Dr. William Francis SMITH

Biographical Memoirs of Huntington County, 1901, pages 460-461 The subject of this sketch, although comparatively young in years, has won more than local repute as a physician and surgeon, and occupies a deservedly high place among his professional brethren of Huntington county. Dr. Smith is an Indiana man, born in Grant county, November 30, 1864. His father, Francis Smith, was descended from good old colonial stock, several of his ancestors having served in the war of independence, while his mother, Elizabeth (Kennedy) Smith, a native of Delaware county, traces her family history back to sturdy Scotch-Irish origin. These parents were married in Delaware county, this state, and reared a family of twelve children, of whom ten are living at this time: Jennie, wife of Elkanah Edwards, lives in the town of Converse; Andrew J. was twice married, first to Lydia Hayden, and later to Mrs. Gillian, and is now a business man of Swayzee; Mary L. married John S. Rich, and resides in Liberty township, Grant county; James W., the next in order of birth, married a Miss Elliott, after whose death he was united in wedlock with Mary A. Carmichael, and now lives in Missouri; John R. married Mattie Saylors and resides near the town of Lafontaine; Rebekah became the wife James Galbraith, a hardware merchant of Swayzee; Emma, now Mrs. James Ward, lives in Blackford county. The youthful years of Dr. Smith were spent on his father's farm in Grant county, and the country schools which he attended until his seventeenth year afforded the means of intellectual training. At the above age he entered a drug store, having decided to devote his life to the medical profession, for which he had long evidenced a strong liking, and the better to prepare himself for the same entered the Eclectic Medical College at Indianapolis, and in due time was graduated with a very creditable record. In 1895 he also graduated from the Physio-Medical School in the above city, and subsequently took a post-graduate course at Chicago, receiving his diploma therefrom in 1898. While thus prosecuting his studies the Doctor was also engaged in practice, a part of the time at Marion and a part at Indianapolis. In 1897 he located in the town of Bippus, his present place of residence, and here he began his professional career. Since coming to this town he has built up an extensive practice, far exceeding his most sanguine expectations, and the calls upon his time keep him on active duty almost every hour of the twenty-four. His professional training, together with the skill to apply his knowledge, insured success from the beginning; and his career thus far presents a series of continued advancements which augur well for the future. Dr. Smith has qualified himself for the honorable position he has already attained through his own untiring energy, having earned the means by which he was enabled to procure his professional education and fit himself for his lifework. He possesses a strong and sympathetic nature calculated to win the confidence of his patients; and this with other qualities, make him indeed a typical family physician whom once employed is seldom exchanged for another. He has a fine office, supplied with all modern appliances neccessary to his calling, and a good library, where what little leisure he has is spent in becoming broadened in the theoretical knowledge essential to the progressive physician of the day. The Doctor keeps himself thoroughly informed on the current thought of his profession, and has contributed a number of ably written articles to different medical periodicals, thus becoming well known beyond the bounds of his own field of practice. Dr. Smith is a married man, his wife being formerly Miss Ida M. Zirkle, daughter of Willis and Amanda Zirkle, a family of German descent. Two children have resulted from this union, India H., who graduated from the public schools at the early age of twelve with the highest general average in the county, and Ivan E., a bright lad of eleven years. In his political belief the Doctor is a Democrat, but has never taken a very active part in party affairs, owing to the claims of his profession. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed all the chairs in the lodge with which he is connected; also representing it in the Grand Lodge. As a member of the State Eclectic Medical Association he has achieved considerable repute by his discussion of questions coming before that body, in all of which he displays a deep and profound professional knowledge. Being still in the meridian of his usefulness, by adhering to his profession there is nothing to prevent his winning still greater distinction in the years to come.

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