Reverend Doctor Owen Lun West Smith
Owen L. W. Smith, U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General to Liberia and Methodist leader was born into slavery. He was the son of Ollen Smith and Maria Hicks.
As a young man Owen was a personal servant for the Confederate army. He happened to be at home when General Sherman's Union troops made their march through the south. At the age fourteen he left his mother to join Sherman's army in its return north. He was present at the Battle of Bentonville which was the last battle of the armies lead by General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. It is said that Owen marched in the Washington, D.C. Grand Parade and Review marking the end of the war.
After leaving the Union Army, Owen returned to his mother in North Carolina. Sometime later she sent him to private school in New Bern, North Carolina. There he was taught by an African Methodist Episcopal Zion minister. At age sixteen Owen moved to Pitt County, North Carolina. He worked on a farm part-time which was owned by Colonel C. W. Smith, who was a "carpetbagger" from the north. Colonel Smith had a school on his farm, to benefit his employees, which was taught by northern teachers. Every move in Owen's life included education.
By 1871 Owen was a school teacher and in 1873 was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Governor Franklin J. Moses, Jr. of South Carolina. He received a state scholarship and enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1874 to study law. In 1877 African-Americans were no longer allowed at the university. Owen, however, received his license and did practice law for a time.
He later returned to North Carolina and committed himself to politics and teaching school. He did so until October 1880 when he had a religious conversion. On February 3, 1881 Reverend Smith was licensed as a preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He then was ordained a deacon in April and an elder in 1883. During the years, on different circuits, seven churches were built under Reverend Smith's leadership
He also served as the private secretary of his bishop for a number of years, secretary of the Sunday School Convention of the conference, and corresponding editor of the Star of Zion. He was elected presiding elder in January 1890 and re-elected until 1894.
After the Republican victory in the presidential election of 1896, President William McKinley named Reverend Smith to the first of two terms as U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General in Liberia on January 14, 1898. He served in this capacity until May 13, 1902. His candidacy was endorsed by the governor and leading state officials of North Carolina. During his travel to Liberia he spent some time in London, Oxford, and elsewhere in England. Also in 1898, Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina awarded him an honorary D.D. degree.
Reverend Smith was married three times. First to Lucy Ann Jackson on April 9, 1878 in Columbus County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Jacob Watts and Chana Jackson. Lucy was fatally shot by a relative on July 6, 1891. His second marriage happened on November 29, 1892 in Beaufort, Carteret, North Carolina to Adora Estelle Oden (1870 to 1906). His final marriage was to Cynthia Ann King Isler (1868 to 1921) on March 31, 1908 in Swift Creek, Pitt, North Carolina. Cynthia was the daughter of Madison and Phyllis King.
Reverend Smith and Lucy Ann Jackson were the parents of Jesse Alexander Smith. He was born on February 12, 1881 in Salisbury, North Carolina. Jesse later moved to Arkansas and was a school teacher. He married Hattie F. Bailiff on June 2, 1911 in Crossett, Ashley, Arkansas. Jesse passed away on December 19, 1928 in Lincoln County, Arkansas
Reverend Smith and Adora Estelle Oden had a daughter Flossie who was born in August of 1895 and died before 1910. While in Liberia they adopted a young girl and gave her the name Carrie Emma Smith. Carrie was born on December 29, 1899 in Liberia, Africa and passed away on September 2, 1917 in Wilson, Wilson, North Carolina. At the time of her death Carrie was a a student at Slater Normal School in Winston, North Carolina preparing to return to Africa as a missionary.
Reverend Doctor Owen Lu West Smith was buried in the private cemetery of Mount Hebron Masonic Lodge at Wilson.
References: Biography by Hugh Buckner Johnston and Brenda Marks Eagles, 1994; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography by James Terry White; US Department of State-Office of the Historian; One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by James Walker Hood; FamilySearch.org; Ancestry.com; PoliticalGraveyard.com
Owen L. W. Smith, U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General to Liberia and Methodist leader was born into slavery. He was the son of Ollen Smith and Maria Hicks.
