and went in quest of game returning a boutdusk found that their horse had made an onsloth on to their supplies and eatenup and destroyed all their flour consequently they were left to make out onwild meat until they were able to go after supplies.  The duskey sons of the forests still being in possession of thecountry they all lived in peace and quiet hunting and sporting together untilhostilities engendered by incroachments of the French and English and counterencroachments which gave rise to many fierce and bloody conflicts in many ofwhich Capt. Jermiah Smith participated. A fort being located and erected where Winchester now stands was called FortLoudan of which he was Captain and on one occasion when the citizens were droveto shelter of the fort he started accompanied with his dog and gun to go up tohis possessions on Back Creek when on the route his dog allarmed him on whichhe made a reconnoiter and a head and some distance to one side of the road hespied two Indians behind a tree one on each side with their guns pointedtowards the road a waiting his arrival opposite them which he thwarted byfiring on them and taking flight for the fort loading his gun as he ranarriving at the fort in safety his shot having wounded one of the Indians.  On another occasion when the country wasinfested with Indians, He had an encounter with the Indians which is chronicledin Kerchevals history of the Valley of Virginia and reads as follows,

                Aparty of Indians commanded by a Frenchman were sent to attact Fort Fredricksituated on the Maryland side of the Potomac a bout twelve miles from Martainsburg in Berkley county West Virginia which was built in 1755-6 under thesuperintendence of Gov. Sharp of Maryland. Its walls of solid masonry were four and half feet thick at the base andthree feet thick at the top.  It waserected at a cost of Sixty five thousand pounds Sterling.  Braddocks defeat left the western frontiermore than ever exposed to the daring depredations of the Savage for who wereaided and abetted by the French.  In theSpring of 1756 a party of a bout fifty Indians commanded by a French Captainwho were sent a cross the Alleghenies to attack Fort Fredrick and destroy thefrontier Settlements.  Captains JermiahSmith with twenty men and Josway Lewis with eighteen men being sent out fromFort Louden where Winchester now stands to rescue settlers from the murderousmaruding Indians Capt. Jermirah Smith with his squad accompanying a settler whohad become alarmed and took his family in to Fort Louden leaving his cowscorralled in a rail pen near his cabin near the source of Capen river where onarriving leaving the men outside as pickets Capt. Smith and the occupant of thecabin went inside to drink some Birch beer in the course of which the Indianscame and the men thinking that they were Capt. Lewis’ squad who left the forwith them the same morning coming to join them having gone in another directiongave no alarm where upon Capt. Smith happening to step to the door saw them whowere forming in a V. endeavoring to surround them upon which Capt. Smithgrabbed his gun and ordered a charge in which he and the French Captain cameinto close quarters each firing on the other at the same instant the Frenchmanfalling mortally wounded and the Indians being put to flight with a loss otheir Captain and five Indians.  Capt.Smith loosing two men.  On examinationof the French Captain he found a gold breast plate which he took off and sentto the king of England and also he found papers bearing instructions to meet another party of Indians in the vacinity of Fort Fredrick and assist them indestroying the for and magazine.  Thissecond body of Indians was encountered and dispersed on the lower waters of theNorth branch of Capon by Capt. Josway Lewis and party.  The Indians abandoning the meditated attacton Fort Fredrick seperated into two small parties and carried their murderouswork into the territory now embraced within the counties of Shenadoah, Fredrickand Berkley.  One party crossed themountain at Mills Gap and within half a mile of the present site of Garrardstown killed a man named Kellely and severel of his family.  