SMITH. SMITH. ?6i brothers till i S55, when a division of the farm took place. He is an active member of the Franklin Harvest Club and of the Franklin and Hampshire Agricultural societies, having been president of the latter for two years. He has also been a devoted member of the Congregational society and Sunday- school for fifty years. In the local government he has held many official trusts, having been select- man, assessor, a member of the school committee, collector and treasurer. SMITH, Samuel Francis, son of Sam- uel and Sarah (Bryant) Smith, was born in Boston, October 21, 1808. He received his early educational train- ing in the public schools of Boston, fitting for college in the Boston Latin school. He then entered Harvard, and graduated therefrom in the class of 1829. From Harvard he passed to the Andover Theo- logical Seminary, graduating in 1S32. His tastes were scholarly, and he was soon called to the professorship of mod- ern languages in Waterville College (now Colby University), Me. He had been called previously to the pastorate of the First Baptist church of Waterville, where he was ordained ; and he served for eight years in both capacities. He was subse- quently editor of the "Christian Review," Boston, holding this position seven years. He was also pastor of the First Baptist church, Newton, twelve and a half years, and afterwards connected with the Baptist mission rooms in Boston fifteen years. He is at present engaged in literary pursuits, residing in the city of Newton. 1 )r. Smith has been a constant writer for the press since he was twelve years old. Hymns from his pen are found in the hymn-books of all Christian denomina- tions. One of the best known, " The Morning Light is Breaking," has been translated into many languages. " The Psalmist," a hymn-book used almost ex- clusively in the Baptist churches of the United States for thirty years — a book mainly compiled by him — contained about thirty of Dr. Smith's compositions, inserted at the request of his co-editor, Dr. Baron Stow. Dr. Smith has often been styled "the James Montgomery of America." Most of the songs in the " Juvenile Lyre," published in 1832 by Dr. Lowell Mason, were written by him. Among the miscel- laneous writings of Dr. Smith are : " His- tory of Newton," " Missionary Sketches," and " Rambles in Missionary Fields." The work of Christian missions has occu- pied the larger portion of his later years, a work to which a useful and honored son of his has devoted himself with great energy and success in the Burman empire since 1S63. In 1881-83 Dr. Smith trav- eled extensively in Europe and Asia, and visited many of the missions of his own and other Christian denominations. Dr. Smith's name is embalmed in Amer- ican history and in the hearts of the Amer- ican people, from the fact of his being the author of our national hymn, " America," written in February, 1832, while he was a theological student at Andover, and first produced on a festive occasion at a chil- dren's celebration of the anniversary of American Independence, at Park Street church, Boston, July 4th, the same year. Written without the slightest purpose to produce a national lyric, it was almost im- mediately taken up by the people, because it appealed to the popular heart. SMITH, SYLVANUS, son of William and Charlotte (Poole) Smith, was born in the parish of Sandy Bay — now Rockport — Essex county, March 10, 1829. His book education was acquired in the common schools of his native village. At the early age of eleven he began the pur- suit of fishing, for a livelihood, and bv per- severance rose from an ordinary hand to be master and owner. In 1S64 Mr. Smith entered into partner- ship with Mr. Rowe, under the firm name of Rowe & Smith, as owners and outfitters of vessels, with wharves and offices at Gloucester, continuing their connection till 1867, when it was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Smith then formed a part- nership with Mr. Gott. This relation con- tinued until 1877, the date of the retire- ment of Mr. Gott. Mr. Smith carried on the business for some time alone, then admitted his son-in- law, E. A. Bradley, and eventually his son, Howard F. Smith, as associate partners. Mr. Smith has been twice married. His first wife was Sarah P. Atwood, who died leaving no issue. His second marriage was with Eliza C, daughter of Charles and Harriet (Smith) Rowe, of Rockport, by whom he has had twelve children, five of whom are now living : Martha, Eliza R., Howard F., Horace, and Sylvanus Smith. In politics Mr. Smith is an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party. His church connections are with the Baptist church, of which he has been a member many years. He has been twenty-two years a director of the Gloucester Mutual Fishing- Insur-