As a young man Owen was a personal servant for the Confederate army. He happened to be at home when General Sherman's Union troops made their march through the south. At the age fourteen he left his mother to join Sherman's army in its return north. He was present at the Battle of Bentonville which was the last battle of the armies lead by General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. It is said that Owen marched in the Washington, D.C. Grand Parade and Review marking the end of the war.
After leaving the Union Army, Owen returned to his mother in North Carolina. Sometime later she sent him to private school in New Bern, North Carolina. There he was taught by an African Methodist Episcopal Zion minister. At age sixteen Owen moved to Pitt County, North Carolina. He worked on a farm part-time which was owned by Colonel C. W. Smith, who was a "carpetbagger" from the north. Colonel Smith had a school on his farm, to benefit his employees, which was taught by northern teachers. Every move in Owen's life included education.
By 1871 Owen was a school teacher and in 1873 was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Governor Franklin J. Moses, Jr. of South Carolina. He received a state scholarship and enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1874 to study law. In 1877 African-Americans were no longer allowed at the university. Owen, however, received his license and did practice law for a time.
He later returned to North Carolina and committed himself to politics and teaching school. He did so until October 1880 when he had a religious conversion. On February 3, 1881 Reverend Smith was licensed as a preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He then was ordained a deacon in April and an elder in 1883. During the years, on different circuits, seven churches were built under Reverend Smith's leadership
He also served as the private secretary of his bishop for a number of years, secretary of the Sunday School Convention of the conference, and corresponding editor of the Star of Zion. He was elected presiding elder in January 1890 and re-elected until 1894.
After the Republican victory in the presidential election of 1896, President William McKinley named Reverend Smith to the first of two terms as U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General in Liberia on January 14, 1898. He served in this capacity until May 13, 1902. His candidacy was endorsed by the governor and leading state officials of North Carolina. During his travel to Liberia he spent some time in London, Oxford, and elsewhere in England. Also in 1898, Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina awarded him an honorary D.D. degree.
Reverend Smith was married three times. First to Lucy Ann Jackson on April 9, 1878 in Columbus County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Jacob Watts and Chana Jackson. Lucy was fatally shot by a relative on July 6, 1891. His second marriage happened on November 29, 1892 in Beaufort, Carteret, North Carolina to Adora Estelle Oden (1870 to 1906). His final marriage was to Cynthia Ann King Isler (1868 to 1921) on March 31, 1908 in Swift Creek, Pitt, North Carolina. Cynthia was the daughter of Madison and Phyllis King.
Reverend Smith and Lucy Ann Jackson were the parents of Jesse Alexander Smith. He was born on February 12, 1881 in Salisbury, North Carolina. Jesse later moved to Arkansas and was a school teacher. He married Hattie F. Bailiff on June 2, 1911 in Crossett, Ashley, Arkansas. Jesse passed away on December 19, 1928 in Lincoln County, Arkansas
Reverend Smith and Adora Estelle Oden had a daughter Flossie who was born in August of 1895 and died before 1910. While in Liberia they adopted a young girl and gave her the name Carrie Emma Smith. Carrie was born on December 29, 1899 in Liberia, Africa and passed away on September 2, 1917 in Wilson, Wilson, North Carolina. At the time of her death Carrie was a a student at Slater Normal School in Winston, North Carolina preparing to return to Africa as a missionary.
Reverend Doctor Owen Lu West Smith was buried in the private cemetery of Mount Hebron Masonic Lodge at Wilson.
References: Biography by Hugh Buckner Johnston and Brenda Marks Eagles, 1994; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography by James Terry White; US Department of State-Office of the Historian; One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by James Walker Hood; FamilySearch.org; Ancestry.com; PoliticalGraveyard.com
Reverend Doctor Owen Lun West Smith
Owen L. W. Smith, U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General to Liberia and Methodist leader was born into slavery. He was the son of Ollen Smith and Maria Hicks.
