| Life fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert H. Smith |
| Born | March 10, 1888, in Baltimore, Maryland |
| Parents | Robert H. Smith and Margaret B. (Clark) Smith |
| Spouse | Mary Elizabeth Wysor |
| Children | Robert H. Jr., Joe W., May Gardner, Margaret Donnell, and Jane Stuart Smith |
| Primary residence | Roanoke, Virginia |
| Principal role | President and director of the Norfolk and Western Railway |
| Religious affiliation | Episcopalian |
Genealogy of Robert H. 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.
Robert H. Smith was born March 10, 1888, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a son of Robert H. Smith and Margaret B. Clark Smith. The biography supplies no earlier ancestry.
On November 9, 1916, Robert H. Smith married Mary Elizabeth Wysor. They had five children: Robert H. Smith Jr., Joe W. Smith, May Gardner Smith, Margaret Donnell Smith, and Jane Stuart Smith. The family resided at 1011 Franklin Road in Roanoke.
Family outline
- Robert H. Smith
- Father: Robert H. Smith
- Mother: Margaret B. (Clark) Smith
- Wife: Mary Elizabeth Wysor
- Children:
- Robert H. Smith Jr.
- Joe W. Smith
- May Gardner Smith
- Margaret Donnell Smith
- Jane Stuart Smith
Source
This biography appeared in History of the Shenandoah Valley: Family and Personal Records, Volume III (Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1952), pages 26-27.
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.
ROBERT H. SMITH—Heading one of the railroads of the most vital commercial importance in the Shenandoah Valley, Robert H. Smith has in recent years occupied the office of president and director of the Norfolk and Western Railway, with headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia. Mr. Smith has followed railroading throughout his career, and has advanced from chainman to president, with the same railway company.
Mr. Smith is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, where he was born March 10, 1888, son of Robert H. and Margaret B. (Clark) Smith. He received his preliminary education at a high school in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Tome School, Port Deposit, Maryland, graduating in 1907, and continued at Princeton University, where in 1911 he received the degree of Civil Engineer.
His experience in railroad service had begun the previous summer, when he was chainman with the engineering department of the Norfolk and Western Railway; and his subsequent career has been entirely in association with that company. His continuous connection began in 1911, in the capacity of masonry inspector and transitman; and he continued to use his civil engineering training in his subsequent steady advancement. He became assistant roadmaster in 1913; was roadmaster at Pulaski, Virginia, from 1914 to 1916; became roadmaster at Roanoke in the latter year; and in 1917 was appointed assistant division superintendent at Bluefield, West Virginia. From 1919 to 1922, Mr. Smith was assistant division superintendent at Roanoke. In 1922 he became division superintendent, serving in that capacity until 1931, when he was made general superintendent. Mr. Smith became general manager of the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1936; and assumed the responsibilities of vice-president, as well as general manager, three years later. In 1946, Mr. Smith was made president of the railroad, and has held that office since, being also a member of the board of directors. He is also president of the Virginia Holding Corporation, and the Pocahontas Land Corporation.
Mr. Smith holds official connection with other railroads. He is on the board of directors of the Norfolk Terminal Railway Company, and the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway Company. Other directorships include the Fruit Growers Express Company, the First National Exchange Bank of Roanoke, and the Mutual Fire, Marine and Inland Insurance Company. He is vitally interested in the cause of good education, and is a trustee of Hollins College in Virginia. Mr. Smith is a Phi Beta Kappa. He is a member of the Shenandoah Club, the Roanoke Country Club, and the Rotary Club of Roanoke. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian.
On November 9, 1916, Robert H. Smith married Mary Elizabeth Wysor. They are the parents of five children: 1. Robert H., Jr. 2. Joe W. 3. May Gardner. 4. Margaret Donnell. 5. Jane Stuart. The family resides at 1011 Franklin Road in Roanoke.