Henry R. Smith
Hon. Henry R. Smith, at one time prominent as a legislator and still well remembered for his activity in securing the passage of a number of important measures, and his sturdy opposition to iniquitous bills introduced in the legislative body, was for many years active in the ministry. Owing to ill health he was obliged to seek an outdoor life and as a result took to agricultural pursuits, and has a farm of 180 acres, near Leonardsburg.
Rev. Smith was born at Sarahsville, Noble County, Ohio, April 29, 1846, and is a son of John W. and Sarah (McGarry) Smith. John W. Smith was born in the North of Ireland. and upon coming to the United States located in Sarahsville, Ohio. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, but as there was no church of that denomination in his vicinity, he attended the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was a very active anti-slavery man. and the ministers who came to preach abolition were welcomed at his home, although they were threatened, egged and subjected to other indignities. He had two cousins, George H. and John, both of whom were Presbyterian ministers in Washington, D.C., and a brother, Matthew, who was a United Presbyterian minister in Iowa.
He married Sarah McGarry, who was born in Noble County, Ohio, and was a daughter of John McGarry, who came from the North of Ireland. She had a brother Samuel, who vvas the first probate judge of Noble County. A cousin of Dr. Smith, David Morrison, was a later incumbant of that office. John W. and Sarah Smith were parents of the following children: Henry R.; Jane Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of L. W. Thompson; John W., who died in 1907, at Sarahsville, Ohio; Matthew L., who lives on the old home place at Sarahsville; and Hugh, who also lives at Sarahsville.
Henry R. Smith was reared at Sarahsville and attended the public schools and taught in the schools of the county for several years. In 1808 he entered Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and attended nearly three years, after which he was a student at Oberlin College for two years, and while there had a call, in 1873, to fill a vacancy in the pulpit, his charge including Wesleyan Methodist churches in Bennington Township, Morrow County, and Oxford and Orange Townships, Delaware County. After two years he accepted a call to the Sarahsville Weslyan Methodist Church, and during his long pastorate there exerted a powerful influence for good in the community. His advanced stand on public questions to which he gave fearless expression resulted in his nomination in 1879, on the Republican ticket, and subsequent election, to the State Legislature, although he had not solicited the office. In 1881 he was returned to the Legislature for a second term. He was one of the pioneers in the movement to regulate saloons and during his second term introduced and secured the passage of a bill requiring them to close on Sunday. The liquor organizations brought all their powerful influences to bear in an attempt to defeat the measure, and resort was had to anonymous letters threatening Mr. Smith with death. One letter signed "Messenger of Freedom" contained a picture of crossed daggers and an hour-glass with the sand nearly run out. Journals puhlished in interest of the liquor traffic villified, abused and ridiculed him and the community he represented, but without avail. He was called Saint Smith, Crank, Sunday Bill Smith, etc. The stronger the opposition, the harder he fought, and so forceful was he in championing the cause of law and order, that his speeches were more widely published and commented upon by the press of the State than those of any other member of that body.
A bill had been introduced for the taxation of churches and it looked as though it would pass until Rev. Smith, without any preparation, in the final hour of debate, took the floor and extemporaneously delivered a masterful speech showing the influence of the church for good, and the questionable aim of those fostering the bill.
Among the press comments on his ability and demeanor as a legislator, we quote the following in appreciation of his efforts: "Hon. H. R. Smith of the Legislature from Noble County, is recognized as one of the most industrious and clear-headed members of the House. In his seat every day during the session, he votes intelligently on every measure that comes up, and his votes are always cast in the interest of economy and honest laws. His speeches on local option and against the bill taxing property have received more general publication and comment throughout the State than any speeches made in the Legislature."
The following letter, accompanying a gift ol two volumes of Harper's Cyclopedia of United Slates History, is self explanatory: "Hon. Henry Smith,
My Dear Sir:
You have had a laborious task as member of Committee on Enrollment and Revision, and I desire to acknowledge the service you have rendered the House and also myself by the presentation to you of the accompanying volumes,
Very Respectfully,
O. J. HODGE,
Speaker."
In 1884, Rev. Smith returned to pastoral work at Morton's Corners and continued until 1889, when ill health compelled him to leave the ministry. He then moved to Leonardsburg, where he has since followed farming with beneficial results. Always a Prohibitionist in principle, he was in 1895 the nominee of that party for secretary of State. In 1907 he was elected justice of the peace of Brown Township. Mr. Smith was delegate to the General Conference of his denomination for a number of terms. He has been a member of the Book Committee of his church for 12 years.
Henry R. Smith was united in marriage to Celia L. Potter, October 16, 1879, at Leonardsburg, Ohio, Rev. George Richey performing the ceremony. Mrs. Smith was born in Peru Township, Morrow County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Israel and Phoebe (Whipple) Potter. After completing a course of instruction in the public schools she attended Sharp's Business College at Delaware, receiving a diploma. She then engaged in artistic studies in the Ohio Wesleyan University, developing a talent she has possessed from childhood. Although she has, at different times, given lessons in painting, her accomplishment has mainly been used for the pleasure it gives her and others. With an eye for symmetry and beauty, she can paint scenes from nature rapidly and without studious effort, and has reproduced numerous views in the vicinity, with which she has been familiar all her life, one being of the old Rotter homestead. These, together with paintings of flowers, reproductions of other paintings, her crayon portraits and pencil sketches, ornament her home and those of her friends and make a beautiful collection.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children as follows: Henry Richey, who graduated from Delaware High School, completed the classical course in Ohio Wesleyan University in 1907, and after pursuing post graduate work in the oratorical and commercial courses he accepted the principalship of Gibsonburg, Ohio, High School. Walter Reed, who is farming the home place, and Esther, who is attending school.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908