My Genealogy Hound

REV. CHARLES W. SMITH, A. M., D. D., Wilkinsburg, is a native of Fayette county, Pa., born Jan. 30, 1840. His father, Rev. Wesley Smith, was for fifty-five years a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Eastern Ohio, and a resident of Allegheny county for twenty-six years, until his death, which occurred at Sharpsburg the last of October, 1888. Dr. Smith spent his youth in school until he approached the years of manhood, when he went into business for one year. In October, 1858, he received license to preach, and the following April (1859) was admitted into the Pittsburgh conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His first appointment was to Centerville, Somerset county, Pa., and his second to Carmichaels, Greene county, Pa. He served, subsequently, three churches in Fayette county: Bridgeport, Connellsville and Uniontown. All the remainder of his ministerial life has been spent in Pittsburgh and Allegheny City, except one term in Canton, Ohio, and one in McKeesport, Allegheny county. In these cities he served Carson Street, Arch Street and Smithfield Street churches, and four years as presiding elder of the Pittsburgh district. During his service in the district a great work was accomplished, through an organization called the Pittsburgh Church Union, in freeing certain churches from old and troublesome debts. The union was organized for this purpose, and, through the encouragement and assistance it gave, five churches were relieved and Methodism thus practically freed from debt in the entire city. When but thirty-six years of age he was elected a delegate to the general conference (of 1876), an unusual honor for one so young. Four years later he was the first reserve delegate, and in 1884 was elected a delegate again. During this conference he was elected editor of the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate, and entered upon the duties of that office the 1st of June in that year. In 1888 he was again elected a delegate to the general conference, and by that body was re-elected editor of the Advocate. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Allegheny College in 1871, and that of Doctor of Divinity from Scio College, in 1880. The doctor has spent a very busy life in the ministry. Since he was appointed to the pastorate of the Arch Street Church, in 1870, his charges have been large and responsible, requiring both hard labor and great skill. But he has met the requirements in every case, and by fidelity in one station has won promotion to another. In 1865 he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie L., daughter of Dr. Lutellus Lindley, of Connellsville, Pa., and they have three children, the eldest, Charles Lindley, being a minister, just admitted to the Pittsburgh conference; the others are Edna Miller and Lutellus Wesley.