In 1988, The Centennial History of Hurricane, WV was published to commemorate the town’s 100th anniversary. Since the Centennial History is now out of print, the Breeze is reprinting articles from the book as space allows. This week’s selection will be the 207th installment of the Centennial History.

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CLINTON SMITH FAMILY
Submitted by Clinton (Mike) Smith

This is Lewis (died 1970) and Ruby Scott Smith (died 1956), my mother and father. My dad’s family included eleven children, brothers Jim, Austin, Russell, Ira and Herbert, and sisters Lottie, Nora, Ella, Alma, and half-sister Grace by another wife. These eleven children were born to the late John Henry Smith and Sarah Leadmon and his third wife Lilly Leadmon. My mother Ruby was one of five children in her family. Brothers included Bill and Johnson, sisters Bertha Mae and Annie, all born to Michael Harrison Scott and Palymyra Coleman Scott of Sydnasville, Virginia.

My father and mother became acquainted when Mom was visiting her uncle Johnson Coleman on Peach Ridge (Hurricane). They were married in 1903. I was born in a family of five children, brothers Lawrence, and Fred, and sisters Hallie and Ora, and myself Clinton (Mike). I was born on Peach Ridge in 1922 the youngest of the five. I had a chance to crank a 1925 Model A Ford that we owned and also retrieve a tire that had rolled off the rim as we were going around the Ridge to Fred Coleman’s home. Those were the good old days where we traveled by wagon or buggy in the winter and automobile in the summer. We farmed for a living, tobacco, wheat and corn being the main crops. We worked hard and long hours, but we had clothes on our backs, shoes on our feet (sometimes), a roof over our heads (which leaked sometimes) and plenty to eat, beans, potatoes, cornbread and chicken on Sunday. My dad and mom believed if we did our part, worked hard and trusted in the Lord, He would give us our needs. He did and I’m thankful for that.

All of us kids, myself and my brothers and sisters went to Peach Ridge School (one room) which still stands adjacent to the Peach Ridge Cemetery. I was lucky enough to go on to Hurricane High School and graduated in the class of 1938. I was married to Dorothy June Satterfield in 1944. June died in 1975. Our children were (I) Michael Scott who is married to Janet Sowards. They have two children, Scotty and Jodi; (2) Douglas Harold who is married to Patsy Combs; (3) Mark Lewis who is married to Mary Beth Cook; and (4) Rebecca Ellen who was married to Roger Harrah and they have a son, Joshua. I am now married to the former Nellverna Miller and we reside in Winfield.

This is the C.H. Smith side of the family up until now, October 10, 1987.

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A digital copy of the Centennial History can be obtained from the Hurricane City Hall for a small donation. For more information, call the City of Hurricane at (304) 562-5896.