My father Dr. I. D. Smith was born July 16^th1831 and died November 3^rd 1894 at the residence of Henry Wallbrowns on Beech fork in Calhoun County West Virginia arriving there on Fridayevening a bout six oclock in the evening and next evening at six oclock in thepresence of the family and Frank Houcher he expired and on Monday evening thefifth he was burried on Samuel Vinyards farm near Newton Roane County WestVirginia at which point he located in the late fall of 1868 coming there fromthe Three forks of Reedy at which point he settled in the spring of 1868 on hisarrival from Virginia forming a partnership with Dr. Frank Cooper andparticipated in the practice of medicine until his removal to Newton where hestill pursued the practice of medicine and mercantill persuits until hisdeath.  In March 1856 he was united inmarriage to Elizabeth Ann Lockhart fifth child of General Josiah E. Lockhart byhis second marriage.  She being born May29^th 1837 and died November the 28^th 1896 at 1 oclock A.M. and was burried on the old Unkle Adam Riep farm on Monday November the 30^thby her fathers first marriage there was a considerable number of children onedaughter who married a Lovett and settled in Parkersburg one of her sons D. C.Lovett living in Charleston and there were half brothers John Lockhart wholocated in Wirt county West Virginia whose protage is represented by a grandson Frank Lockhart a lawyer in Elizabeth, Wirt County there being a largenumber decendents of this John Lockhart in Wirt County.  Another half brother who was a lawyier namedThomas Lockhart who lived in Parkersburg a while emigrating to Missouria andanother half brother Samuel Lockhart who lives near Lexington inMissouria.  Also there was one RobertLockhart who was killed by the union soldiers at his home he being a verryenthusiastic confederate sympathiser seeing the cause of the southernconfederacy begin to wain it was thought that he become despondent and grewunconserned as to his own safety and the union soldiers who were searching forhim passing by where he was concealed in hiding in the loft of his ice house herecklessly fired on them who in tun riddled the ice house one shot mortallywounding him from the effect of which he died the following night aboutmidnight together with his son a boy of from ten to twelve years old who incompany with another boy Edward Frances Payne who afterwards married AuntCaroline Cathers youngest daughter Virginia, were crossing a fence goingthrough a field jumping off of the fence lit on a copperhead snake which bithim and he and his father expired a bout the same time.  My grand father Lockharts second wife was adaughter of Hesiciah Triplett whose wife was a Smith lady from Loudan CountyVirginia. The children by grand father Lockharts las marriage were JamesLockhart whose first wife was an Otis (a sister to Mrs. McElwee of Gilmercounty W. Va mother of Floyd McElwee and Mrs. Wessly Boggs who lives nearStumptown Gilmer Co.) his children were Taylor, James Ad. Elias and Josiah E.the boys and girls Wonder who married a Schotchman by the name of McCullen andtwo more daughters who live in Smith county Kansas the rest together with UnkleJim are in Webster Co. Nebraska except Beverly who lives in Fredrick County V^a.  Joseph second son married andlast known of him he was living in Baltimore and was a conductor on a passengertrain between Baltimore and Philadelphia he had one son living next was BeverlyN. who lives in the cove adjacent to Back Creek in Fredrick Co. V^a.who has quite a family of children most of whom live near him one son Aljournanwho was taken to Nebraska when a boy 12 yrs. Old by Jerry Orndoff who marriedmas. Sister Ellen who died in Nebraska Aljournan is married and lives inWestern Kansas.  Unkle Bev. Was asoldier on the fonfederate side as was all his brothers enlisting under Capt.Holiday who was a young atty. In Winchester V^a. and had justbeen elected STS. Atty. For Fredrick County when the war broke out and joinded(Stone Wall) Thomas Jonathan Jacksons brigade where they all served during thewar after which Capt. Fred Holiday was elected Gov. of V^a.  Unkle Bev. For meritorious services waspromoted first Lieutenant during the third year of the war, next son was UnkleWilliam Henry Harrison Lockhart known and called by every one “Tip” who afterthe war went to Nebraska and homesteaded a quarter section of land in Cathertontownship Webster County after prooving up on which he went to Montana and nowlives a bout Deer lodge he never married, the youngest Aljournan lives nearPugh town V^a  hisfirst wife⁽⁶⁾ dying left a son Clark who is with Unkle Jerry Orndoffin Webster co. Nebr. My mother’s oldest sister Aunt Isabella married anAnderson and lives in Fredrick County V^a  Another sister⁽⁷⁾ married anAnders and lived in Clay co. Iowa.  