| Life fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | H. McKelden Smith |
| Born | April 10, 1876 |
| Parents | Judge John W. Green Smith and Sarah McKelden |
| Spouse | Emily Vance Pancake |
| Child | H. McKelden Smith, Jr. |
| Principal roles | Fuel and ice businessman; director of Augusta National Bank; member of the Staunton city council |
| Religious affiliation | Episcopal Church |
Genealogy of H. McKelden Smith
This genealogical account was constructed from the family information contained in the biography below. No relationships or life facts have been added from outside sources.
H. McKelden Smith was born April 10, 1876, the only child of Judge John W. Green Smith and his second wife, Sarah McKelden. Judge Smith had four children by his first marriage to Miss Taylor. The account traces the Smith line through Judge John Green Smith and his parents, Daniel Smith and Jane Harrison, to Captain John Smith and his wife Margaret.
In April 1912, H. McKelden Smith married Emily Vance Pancake, a daughter of John S. Pancake of Staunton. Their son was H. McKelden Smith, Jr.
Family outline
H. McKelden Smith
- Father: Judge John W. Green Smith
- Mother: Sarah (McKelden) Smith
- Wife: Emily Vance Pancake
- Son: H. McKelden Smith, Jr.
Source
This biography appeared in History of the Shenandoah Valley: Family and Personal Records, Volume III (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1952), pages 42-43.
Verbatim biography
The following is a faithful transcription of the original biography. OCR errors have been corrected against the printed page images, but the original wording, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and factual claims have not been rewritten.
H. McKELDEN SMITH—One of the leading business men of Staunton, H. McKelden Smith has been engaged in a variety of commercial enterprises, including fuel supply, ice distribution and banking. His forebears established an excellent record in the Valley, and Mr. Smith, through his creditable performance in whatever he has undertaken, has merited equally the esteem of his fellows.
Born April 10, 1876, H. McKelden Smith is a son of Judge John W. Green and Sarah (McKelden) Smith. The family is descended from Captain John Smith, who founded the family in Rockingham and Augusta counties. He came from England and proved his intention of taking up land at Orange Courthouse, June 26, 1740. Captain John and Margaret Smith had sons named Abraham, Henry, Daniel, John and Joseph, and a daughter who married Hugh Bowen. Captain John Smith and seventeen others were the successful defenders for three days of a fort near where Pattonsburg now stands. The besiegers were French and Indians. After the garrison had been reduced to about ten while thirty times that number were on the outside, a surrender was agreed upon under the conditions of which the defenders were to be allowed to return to their homes. These terms were violated, and the prisoners were embarked from New Orleans. One of the sons of Captain John Smith had been killed by an Indian after the surrender and another died en route to New Orleans. From there Captain Smith was sent to France and he was the only one of the ill-fated party to return to America. Captain Smith died at the home of his son Daniel, near Harrisonburg, after the Revolutionary War had begun. Several of his sons had distinguished records of service in this war. One of them, Abraham, became colonel of militia in 1776, and in 1778 was appointed a justice and county lieutenant, while Abraham’s son John served as an ensign in the decisive battle of Point Pleasant. Daniel, another son of Captain John, was for several terms the presiding justice of Augusta County. He was captain of militia and the first court of Rockingham County was held in his house. Also for many years he served as circuit court judge. He married Jane Harrison and they were the parents of Judge John Green Smith.
Born in Rockingham County, John Green Smith acquired a college education, and additional experience in the field of law from his father. He practiced in Harrisonburg, where he became judge of the circuit court. During the War Between the States he acted as provost marshal. Following that war he removed to California to practice law there. However, because of his record as a Confederate soldier he was debarred from practicing in the courts, though he was permitted to act as counselor. He married his first wife, Miss Taylor, in California. About 1870 he returned to Virginia, and from that time until his death carried on a large private practice and for a time served as a judge of the corporation court. He is spoken of by a distinguished Virginian and resident of Staunton, Armistead C. Gordon, as one of the ablest lawyers and finest men he ever knew. In his religious faith, Judge Smith was an Episcopalian.
He married, as his second wife, Sarah McKelden, of Washington, D. C. He had four children by his first marriage. The only child of the second union was H. McKelden Smith, of whom further.
After completing his preliminary education in the local schools, H. McKelden Smith attended the University of Virginia, and immediately thereafter entered business life in the city where his family had long been established. He chose the fuel supply and ice business as his field of endeavor; but he was also prominent in the financial life of the city, being a director of the Augusta National Bank.
Mr. Smith has also been identified with service to the municipal government, having served on the city council for a number of years. Like his forebears, he has been a communicant of the Episcopal Church.
In April, 1912, H. McKelden Smith married Emily Vance Pancake, daughter of John S. Pancake of Staunton. They became the parents of a son, H. McKelden, Jr.