My Genealogy Hound

MR. SMITH, M. D. This gentleman is the leading physician of the village of McGrawville, and coroner of Cortland County. He is a son of Robert and Jane (Pudney) Smith, and was born in the town of Solon, Cortland County, July 22, 1855. From the district schools of Solon, where he secured the preliminary foundation of an education, he went to the Union High School of McGrawville, which he attended four terms. He early set his mark in life, and determined to become a medical practitioner. As his father’s financial circumstances did not permit him to go to the large expenditure necessary to fit his boy for one of the learned professions, our subject took the matter in his own hands, and paid his own way through college. Thus he can take almost all the credit to himself of obtaining a complete medical education, that has fitted him for practice of the most difficult nature. After leaving the high school, he taught school for four years, and then read medicine in the office of Dr. Henry A. Bolles of Cortland for a time. After attending the University of Philadelphia for one year, he became a student at the Eclectic Medical College of New York City, from which institution of merit he graduated in 1879. As soon as he was qualified to practice, he came to McGrawville and opened an office. For ten years he was engaged at McGrawville, and then took a second course at the Medical College of Albany, from which he graduated in 1889. Returning to McGrawville, better qualified than ever by reason of his wide experience and excellent training, he resumed his practice, which is flourishing and grown to large dimensions. His work is not confined to his immediate vicinity, but extends over a great part of the county. As a physician he is well and favorably known throughout a large circle of patrons, a reputation which he has won by an energy, determination and skill, that have secured for him an extensive field of practice, and have fairly given him a place among the leading practitioners of his profession. He is self-made, according to the common significance of that term. He is a member of the Cortland County Medical Society, and also of the American Medical Association. He is a Republican in his politics, and is filling out a second term as coroner of the county. He has also been health commissioner of the town of Cortland for six years.

On his father’s side Mr. Smith comes from a Massachusetts family, but the members of the family have had a long residence in the county. His great-grandfather was born near East Freetown P. O. His grandfather was also born there, and engaged in farming, but about thirty years ago he moved to Mason, Mich., where he lived until his death, which occurred in the latter part of February, 1881. He was a very active member of the Baptist Church, and was a Republican in politics. His wife came from Ireland with her parents at the age of eight years, and located near East Freetown. They had eight children, seven boys and one girl.

Robert Smith, the father of Dr. Smith, was born in East Freetown, Cortland County, and when a boy attended the common schools of Freetown township. At the age of eleven years he took up his residence with his grandfather, Smith, until he was married to our subject’s mother. After his marriage he settled down in the town of Solon and engaged in farming, in which pursuit he continued for twenty-eight years, when he moved to McGrawville, and has since lived a retired life. In the M. E. Church of McGrawville he is recognized as one of the prominent members, and has a record for piety and integrity of the deepest character. He is a Republican in his party affiliations. The only other child born to him besides our subject was Margaret, who came into the world September 22, 1859, and married Edward Dart of Freetown, this county.

Dr. Smith is a pleasant, companionable gentleman, with a liking for company, and a genial manner and urbanity under all conditions that wins him large numbers of friends. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge of McGrawville, No. 320, and is one of its past grands. He is also a member of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York.

He married Ida Youmans, a daughter of Dr. J. M. Youmans, and they have a pleasant home, where they delight to meet their friends, whom they entertain in a royal manner.