Hugh Lee Smyth1

b. 28 September 1871, d. 17 June 1937
FatherWilliam "Buck" Smyth2,3 b. 20 Dec 1820, d. 15 Aug 1891
MotherElizabeth Jane McClelland2 b. 2 Apr 1843, d. 20 Apr 1903
Birth28 Sep 1871 Hugh Lee Smyth was born on 28 Sep 1871 in Washington County, Virginia.4,5 
Childhood  Hugh was the second son of his father's second marriage. He attended the local schools as a child and studied at Emory for a brief time. He loved reading and had a very inquisitive mind. As a young man Hugh and his younger brothers helped on the family farm. Their father had studied to become a physician following the Civil War, but his patients often could not pay him, and the family relied on the food they raised on the farm.6 
  Hugh's father died when Hugh was just shy of his 20th birthday. Hugh assumed the role of head of the family and with his younger brothers supported the family by working in local sawmills. Hugh eventually worked for a large lumber company and traveled the mountains of southwest Virginia and eastern West Virginia setting up lumber sites.6 
MarriageMay 1901 He married Mary Elizabeth Booth, daughter of Joel Booth and America Virginia Crenshaw, on the 13th or 15th of May 1901 in Washington County, Virginia.7,8 
  The following year Hugh's younger brother Charles married Mary's younger sister Sarah. 
Residence  Hugh and Mary first lived in a house at Lyndale and then for a short time in a house at the mouth of Tumbling Creek on the North Fork of the Holston River. A few years after their marriage they purchased a home at Meadowview where they lived the rest of their lives. Following the death of Hugh's mother in 1903 the old Smyth family land was sold. Hugh and Mary then provided a home for Hugh's younger brothers William and "Mac", and for his sister Mollie, as well as Mary's sister, Meck.9 
Cens-191023 Apr 1910  The 1910 census enumerated Hugh and Mary at their home in Meadowview. It was described as a farm on the north side of the railroad tracks. The couple's 4 children were recorded, along with Hugh's brothers Will and McClellan.10 ["Mac" lived with Hugh and Mary until his death in 1916] 
Occupation  Hugh had acquired a saw mill and equipment for logging as well as a wood-working plant. In 1910 his occupation was listed as "sawyer" but by 1920 he had expanded into building houses. The business grew and Hugh moved into heavy construction, forming Meadowview Construction with two friends. The company built bridges and roads.9 
Cens-193014 Apr 1930  The 1930 census enumerated Hugh and Mary along with their 4 children. The eldest two, daughter Lelia and son Gordon, had married in the intervening years. The household incuded their spouses and children.11 
Death17 Jun 1937 Hugh died on 17 Jun 1937 at Wytheville in Wythe County, Virginia, when he was struck by a drunk driver at one of his construction sites. He was 65.4 
Burial He was buried at Emory Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.5 
  Hugh's daughter, who passed away at the age of 101 in 2006, remembered her father as a man who respected people as individuals no matter their station in life. He loved his family, his church and his community. He loved to sing and he especially loved a practical joke. She wrote that he collected nicknames like a magnet. They included "the Bear" (he was a tall man), "Pappy Rabbit" and "the Captain" - all of which provide a glimpse into his personality. 

Related Links and Images:

Hugh (front row, 4th from right) with his wife and children (circa 1908). Click on camera icon for larger image.12
Hugh's childhood home
To locate the William ("Buck") and Elizabeth Smyth homesite see the Washington County homes map

Family

Mary Elizabeth Booth b. 30 Dec 1877, d. 4 Jan 1969
Children
  • Lelia Smyth13 (7 Mar 1902 - 26 Oct 1974)
  • Gordon Smyth13 (25 Sep 1903 - Mar 1952)
  • Mary Virginia Smyth13 (22 Aug 1905 - 3 Jul 2006)
  • Fred Lysander Smyth13 (30 Aug 1907 - )
Last Edited7 Aug 2013

Citations

  1. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 105. Desc. chart for Hugh Lee Smyth and Mary Elizabeth Booth; author unclear.
  2. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 92-3. Desc. chart for William (Buck) Smyth and Elizabeth Jane Hudson/Huttson McClelland; author unclear.
  3. [S165] William Smyth household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 38 (227B stamped), dwelling 332, family 342, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 38 of 63. William Smyth, 49, marr, farmer; Elizabeth, 37, wife; Jonas 14, son; Margaret 12, dau; Nancy 10, dau; Hugh 9, son; Sarah 8, dau; William 6, dau [sic]; Pirdrue 4, dau; Bettie 2, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  4. [S2273] Research of Jack Hockett, Montreal, Canada; Mr. Hockett cites Washington Co. VA death records as viewed on microfilm (reel 273) at the Library of Virginia, Richmond: Wythe Co VA, Wytheville: Hugh Lee Smyth, white male, mar, b WCV, 28 Sep 1871, 65/08/20; d 17 Jun 1937, s/o Wm. SMITH, WCV & Elizabeth McClanend, Rock Bridge Co, VA; Mrs. H. L. Smyth, Meadow View, VA, inf; bur Washington Co VA on 19 Jun 1937.
  5. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 159. Stone reported to read: Hugh Lee Smyth, 1871-1937.
  6. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 30. Narrative on Hugh Lee Smyth authored by his daughter Mary Virginia (Smyth) Smith.
  7. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 31. Narrative on Hugh Lee Smyth authored by his daughter Mary Virginia (Smyth) Smith; marriage date given as 13 May 1901.
  8. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 105. Desc. chart for Hugh Lee Smyth and Mary Elizabeth Booth; marriage date given as 15 May 1901.
  9. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 31. Narrative on Hugh Lee Smyth authored by his daughter Mary Virginia (Smyth) Smith.
  10. [S237] Hugh L. Smyth household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 117, sheet 6A (p. 21 stamped), dwelling 83, family 89, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 11 of 45. Enumerated includes: Hugh L. Smyth, 38, marr #1, marr 8 yrs, sawyer at lumber mill, owns farm, no mortgage; Mary, wife, 31, marr 8 yrs, mother of 4 children, all living; Lelia, dau, 8; Gordon, son, 6; Mary, dau, 4; Fred, son, 2; Will, brother, 25; McClellan, brother, 27; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; resid north of railroad at Meadow View.
  11. [S639] Hugh Smyth household, 1930 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Meadow View, ED 96-5, sheet 5B, dwelling 108, family 109, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 10 of 14. Enumeration includes: Hugh Smyth, 55, marr at 27, contractor on roads; Mary E., wife, 53, marr at 24; Lelia Jackson, dau, 28, marr at 20; Leslie, son-in-law, 29, marr at 21, inspector at lumber mill; Dow, grandson, 5; Mary Smyth, dau, 24, sgl; Gordon, son, 26, marr, marr at 19; Fred, son, 21, sgl; Kathleen, gr-dau, 4 __; Myrtle, dau-law, 20, marr at 15; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  12. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Peggy Lester 2006.
  13. [S237] Hugh L. Smyth household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 117, sheet 6A (p. 21 stamped), dwelling 83, family 89, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 11 of 45. Enumerated includes: Hugh L. Smyth, 38, marr #1, marr 8 yrs, sawyer at lumber mill, owns farm, no mortgage; Mary, wife, 31, marr 8 yrs, mother of 4 children, all living; Lelia, dau, 8; Gordon, son, 6; Mary, dau, 4; Fred, son, 2; Will, brother, 25; McClellan, brother, 27; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.