History of the American Negro: West Virginia Edition

Simpson A. Smith

216 history american negro While in railroad work, Dr. Sinclair travelled extensively in the States, and Canada, and thus gained much valuable knowledge and experience not to be had from books. In politics he is a Republican, in religion a Baptist. He belongs to the Masons and is a member of the West Virginia Medical Society and the National Medical Association. He has had opportunity to study conditions under widely different circumstances and says,“What we need most of all as a race is confidence in ourselves and others, more race pride, economy and sacrifice.” He is himself a living example of what these things, coupled with truthfulness , punctuality and perseverance, will accomplish in the life of a man. Speaking of his work as a doctor he says, “I started to practice medicine in Montgomery, W. Va., in 1902. I remained there three years. Then a better field presented itself, and I moved to Bancroft, W. Va. There I had the practice at two coal mines. I was then one of the two colored doctors whose collections came through the Company. I remained there ten years. It was said that I owned the best looking home and fastest horses in the little town. I left there five years ago, (1916) that I might get better educational facilities for our boy, who was then eleven years old. The next year after coming here I became school physician and surgeon to the W. V. C. I., which position I still hold. Through the assistance and cooperation of my wife, who had stood fifty-fifty with me all along, we own our home, a seven room two-story granite face cement block. Besides we own one house and lot, and a plot of five acres with a house on it. All of this has been done through sacrifice, perseverance and plenty of stick-to-itiveness.” Simpson A. Smith Again and again, we have had occasion in these pages to note the rise of young men from the farm to places of large usefulness in the cities in various professional fields. One of these farm boys to succeed simpson alexander smith 218 history american negro in the medical profession is Dr. Simpson Alexander Smith, of Huntington . Dr. Smith is a native of the sister state of Ohio, having been born at Cedarville, on March 2, 1883. His father, the Rev. Vincent Smith, a Baptist preacher, was the son of Simpson A. and Sally J. Smith. Dr. Smith’s mother, before her marriage, was Miss Nancy A. Trail. Young Smith grew up on the farm and attended the public schools, where he laid the foundation of his education. He passed from the public schools to Wilberforce University, Xenia, Ohio, for his literary work. For his medical course, he went to Meharry Medical College, Nashville, where he won his M.D. degree in 1908. He took an active interest in college athletics while in school, especially foot ball. In 1909 he began the practice in Petersburg, where he remained for eight years, and built a good practice. Conditions at his home developed in such a way that in 1917 it was necessary for him to return to the farm, where he remained for two years. In 1919, he moved to Huntington, re-established himself in the practice during the Flu epidemic , and has since gone ahead with his work, giving special attention to genito-urinary diseases. In politics Dr. Smith is a Republican, in religion a Baptist. Among the secret and benevolent orders he belongs to the Pythians, Odd Fellows , Household of Ruth, and Mosaics. He is also identified with the State Medical Association. He volunteered during the war and was commissioned 1st Lieut. in the M. R. C., but was not called into the service. He believes the greatest single need of the race is the right sort of education and cooperation. Vincent Samuel Smith Since Emancipation, Virginia has sent into West Virginia a large number of men of both races who have contributed much to the progress and development of the state. All the professions and every line of work have in them many of these sons of the Old Dominion who are ...