Mygrand father Gen. Josiah E. Lockhart’s father was Robert Lockhart and Irishmanwho acquired considerable of an estate which he divided between his two sonsJohn and Josiah E. my grandfather who was a man of considerable note in his dayserving under Gen. W^m Henry Harison who was ninth Pres. Of the U. S. in the Indian wars in theNorth West territory participating in the battle of Tipicanoe and also laterwas with Gen. Hull and Detroit and was surrendered to the British by Hull, hewas one of the Grand Marshalls of V^a in his day beingappointed by the Gov. also a Justice of the piece under the old Constitution ofV^a.  and postmaster.  In politics he was a Whig and agreat admirer and an enthusiastic supporter of Gen. W^m  Henry Harison in both of his campaigns forthe Presidency.  His brother Johnsettled in South western Virginia and was the ancestor of a large protage.  Our family consisted of four children theoldest Wonder born in February 1857 died when she was four years old ofdiptheria next is myself whose birth is chronicaled in the onset of this biographythird was Pochahontas christened by a negress Mariah who was one of grandfatherLockharts slaves who after her freedom lived with our family until we left ourold home in Fredrick County Virginia she being unable to speak Pochahontas nicknamed her Katy which name she still bears She was born the 17^th dayof April 1864 ^{and died June 20 1936} and on the 6^th day ofJanuary 1881 was united in marriage by the ministerial officiery of Rev.Charley Shackleford a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church; to SamuelVinyard a Son of W^m Vinyard whose father was one of thepioneer Settlers of the Poca Waters in Roane County W.V^a.emigrating there from Elk river just below Jarretts ford in Kanawha County towhence he had come from Greenbrier County; Samuel Vinyard’s grand father LaneVinyard married a Hammix all the Hammixes of Roane, Jackson and KanawhaCounty’s being protages of the same ancestry his mother was Sally Looney adaugher of Robert Looney the paternal ancester of all the Looneys of the upperPoca and Henry’s fork waters he settling in an early day where Loony Ville nowis the issue of Katy was Bettie born Nov. 1881 Maud born in 1883 and two boystwins Aristotle and Aljournan born in 1888 and fourth Ann Ellis who was namedfor my mother whose name was Elizabeth Ann. And my grand mother Smith whosemaiden name was Ellis, who was born the 7^th of March 1867 and wasmarried to William Marcellis Looney in Oct. 1885 by Rev. Addison Bailey abaptist minister and issue Isarah Daniel in honor of my father and DanielLooney William M. Looneys father born in 1886 Porter, Asbury, Genettie and Katyto this date March 9^th 1899. My father as I have before stated moved to the Three forks of Sandy asit was then known the postoffice Newton then being at the mouth of Dog Creektwo miles below kept by Rev. D. W. Ross, in 1868 the place then was inhabitedby old Unkle Hughy Griffith as he was familiary known Aron Nol who own a smallgrist mill James McCourehay who run a small store old Andy Odell and BinkTompson who was a general hustler and teamster pretty soon the little villagehad new accessions in a bout the year of 1870 D. W. Ross, James Keen and T. J.Ellis formed a partner ship and put up a store moving the Newton post office toit,  In the latter Summer and early fallof 1869 in company with Bill Noe we attended school at the old Dog Creek Schoolhouse taught by a Gink Young the next year in company with Lee Ellis we went toschool to James Frugate at the old log house where the school house now standson Holly wood.  