As a young man Owen was a personal servant for the Confederate army. He happened to be at home when General Sherman's Union troops made their march through the south. At the age fourteen he left his mother to join Sherman's army in its return north. He was present at the Battle of Bentonville which was the last battle of the armies lead by General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. It is said that Owen marched in the Washington, D.C. Grand Parade and Review marking the end of the war.
After leaving the Union Army, Owen returned to his mother in North Carolina. Sometime later she sent him to private school in New Bern, North Carolina. There he was taught by an African Methodist Episcopal Zion minister. At age sixteen Owen moved to Pitt County, North Carolina. He worked on a farm part-time which was owned by Colonel C. W. Smith, who was a "carpetbagger" from the north. Colonel Smith had a school on his farm, to benefit his employees, which was taught by northern teachers. Every move in Owen's life included education.
By 1871 Owen was a school teacher and in 1873 was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Governor Franklin J. Moses, Jr. of South Carolina. He received a state scholarship and enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1874 to study law. In 1877 African-Americans were no longer allowed at the university. Owen, however, received his license and did practice law for a time.
He later returned to North Carolina and committed himself to politics and teaching school. He did so until October 1880 when he had a religious conversion. On February 3, 1881 Reverend Smith was licensed as a preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He then was ordained a deacon in April and an elder in 1883. During the years, on different circuits, seven churches were built under Reverend Smith's leadership
He also served as the private secretary of his bishop for a number of years, secretary of the Sunday School Convention of the conference, and corresponding editor of the Star of Zion. He was elected presiding elder in January 1890 and re-elected until 1894.
After the Republican victory in the presidential election of 1896, President William McKinley named Reverend Smith to the first of two terms as U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General in Liberia on January 14, 1898. He served in this capacity until May 13, 1902. His candidacy was endorsed by the governor and leading state officials of North Carolina. During his travel to Liberia he spent some time in London, Oxford, and elsewhere in England. Also in 1898, Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina awarded him an honorary D.D. degree.
Reverend Smith was married three times. First to Lucy Ann Jackson on April 9, 1878 in Columbus County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Jacob Watts and Chana Jackson. Lucy was fatally shot by a relative on July 6, 1891. His second marriage happened on November 29, 1892 in Beaufort, Carteret, North Carolina to Adora Estelle Oden (1870 to 1906). His final marriage was to Cynthia Ann King Isler (1868 to 1921) on March 31, 1908 in Swift Creek, Pitt, North Carolina. Cynthia was the daughter of Madison and Phyllis King.
Reverend Smith and Lucy Ann Jackson were the parents of Jesse Alexander Smith. He was born on February 12, 1881 in Salisbury, North Carolina. Jesse later moved to Arkansas and was a school teacher. He married Hattie F. Bailiff on June 2, 1911 in Crossett, Ashley, Arkansas. Jesse passed away on December 19, 1928 in Lincoln County, Arkansas
Reverend Smith and Adora Estelle Oden had a daughter Flossie who was born in August of 1895 and died before 1910. While in Liberia they adopted a young girl and gave her the name Carrie Emma Smith. Carrie was born on December 29, 1899 in Liberia, Africa and passed away on September 2, 1917 in Wilson, Wilson, North Carolina. At the time of her death Carrie was a a student at Slater Normal School in Winston, North Carolina preparing to return to Africa as a missionary.
Reverend Doctor Owen Lu West Smith was buried in the private cemetery of Mount Hebron Masonic Lodge at Wilson.
References: Biography by Hugh Buckner Johnston and Brenda Marks Eagles, 1994; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography by James Terry White; US Department of State-Office of the Historian; One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by James Walker Hood; FamilySearch.org; Ancestry.com; PoliticalGraveyard.com
Owen L. W. Smith, U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General to Liberia and Methodist leader was born into slavery. He was the son of Ollen Smith and Maria Hicks.
