Eugene D. Smith
Eugene D. Smith, yardmaster for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Xenia, was born at Terre Haute, Indiana, December 25, 1880, a son of James and Frances (Lowe) Smith, both now deceased, the former of whom was born and reared at Xenia and the latter at Marshall, Illinois. James Smith was a son of Adam L. and Sarah (Gano) Smith, the latter of whom was a member of one of the oldest families in Greene county, her mother, Mary (Williams) Gano, having been the first female white child born within what is now the precincts of the city of Xenia and was cradled in a maple-log trough in an old log house that stood on what is now the Roberts place on the north edge of the city. Mary Williams was a daughter of Remembrance Williams, of whom mention is made in the historical section of this work. Adam L. Smith was a native of Scotland, born and reared at Edinburgh, who came to this country as a young man of nineteen and presently set up a carriage shop at Xenia. He spent his last days in Xenia and lived to be seventy-two years of age. He and his wife were the parents of a considerable family of children, among those still living being Ed M. Smith, former chief of police of the city of Xenia, now living on Church street in that city, and George H. Smith, also of Xenia. who lives on South Detroit street.
James Smith was born and reared in Xenia and early entered the railroad service, presently becoming a fireman and then a locomotive engineer on the old Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, now a part of the Pennsylvania system, during that period of service being located at Terre Haute. He later became connected with the Wabash Railroad and during that period of service made his home at East St. Louis, where he later became engaged in the hotel and restaurant business. James Smith was twice married and by his first wife was the father of two sons, the subject of this sketch having had a brother, Albert Smith, now deceased, who also became engaged in the railroad service and was thus engaged to the time of his death. Following the death of his first wife, Frances Lowe, Mr. Smith married Sarah Capoe and by that union was the father of one child, a daughter. Edna.
Eugene D. Smith was but a child when his mother died and he was reared by his grandmother Smith at Xenia, in the schools of which city he received his schooling. He then rejoined his father at East St. Louis and there became employed as a messenger boy for the Wabash Railroad, later becoming a yard clerk and then a locomotive fireman. In 1902 he returned to Xenia and there became employed as a pipe-fitter and plumber and was thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he returned to railroad service and became a brakeman in the Pennsylvania Railroad yards at Xenia, presently being promoted to the position of yard conductor and served in the latter capacity for one year, or until 1906, when he was made night yardmaster. In 1913 Mr. Smith was promoted to the position of day yardmaster in the Xenia yards of the Pennsylvania Company and still occupies that position.
On January 6, 1906, Eugene D. Smith was united in marriage to Cora C. Weddele, who was born at Dayton, this state, daughter of George and Mary Weddele, the former of whom is now engineer at the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home at Xenia. Mr. Smith was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890