Attended several schoolsat the old Holly Wood School house taught by Shelt Carper and Columbus Orsbornenext teacher was Mrs. Maggie (Dillon) Brock who was raised near Sutton BraxtonCounty who taught school at the old log house on the Rogers fork whileattending this school I boarded with old Unkle Eliga Rogers one of the pioneersettlers also attended School at the Rogers School house under the tutorshipof  M. A. C. Hopkins and boarded withUnkle Eliga Rogers next teachers were Prof. Nash a specialist in penmanship andProf. Clarence L. Broadus who was a nephew of the great Baptist divine of worldwide fame of Virginia also he was a Capt. In the confederate armydistinguishing himself on may a battle field lossing an arm being pierced fivetimes by bullets and pieces of shells, next in 1878 I attended school at ClayC.H. with a Prof. Charles Preston as teacher but I have omitted one of myteachers Prof. Peter C. Vinyard one of the best teachers I ever went to schoolsat Clay Court House boarding with E. B. Wheeler who had as my companions forboarders Noah Cook, Brad. White Patrick N. King and Richard Shelton, in thefall of during the following winter of 1878 Prof. Preston taught school at whatwas known as the lower Porters creek school house during which time I boardedwith John Sands who was at that time County Supt. of Clay County and hadbesides my self as boarders Prof. Preston, Noah Cook, Gen. Cobb a son of ArchCobb Hans and Aobert Salisburry Miss. May Young, Martha Heart who afterwardsbecame Pat Kings wife, During the fall of 1878 Johon Sands co. Supt. with Prof.Preswton as a member of the board of examiners held an examination in which Igot a No. one certificate the following summer of 1879 Prof. Preston againtaught a select school at Clay Court House to which I again went boarding withE. B. Wheeler again with Clark Summers my sister Katy Miss. Lizzie Weeks, NoahCook and Phil. M^cMorrow as co boarders. After the schoolclosed a gain passed an examination under John Sands co. Supt. with Prof.Preston and Scott Nottingham as members of the board of examiners in which Imade a dismal failure upon the hearing of which my father pronounced that whenhe started me to school that I was a natural fool and now after schooling metwelve months I was a d-m fool which ended my fathers attempt at trying to makea great man out of me the time ensueing until the winter of 1881 I put inwagoning fiddling and frolicking a round⁽⁸⁾  during the winter of 1881 I went to schoolto Marshall A. C. Hopkins who taught in the little old school house on the hillwhere the school house now stands at Newton being my last attendence in freeschools after which in the spring and early summer of 1882 I went to Lower FlatFork of Poca and attended a school composed of Josiah Hughes, Lon. Hughes, WillKyle, Bruce Irland, M.A.C. Hopkins and myself for six weeks boarding with JohnHughes’ family; after which during the latter part of July and Aug. 1882 I wentto Tripletts run and attended six weeks of the latter part of a term of selectschool being taught by Rev. Harvey Cofer county Supt. of Roane Co. during whichtime I boarded with John Marford Rev. Cofer the teacher a young lady by thename of Rader boarding there and Mark E. Depew after which in the latter partof Aug. I went to Spencer and attended the Institue with old Prof. A. L. Wadeas instructor during which time and the examination that followed I boardedwith Rev. Cofer half to three quarters of a mile a bove Spencer in company withFrank M^cCulty we taking our dinners and eating each day atnoon in Berrys black smith shop on passing the examination I got a No. 3.Certificate on which in Sept. I went to Clay Court House and passed anexanination under Call Hall Co. Supt. with Sam Stephenson and Jasper Youngboard of examiners receiving a No. 2 Certificate which I filed with old JacobFitzwaters Sec. Of the B. & E. and in the absence of those who wereappointed trustees at the old Blue Knob School Squire George Eagle Pres. Of theB. of E. and Squire Norval Shannon a member of the B. of E. both living in theterritory comprising the Sub Dist. Of Blue Knob and being patrons of the schoolin complience with the provisions of the school law regulating and governingsuch matters they hired me to teach the term of free school of four monthscommencing Monday morning Nov. 6^th 1882 during which time I boardedwith Newton Nichols on the conclusion of which having previously contracted forit there having been a new Sub. Dist. Formed on Grannies Creek in Geary Dist.Roane Co.  I began on Monday morningMarch 7^th 1883 and taught 3 ½ months the first free school evertaught on Grannies Creek during which time I boarded with Sam King my schoolclosing June 23^rd 1883 after which I went to a select school whichwas being taught by Prof. S.H.Patrick for three weeks at the old lower Porterscreek school house during which time I boarded with John Sands.  At the conclusion of which I attended theInstitute at Clay Court House with Prof. S.H. Patrick as instructor⁽⁹⁾