As a young man Owen was a personal servant for the Confederate army. He happened to be at home when General Sherman's Union troops made their march through the south. At the age fourteen he left his mother to join Sherman's army in its return north. He was present at the Battle of Bentonville which was the last battle of the armies lead by General William T. Sherman and Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. It is said that Owen marched in the Washington, D.C. Grand Parade and Review marking the end of the war.
After leaving the Union Army, Owen returned to his mother in North Carolina. Sometime later she sent him to private school in New Bern, North Carolina. There he was taught by an African Methodist Episcopal Zion minister. At age sixteen Owen moved to Pitt County, North Carolina. He worked on a farm part-time which was owned by Colonel C. W. Smith, who was a "carpetbagger" from the north. Colonel Smith had a school on his farm, to benefit his employees, which was taught by northern teachers. Every move in Owen's life included education.
By 1871 Owen was a school teacher and in 1873 was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Governor Franklin J. Moses, Jr. of South Carolina. He received a state scholarship and enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1874 to study law. In 1877 African-Americans were no longer allowed at the university. Owen, however, received his license and did practice law for a time.
He later returned to North Carolina and committed himself to politics and teaching school. He did so until October 1880 when he had a religious conversion. On February 3, 1881 Reverend Smith was licensed as a preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He then was ordained a deacon in April and an elder in 1883. During the years, on different circuits, seven churches were built under Reverend Smith's leadership
He also served as the private secretary of his bishop for a number of years, secretary of the Sunday School Convention of the conference, and corresponding editor of the Star of Zion. He was elected presiding elder in January 1890 and re-elected until 1894.
After the Republican victory in the presidential election of 1896, President William McKinley named Reverend Smith to the first of two terms as U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General in Liberia on January 14, 1898. He served in this capacity until May 13, 1902. His candidacy was endorsed by the governor and leading state officials of North Carolina. During his travel to Liberia he spent some time in London, Oxford, and elsewhere in England. Also in 1898, Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina awarded him an honorary D.D. degree.
Reverend Smith was married three times. First to Lucy Ann Jackson on April 9, 1878 in Columbus County, North Carolina. She was the daughter of Jacob Watts and Chana Jackson. Lucy was fatally shot by a relative on July 6, 1891. His second marriage happened on November 29, 1892 in Beaufort, Carteret, North Carolina to Adora Estelle Oden (1870 to 1906). His final marriage was to Cynthia Ann King Isler (1868 to 1921) on March 31, 1908 in Swift Creek, Pitt, North Carolina. Cynthia was the daughter of Madison and Phyllis King.
Reverend Smith and Lucy Ann Jackson were the parents of Jesse Alexander Smith. He was born on February 12, 1881 in Salisbury, North Carolina. Jesse later moved to Arkansas and was a school teacher. He married Hattie F. Bailiff on June 2, 1911 in Crossett, Ashley, Arkansas. Jesse passed away on December 19, 1928 in Lincoln County, Arkansas
Reverend Smith and Adora Estelle Oden had a daughter Flossie who was born in August of 1895 and died before 1910. While in Liberia they adopted a young girl and gave her the name Carrie Emma Smith. Carrie was born on December 29, 1899 in Liberia, Africa and passed away on September 2, 1917 in Wilson, Wilson, North Carolina. At the time of her death Carrie was a a student at Slater Normal School in Winston, North Carolina preparing to return to Africa as a missionary.
Reverend Doctor Owen Lu West Smith was buried in the private cemetery of Mount Hebron Masonic Lodge at Wilson.
References: Biography by Hugh Buckner Johnston and Brenda Marks Eagles, 1994; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography by James Terry White; US Department of State-Office of the Historian; One Hundred Years of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church by James Walker Hood; FamilySearch.org; Ancestry.com; PoliticalGraveyard.com
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