My Genealogy Hound

CLARENCE D. SMEAD, D. V. S., associate editor of the National Stockman, a journal which has a wide circulation throughout the States, is also a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of the town of Hector, Schuyler County, and is an extensive breeder of Shropshire sheep. He was born in Logan, this county, September 13, 1843, and is now one of the oldest residents in the place. His parents were Lysander and Sophia (Mapes) Smead, the former a native of Seneca County, whence he came to this locality about 1835. For about eighteen years thereafter he was one of the well-to-do and prosperous merchants of Logan, after which he retired to the farm on which the Doctor is now living. The tract then embraced eighty acres, but our subject has since added to it until it now embraces one hundred and thirty-one acres. On this place the father departed this life in March, 1859, at the age of fifty years. His place was conspicuous for the improvements found upon it, and the owner was well known in this vicinity as a man of temperance principles, which he supported both by example and precept.

Our subject’s mother was a daughter of William Mapes, a resident of Orange County, where she was born. She is still living, making her home at East Genoa, Cayuga County, this state, and is in her seventy-fourth year. Her only son was Clarence D., the original of this sketch. His father dying when he was a lad of sixteen years, he took charge of the home place, whereon he has made his home ever since.

In February, 1865, occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Hester Smith, the daughter of Whitley J. and Olive (Smith) Smith, prominent among the old and notable families of the state. Mrs. Smead was born in Tioga County, and was brought to this section by her parents when an infant. Her mother died soon afterward and she was taken care of by her maternal grandparents.

Mrs. Sophia Smead, the mother of our subject, was a second time married, and on that event sold her interest in the home place to her son. Being a great lover of horses, and desirous of informing himself regarding their treatment, he entered the College of Veterinary Surgery at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1872, with the degree of D. V. S. His mother was very much disappointed at this turn in affairs, as it was her ambition to have him become a minister. His father was desirous of making a lawyer of him, and when he found that his son was fond of reading books bearing on the subject of horses, their diseases, etc., he forbade the neighbors to lend him any.

It is now over twenty years since Dr. Smead became a veterinary surgeon. He has practiced with good results, becoming well known to the horsemen of the state, and is at present associate editor on the staff of the National Stockman, having charge of the veterinary department. He keeps up his studies in this line, and is a lecturer in the Farmers’ Institute. Now, however, his practice is mainly of an experimental character for college and newspaper use.

The Doctor has been a breeder of Shropshire sheep for seventeen years, having at the present time about one hundred of these animals on his place. He has imported many of his finest animals, and never fails to carry off the blue ribbons at the various state fairs where they are placed on exhibition. Dr. Smead has been for the past four years President of the New York State Shropshire Breeders’ Association, and is considered authority on all diseases relating to this breed of sheep. Although he has on various occasions been called upon to fill positions of honor in colleges in the country, he has always refused to do so, feeling that he can be of more benefit to his fellow-men by remaining on his farm, experimenting and making known the results through his department in the papers, and also in his lectures before the students of the Farmers’ Institute. He is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and although not a member of any particular church, gives liberally of his means to the various denominations in his neighborhood.