At this institute I met my futureintended wife Miss. Losie J. Chenoweth⁽¹⁰⁾ with whom I was impressedand strongly infatuated with on first sight whose acquaintance I slashed on tothere being no formality in etiquette every thing wide open after the instituteI attended the examination conducted by Perry C. Wilson Co. Supt. and Sam.Stephenson member of the board of examiners receiving a No. one certificate andwent to Middle Creek and contracted with Eathan A. Holcomb and Simp. Nealtrustees for the Middle Creek school to begin the first Monday in Nov. 1883 forfour months during which time boarded with Eathan A. Holcomb also I after thiscontracted with Shelt Williams and old Billy Arbogast trustees of the school atthe mouth of Big Sycamore commencing on Monday morning Aug. 31^st,1883 and taught two months turning over the remainder of the school to Miss.Ellen Waugh during this part of a school I boarded with Shelt Williams at theconclusion of my Middle Creek school I contracted for a month of school theremainder of a term commenced by Alaxander Stephenson of Nichols County andcommenced it March 19^th 1884 during which time I boarded with oldUncle Jonathon Noal one of the pioneer settlers of Clay County.  The following summer I attended a selectschool taught by M. F. Lieuellen at Clay Court House boarding with Solomon Reedwith R.E. Altizer as my roommate.  Alsomy wife attended the same school boarding with R. B. Stephenson.  The same summer I attended the latter partof a select school taught by Lewis Arnold at Newton my old home at theconclusion of which I attended the institute at Spencer with Rev. Hughes asinstructor.  After this I passed anexamination under E. Corder, Co. Supt, B.S. Hall and John H. Hunt membes of theBoard of Examiners receiving a No. One certificate.  I also attended the institute in Clay County with Prof. S.H.Patrick, instructor after which I passed the examination under Perry C. Wilson,Co. Supt. and Buck Ashley and Call Hall, members of the Board of Examinersreceiving a No. one certificate on which I contracted with Charley Drake andSam Noe for the Green Mountain school in Geary Dist. Roane County boarding withSam. Noe during this term of 3 ½ months which closed xmas. Day 1884 this beinga campaign year I was a candidate for Justice of the peace my rivals being J.J. Smith B. J. Taylor, W.W. Ogden and Levi Stalnaker the two former beingelected.  The spring and early summer of1885 I attended school at Hocking port Ohio an indipendent institution taughtby Prof. C. E. Keys boarding with Mr. Curtis. I attended the institute at Parkersburg in Wood County with Prof. U. S.Fleming instructor from whence I went to Elizabeth, Wirt Co. and where I went afew weeks to school to Rev. Harvy Cofer also boarded with him from where I cameto Spencer a long a bout Aug. and passed an examination under John E. Hunt Co.Supt. and Ed. Corder and Mack. Chambers members of the board of examinersreceiving a No. one certificate.  Icontracted with Press. Vinyard and Isreal Faggot for the Drake School inSmithfield Dist. For three months boarding with Press. Vinyard also contractedwith N. B. Smith  Henry Sergent trusteesof the Rockey branch school for a term of three months in Walton Dist. Teachingit furing the fall before I began the Drake school boarding with Henry Seargent.  The summer of 1886 I again attended Rev.Harvey Cofers school at Elizabeth Wirt County boarding with Rev. Cofer, withRoy Hutchinson, John McClung and George Chenoweth as room mates.  I attended the institute at Spencer whichwas conducted by Prof. Frank Cork instructor and I also attended the instituteat Sutton Braxton County conducted by Prof. S. B. Brown instructor andprinciple of the Glenville Normal School passing an examination under NewtonHamric Co. Supt. and Dr. McCauley and Gray members of the board of examinersmaking No. one certificate.  Sept. 23^rd1886 ⁽¹¹⁾

