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Rev. Dr. Arthur H. Smith. As pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ashland, Doctor Smith is numbered among the
influential and highly esteemed citizens of North Central Ohio. He was born at Wapakoneta, Ohio, Jan. 25, 1867,
the son of Rev. D. W. and Sarah Elizabeth (Eby) Smith.
Rev. D. W. Smith was a native of Maryland, born at Myersville. He was reared on a farm in the Middletown valley
of Frederick County, Md., and attended the rural schools. He also was a student at Middletown Academy, and in 1859
came to Springfield, Ohio, and entered Wittenberg College, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts
in 1863. He subsequently was graduated from the Wittenberg Theological Seminary, and during his early career as
a pastor, had charges at St. Paris, and Wapakoneta. Most of his life in the ministry, however, was spent in Mansfield
as pastor of the First Lutheran Church, and in 1883 he went to Springfield, Ohio. In 1887 he returned to Mansfield
and had charge of St. Luke's Lutheran Church. He died in that city in 1893 and his wife died in 1896. She was born
near Wheeling, W. Va. To Reverend and Mrs. Smith were born three children: Arthur H., the subject of this sketch;
Clara, deceased; and Annette M., who died in Ashland in 1923. Rev. D. W. Smith served as president of the Wittenberg
Synod and was also a member of the Wittenberg College Board of Directors for a number of years. He was a Republican
and always took an active interest in
Arthur H. Smith acquired his early education in the public schools of Mansfield, and in 1883 removed with his family
to Springfield, where he entered the Academy of Wittenberg College. After his graduation in 1884 he became a student
at Wittenberg College, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1888. He continued his studies
at Wittenberg Theological Seminary, now the Hamma Divinity School, from which he was graduated in 1891. Reverend
Smith came to Ashland during that year as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church and has continued in that charge to
the present time with the exception of four years, 1904-08, when he was located in Springfield as pastor of the
Fourth Lutheran Church. He is a member of the Lutheran Synod of Ohio, which is a constituent synod of the United
Lutheran Church in America. He has also been president of the East Ohio Synod, and for seven years was a member
of the executive board of the United Lutheran Church in America. Doctor Smith is a member of the board of directors
of Wittenberg College. He was assistant editor of the Lutheran World from 1904 until 1908, and for several years
was an editorial writer on the Lutheran Church Work and Observer. In 1924 he was the author of a history of the
East Ohio Synod and the following year published "Preachers and Preaching." He is also the author of
"The Lutheran Church and Child Nurture." During 1926 he traveled extensively in the Holy Land and in
1929 traveled throughout Europe.
In 1892 Doctor Smith was united in marriage with Miss Abby U. Billow, of Springfield, the daughter of George W.
and Sarah J. (Tressler) Billow. The former died in 1924 and is buried in Springfield. His widow, who was born in
Perry County, Pa., is now 92 years of age and lives in Ashland with her daughter, Mrs. Smith. To Doctor and Mrs.
Smith were born two daughters: Dorothy, a graduate of Wittenberg College, died in 1923, was the wife of Charles
Means; and Sarah B., born May 2, 1902, a graduate of Wittenberg College, now a teacher of Latin in Ashland High
School.
In 1909 Doctor Smith was given the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Wittenberg College. He is a Republican.
From:
History of North Central Ohio
Embracing Richland, Ashland, Wayne,
Medina, Lorin, Huron and Knox Counties
BY: William A. Duff
Historical Publishing Company
Topeka-Indianapolis 1931
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