Furman University - Bonhomie Yearbook (Greenville, SC)

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Charles A. Smith 1IARLKS A. SMITH was born in Hertford County. X. C.. January 22. 1861. 11 is father. Joseph Smith, was a farmer and on account of his largc- mindedness and whole heartedness, was highly respected and honored in the community in which he lived. “Charles A.' spent his early years on the farm and thus acquired robust health and practical knowledge of farm management. I le was sent to Reynoldson Male Institute in Gates County, X. C. Though without the necessary means, he was determined to get an education and liorrowed the money to go to W ake Forest. In 1882 lie took a B.A. at that institution and in the same year accepted the principalship of the Timmonsville (S. C.) 1 ligh School. This position enabled him soon to refund the money borrowed while in College, and left a small surplus which formed the initial investment in what was to become a successful business enterprise. On January 3. 1884. Mr. Smith married Miss Fannie L. Byrd. They have eight living children, the oldest of whom is Mrs. Judge Land, of Xorth Carolina. Resigning the work of teaching. Mr. Smith became active in promoting several important business enterprises, in all of which his success was marked. That his high order of business ability and his faithfulness in the discharge of duty were duly recognized by his fellow citizens is apparent from the list of important and responsible positions he was called upon to occupy. Among them arc: President Citizens Bank, President Timmonsville Oil Mill. President C. A. Smith Co.. President Smith-W'illiams Co. (Lake City, S. C.), and President Bank of Lynchburg (Lynchburg. S. C.). But it is along educational lines and in religious work that Mr. Smith is of the greatest worth to his community and state. In 1903 he was elected President of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and in 1905 was made Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Besides being a trustee of the G. F. C. he has been chairman of Board of Trustees of Furman I’nivcrsity for several years. Two years ago lie entered the State campaign as candidate for Lieutenant Governor, to which office he was elected by a large majority. That political prestige, however, is not his chief ambition, is evidenced by his remark to a friend regarding his election to the Presidency of the State Baptist Convention: I appreciate more highly than any. that honor conferred upon me bv my brethren of the Commonwealth

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Furman University—Its Expansion A'I' THK Commencement of June. 1907. an alunnnis who had not visited the institution for a number of years said, “Things do not look as they did when I was a student here. Then he proceeded to remark, W e had only this old building, and the boys lived in lx arding houses off the campus.” At the end of the Civil War Captain Patrick taught a preparatory department in the large front room in the west end of the main building, and Dr. Furman and his three or four professors taught the college classes in the other rooms of the main building. They could not foresee the development of the succeeding forty years. Indeed there was almost no expansion until 18X5, when, by the successful agency of K. II. Griffith, a considerable Endowment Fund was raised. In 1888 the first additional building (Judson Cottage) was put up. and a short while after this Griffith Hall, which tor several years was the home of the Fitting School boarding students. Today there are sixteen buildings on the campus, including several small cottages, and eleven of these are in constant use in the work of the University. Since 1897 six buildings have been erected and three of these since 1906, viz.: the Library Building, the new Fitting School Domitory and the James C. Furman Hall of Science. Some of the Distinguished Ai.vmni This extended enlargement of the material equipment docs not necessarily insure better work than was done in the earlier days. A glance at the list of the Alumni will show that from the beginning Furman University has maintained an exalted ideal of scholarship. The very first class to graduate gave to Southern Baptists their hero missionary. Rev. J. It. Hartwell, recently deceased, and to the South Carolina Brotherhood the incomparable John G. Williams. It will not be considered invidious to name these men. or others, who. from the earlier days, by their achievements and general worth, have added to the luster of Furman's name. The class of 1856 gave to us Col. R. B. Watson, of Ridge Springs, S. C.. the apostle of sunshine, and the pioneer peach grower of South Carolina; Jas. X. Nash, attorney and teacher, of Atlanta. Ga.. and V. 11. Perry, who represented bis district in Congress. . Space will not allow 11s to comment upon these classes year by year, but it will be news to many among us to know that Furman University has furnished professors to Cornell. Rutgers, Chicago University, Johns I Iopkins University. Richmond College, Wake Forest College. Clemson College, the State Normal School of Washington. Mercer University (including its president), Judson College (its president), Howard College, Liberty College (its president), Baylor University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Probably the foremost living Sanskrit scholar is an alumnus of Furman University, Maurice Bloomfield, of Johns Hopkins University, while another alumnus, John, 0