I started for Red Cloud Nebraskaarriving there Sunday morning Sept. 26 and on Friday Oct. 1^st by theinfluence of Unkle William Cather I began clerking for J. L. Miner & Bro. OldHugh where I stayed two months on which I went before Rev. Charley W. SpringerCo. Supt. Webster County Nebr. On Dec. 9, 1886 and passed the examinationreceiving a second grade certificate and on the next day Dec. 10 I contractedwith R Gaiten Lewis director, F. E. Payne Treasurer and John C. Wilsonmoderator for five months school at the New V^aschool houseDist. No. 65 commencing January 8^th 1887 closing May 21^stupon which I recontracted for the same school of the same board of directorsfor six months to commence in Sept. or 1887 during both terms I boarded with F.E. Payne.  During the summer of 1887 Iattended the institute at Red Cloud which was on the plan of a normal lastingtwo weeks with Prof. Fertie of Indiana as principle, Prof. Picering, and Prof.Thornton. On the 12^th of Oct. I went before Co. Supt. C. W. Springerand he renewed my certificate without examination.  At the election the fall of 1887 Osker Ramey and myself wereelected clerks of election for the voting place at No. 66, Catherton townshipWebster County Nebr. Both acting as clerks at the election 1887.  After the close of my school at New V^a.No. 65 I contracted with Rev. John Bean, W^m Crable and abohemian by the name of Jasperson directors for two months school at the Shoalhouse by the poor farm No. 33 to commence Monday morning April, 30^th1888 while teaching which I boarded with Rev. John Bean on the conclusion ofwhich I came back to West Virginia⁽¹²⁾ attended an institute atSutton Braxton County and passed the examination following under D. S. MortonCo. Supt. with Amos Bright and  (he lefta space here) members of the Board of examiners receiving a No. one certificateon which I contracted with Asa Stump John Prunty and W.H. Spicer trustees forthe Copens run school after which I passed an examination before M. F.Lieuellen Co. Supt. and M. W. Morrisson and L. P. Ross members of the Board ofexaminers receiving a number one cirtificate I contracted with Worrick M^cLaughlinBud Rogers and Jerry Parker trustees of the Rogers fork School in Geary Dist.Roane Co. for four months during the progress of which on Saturday evening Dec.1^st 1888 by the ministerial officiery of Rev. Daniel Huffman abaptist minister I was married to Losie J. Chenoweth the only daughter of D.W.and Caroline Chenoweth  D.W. Chenowethsfathers name was Robert Chenoweth and his fathers name was John Chenoweth.  Mrs Caroline Chenoweth was a daughter ofGeorge Mollahan who was the paternal ancester of the majority of the Mollohansof Braxton County.  Her mother wasElizabeth Boggs a daughter of old Charley Boggs who lived on Reedy in RoaneCounty near the Wirt County line and of the same family of Bogges who arescattered over Braxton, Clay, Roane and adjoining counties whose ancestersoriginally came from Greenbrier and Monroe Counties.  When my school closed at the Rogers fork I went to Copens run inBraxton County and commenced school a bout the first Monday in January 1889 andtaught four months Boarding with Asa Stump and on the conclusion of this termof school I cam to my fathern laws D. W. Chenoweth’s and proceeded to take upthe urban of husbandry⁽¹³⁾ and proceeded to the putting out of acrop which by the aid of my fathern law I succeeded in raising a sufficiencyfor my frow and Self in the summer of 1889 I attended the institute atGrantsville presided over by Prof. Tapp principle of the Glenville normal asinstuctor on the conclusion of which I was called home to the birth of ourfirst child a little girl born dead which we christened Bessie.  I attended my first examination this year atSutton Braxton County which was conducted by Frank Dufield Co. Supt. and AmosBright and Newton Rusmisel members of the board of Examiners receiving a No.two certificate also passed in Calhoun Co. under Elliott Chenoweth my wifesoldest brother,⁽¹⁴⁾  Co.Supt. and Thornton Cain and M^cBarr members of the Board ofexaminers receiving a No. one certificate and contracted for the Stinson Schoolof M. V. Douglas, A. Truman and Frank Shafer trustees of which I taught two monthshaving contracted with D.W. Chenoweth, W^m. Knotts and Lem. L.Stalnaker for the Frozen run school for four months during the teaching ofwhich we moved to our selves on the 14^th day of Jan. 1890.  Ned Parsons who had fixed up our Tom Owenscabin for us stayed the first night with us. The summer of 1890 I attend the institute at Grantsville with Prof.Tappas instructor after which I passed the examination under Elliott Chenoweth⁽¹⁵⁾  Co. Supt. and Miss. Deed Johnson and EzraStemple members of the Board of examiners receiving a No. one certificatecontracting with D. W. Chenoweth, Lem. Stalnaker trustees of the Frozen runschool which I taught four months also contracted with G.E. Cooper and ElderA.W. Lane trustees of the Walker school which I taught four months boardingwith Squire G. E. Cooper.  During theWinter of 1890 & 1 while I was teaching the Walker School the organnizationof the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association was organized at the Walnut School housewhich organnization I joined and at the April meeting of the County Assembly Iwas elected Sec. Of the Co. Assembly and twice reallected for a period of timecovering two and a half years and at the Oct. meeting of the Co. Assembly I waselected with G.W. Griffin, H. C. Lockney S. H. Campbell, Frank M^cCultyand Charley Lockney deligates to the State Assembly which assembled atGlenville Gilmer County at which I with H. C. Lockney was elected a deligate tothe Nathional assembly which met in Indanoplis Ind. In Jan. 1892.  The summer of 1891 I attended the instituteat Grantsville being elected with J. H. Robers a member of the board ofexaminers in which capacity we acted for three years 1891, 2 and 3 with BruceB. Ferrell Co. Supt. and Bee Hopkins Co. Supt. the fall of 1891 I contractedwith D. W. Chenoweth, W^m Taylor and Sol. Jarvis trustees forthe Upper Nighcut school⁽¹⁶⁾ being the first school ever taught atthat point; term four months also the same year I contracted with Ned. Parsons,A. J. Parsons and Joe Brannan for the Rilla School which I taught four monthsbording with Capt. S. H. Campbell and Joe. Brannan.  In the campaign of 1892 I shied my caster in the race for theDemocratic nomination for the House of Deligates with Rufus Knotts, SP. H. A. AltizerAlfred Kenney and Tom. Hodges as my competitors which nomination I got on thethird ballot with H. A. Altizer my rival on Saturday May 28^th 1892having for my rival as the Republican nominee Rev. W^m Coberlywho received 654 votes to my 993 giving me a majority of 349.  The fall of 1892 I contracted with W^mTaylor, D. W. Chenoweth and Sol. Jarvis for the Upper Nigh Cut School which Itaught four months after which I went to Charleston the Capitol of W.V^a.as the member of the House of Deligates for Calhoun County in which I served 57days during which as a comment on my proficiencies and efficiencies as arepresentative the following from

