DR. A.O.L. SMITH

The following bio was taken from page 387 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Dr. and Mrs. Smith were married at Motley in 1899. They moved into the house where they lived continuously during their married life. Thirteen children were born to this union, ten of whom survived their parents. Nine children are still living.

The children are as follows: Virgil Smith, Gladys Smith Dunklin, Cynthia Anna Smith Gossett, Agnes Smith Bassett, Rosa Smith, Albert Edward Smith, Estelle Smith Simpson, Jimmy Smith, Frances Smith Adams, and Robie Sue Smith Daugherty, (deceased 1951).

Dr. A.O.L. Smith graduated from medical college March 27, 1896. He started his practice with the late Dr. Vincent in the Motley Community in late 1896. Dr. Vincent retired soon thereafter.

Those were the horse and buggy days. Dr. Smith owned and used the best and fastest horses that could be found. It was not uncommon for him to drive one horse for forty or fifty miles in a twenty-four hour period. He bought a new buggy once yearly. He kept a man in the home to see after the livestock and to raise the grain and hay for the stock.

Dr. Smith did not always get paid in cash for his service. He took cattle, horses, mules, old wagons, corn syrup, and sometimes pigs. In addition to his services he furnished ninety-five percent of all drugs. On many occasions when prescribed drugs were necessary, he furnished the money and charged the cost on the books. Seldom did he collect for the drugs until fall of the year. Then the collections were only as good as the cotton crops. Dr. Smith did not have office hours; he was available twenty-four hours daily. He did not take a vacation in his thirty-four years of practice.

Dr. Smith loved his family. He made the statement many times that he never whipped or scolded his children, because he had so little time with them.

Dr. Smith was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Pine Grove near Pine Hill, Texas. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Methodist Church at Oak Hill, formerly known as Motley, Texas. Both were active in the Methodist Church. Dr. Smith made financial contributions not only to the Methodist Church but also to most of the other churches in his practicing area.

The Smiths had lots of company-- Methodist preachers, relatives and non-relatives. They were very fond of young people, who were always welcome to come into their home for any occasion. They had a big country party once yearly. They had a big country music "Snap Party" and occasionally a dance. Dr. and Mrs. Smith liked to waltz and were very good at this dance. When he was going through the country visiting and treating the ill and a dance was being held in the area, Dr. Smith stopped, paid the fiddler well, danced one set, and then went on his way.

In 1916, Dr. Smith began to use automobiles in his practice. He did not think they would be a success because of the roads and hired Albert Carlisle, who had the first automobile that ever came to Henderson, to drive him. This car was originally owned by Lacy Hightower and was known as 49NR. Dr. Smith decided to own his own car in 1917 and ordered a car yearly for several years. Albert Carlisle was his first driver, followed by A.B. Ballenger, Peter Gray, and many others. The drivers lived in the Smith home and were treated as members of the family. Albert Carlisle once said he and Dr. Smith never had a settlement. He drew as he needed and wanted money.

Dr. Smith spent his spare time playing checkers, reading, and visiting with his children and other members of the family. He was truly a family man.

Submitted by Virgil Smith