Hoke Smith

GOVERNOR HOKE SMITH of Georgia was b. 9/2/1855 in Newton, North Carolina. He descended from a long line of distinguished ancestors, both on the maternal and paternal side. His father, Professor HILDREDTH H. SMITH was b. 1820, d. 9/14/1908 at his home 582 W. Peachtree Street, in Atlanta. He was an educator of ability and prominence in his day. During Hoke's childhood, he was a professor at the University of North Carolina. As told by Hoke Smith, "My father was the best all-round scholar it has ever been my pleasure to meet. The master of a dozen languages, the old classics remained dear to his heart to the very last. Why, it was only a couple of weeks ago that I visited him and he finally Said, `Son, I know you are very busy, but ate you keeping up with Your old Latin and Creek?' I was compelled to admit that I had not given these the daily attention I once did...As for the facts Of his life, he was born in New Hampshire 88 years ago of sturdy Scotch parentage. From his earliest boyhood days be proved himself a natural scholar and to the very end his studies, next to his loved ones, and his old-time faith, continued to he the greatest pleasure of his existence. He graduated from Bolton College, Maine, I believe in the class of 1841, as an honor graduate. After graduating, be taught for a time in Baltimore, reading law at the same time and later being admitted to the bar. It was at this time that his eyes began to cause him great trouble. He decided to give them a rest and with several of his friends chartered a schooner and made the trip around the Horn and up the coast of California. As I remember it, some two years were spent in this voyage and the memories remained clear and happy ones to the last. It was after this trip, in 1848 or 1849, that he moved to North Carolina and was elected president of a college of the German Reform church at Newton, Catawba county. Here he remained for several years, and in 1856 was made professor of modern languages at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He filled this chair until 1868, ...be moved to Lincolnton, N. C. and organized the high school at that place. It was during his stay in North Carolina that he married Miss Hoke, the daughter of Michael Hoke, and sister of General R. F. Hoke, famous in the annals of the Confederacy. In 1872, I believe it was, be came to Atlanta and taught in the schools here for a year or so. Then it was in 1874 that he went to Houston, Texas and there, with Dr. Sears, of the Peabody fund, organized the public schools of that city. He was later made president of the State Normal School of Texas. Atlanta Georgian, 9/14/1908, obituary of Dr. Hildredth H. Smith. At the age of seventeen Hoke Smith came to Atlanta to study law. He later taught a school in Waynesboro, Ga. During 1873, age of eighteen, be was admitted to the Georgia bar.

Hoke Smith enjoyed a rapid rise to fame in the Atlanta area as a lawyer and politician. In 1876 he was chairman of the Fulton Co. Democratic executive committee, and in 1882 was a delegate to the state Democratic convention. Tn 1887 Hoke Smith secured a controlling interest in The Atlanta Journal. In 1907 he was chosen Governor of Georgia by an overwhelming majority. Atlanta Georgian, 12/23/1909.

Quoting from the Atlanta Georgian, 1/1/1908 (From The Nashville American). "Hoke Smith of Georgia has been up in New York, and talking this way: `I never saw such a chaotic condition. The more one looks at it the more chaotic it becomes. To tell the truth, I have no definite views on the situation. The South does not mean to be treated any longer as if it were in a state of secession. We are just as loyal as any other people. National sentiment is just as strong in the South as in any other part of the country, and the feeling for the constitution is a good deal stronger there than it is in some other places. We are willing to follow the flag further than most people...."

JOHN H. SMITH

JOHN H. SMITH b. ca 1780-d. 7/1826 in Baldwin Co., Ga. m. 12/6/1807 Celia Lester (deed by 1840). His LWT 11/31/1821:7/3/1826 Baldwin Co., Ga. Children:

LUCINDA SMITH m. Mr. Worsham, lived Baldwin Co., Ga. 1840.
PERMELIA SMITH b. ca 1810 m. 1/17/1833 in Tattnall Co., Ga. Albert N. Dukes.
LEONIDAS L. SMITH b. 12/17/1811-d. 1!29/3859 m. on 9/10/1835 in Baldwin Co., Ga., .Jane McBride (12/23/1816-10/4/1894). Children:
1. L. W. Smith (son) b. 1836 Ga.
2. John S. Smith b. 1838 Ga.
3. Elizabeth Smith b. 1840 Ga.
4. O. M. Smith (son) b. 1842 Ga.
5. Louisa Smith b. 1844 Ga.
6. Mary P. Smith b. 1847 Ga.
7. Eugenia Smith b. 1849 Ga.
SEATON W. SMITH.
JOHN O. SMITH b. 1810 Ga., lived Baldwin Co., Ga. m. Luvania b. 1810 Ga. Children:
1. Milley Smith b. 1835 Ga.
2. George Smith b. 1838 Ga.
3. Augustus Smith b. 1844 Ga.
4. Laurana Smith b. 1845 Ga.
MATILDA E. SMITH.
HENRIETTA E. SMITH.
EXER AN SMITH.

J. R. SMITH

J. R. SMITH was b. on a farm in Henry Co., Ga. in 1867, attending the country cross-roads school. When sixteen, he came alone to Atlanta and went to work in the law office of E. V. Carter. After a year, a sense of duty impelled him to return to the farm, where he worked with his brother for four years. At the age of twenty-one, Smith worked in a dry goods store in Atlanta, known as Taylor and Galphin. In 1895, be went into partnership with his brother-in-law, organizing the department store of Smith 6 Higgins on Peters Street. Once, upon becoming a member of the board of education, he was asked from what college he was graduated. He replied, "I was graduated from the plough-shares."