The following items were added tothe Journal by Aristotle’s daughter Irene Dorsey Smith Pierce.

Life is as an oak tree’s leaf

Interspersed with the various tintsit portrays

Checkered with joys and grief

All along the path of our troubleddays

                                ThisFebruary 13, 1899

I think this is an ode to one of mybrothers who died in infancy written by my father, Aristotle Smith.

His body has passed from sight

And lays under the sod

His soul returned

To its maker “God”

There in quiet and peace

It will calmly repose

And on the morn of the reserection

It will unfold like the rose

And through the ages of eternity

That child like voice will sing

In choruses sweeter

Than any bird of the spring

And its tokens of recognition

Of its loved one behind

Will be sweet remembrances

As reclaiming is sublime

1.      This correction is taken from records in Richmond, Va.

2.      Born October 7, 1820, died June 24, 1826 - this correction wasmade from a certified copy of the old Smith Bible showing birth, death andmarriage for George Smith, his wife, Ann, and their children.

3.      Records taken from clerks office in Richmond, Va.

4.      Taken from tombstone in old Smith Cemetery, Back Creek, Va.

5.      Monument in Smith Cemetery, Back Creek, Va.

6.      First wife, Nancy, died 1908, Adamson, Ohio

7.      Elizabeth E. Triplett

8.      Wagoning, fiddling and frolicking from the story told me ofDad by Josiah Hughes - father must have still been fiddling.

9.      Aristotle Smith, Josiah Hughes, Lon Hughes, Will Kyle, BruceIrland and M.A.C. Hopkins all attended school on Lower Flat of Poca.  They were a group gathered together to studyand each one had a subject to teach. Mr. Hughes said that Aristotle was interested in history and when thatclass was over he would get his fiddle (as it was called) and begin to play andno one else could work.  Mr. Hughes saidthat Father taught all the history and he was sure good.  I met Josiah Hughes in So. Charleston afterI came to our school.  I forgot how hecame to find out who I was.                    Daisey S. Pierce Aristotle Smith’s 6^th child.

Began about July16

10.   Met Mother last of July or first of August at Clay Courthouse, 1883

11.   Went to Red Cloud, 1886.

12.   Came back to W. Va. about last of June or first of July, 1888.

13.   Began farming.

14.   Uncle Elliot, 1889

15.   1890

16.   Taught first school ever taught at Nicut, W. Va. where I wentlater.