Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/670

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SMITH.
SMITH.
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Ohio, and studied art during vacations in Cincinnati. After her education she went abroad and studied in Paris and Dresden. After an absence of nearly three years she returned to this country and opened a studio in Washington, D. C., in 1871. ISABEL ELIZABETH SMITH. She achieved marked success in portrait painting, having many prominent persons as sitters, among them Secretary Stanton, a full length portrait of whom was ordered from her by the representatives of the city government. She also painted the portrait of Mrs. Cramer, a sister of Gen. U. S. Grant. While in that city, she became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During her years of labor in Washington her eyes failed her, but after a season of rest she again went to Paris to learn the Sevres method of painting on porcelain. She also studied in the Dresden Gallery, receiving criticisms from the celebrated Director Schnoor von Carroldsfeld. On her return she opened a studio in New York City, where she had the best possible recognition from the literary and art circles. While there she was elected a member of Sorosis, in which society she held the position of chairman of the art committee. She usually has several students, whom she teaches gratuitously. When fifteen years of age, she had a severe illness, during which she vowed to build a church for the poor in her native place, which through her aid and influence has been done, and to which she gives her interest and help. Her father owned a large tract of land in Florida, near the mouth of the St. John's river, where he had an orange grove and a winter home. There she spent several winters. Her father died several years ago. She has painted in Cincinnati, and her portraits there are highly praised. She has been the instructor in art in Chautauqua, N. Y., for four years, having her studio in the Kellogg Memorial Building. Sue gave up her studio in New York to devote her time and care to her invalid mother.


SMITH, Mrs. Jeanie Oliver, poet and romancist, was born in Troy. N. Y. Her maiden name was Davidson. Her father was of Scottish extraction and was long well known in Troy as a philanthropist, but is now a resident of New York City. Her mother was a member of the Oliver family, conspicuous in southern Scotland. From both strains she inherits poetic and artistic tendencies. JEANIE OLIVER SMITH. When her mother died, the young girl went with an aunt to Scotland, and for five years she lived in Edinburgh, where she was educated thoroughly and liberally. After graduation she returned to the United States. At an early age she became the wife of Hon. Horace E. Smith, dean of the Albany Law School, and since her marriage she has lived in Johnstown, N. Y., and her home is known as a social and literary center. She has cared for her two young daughters and for the large family of her husband by a former marriage. Her time has been filled with literary, society and charitable work, and she is especially interested in religious and educational matters. Her literary productions have been numerous, including poems, tales and sketches of great merit. She has contributed to leading magazines, including the "Magazine of Poetry," "Christian at Work," and many others. She has published recently one volume of poems, "Day Lilies" (New York, 1890), which has passed into its second edition and won her substantial reputation as a poet. She is the author of "The Mayor of Kanameta" (New York, 1891). a story on sociological lines, showing marked powers in the author, also "Donald Moncrieff," a companion book to the former (Buffalo, 1892). Her finest work is done in verse. She has a number of tales in preparation.


SMITH, Mrs. Julia Holmes, physician, born in Savannah, Ga., 23rd December, 1839. Her father was Willis Holmes, of South Carolina, a descendant of an old English family well known as