Notes for: Silas Preston Smith

Silas P. Smith was the former editor of the West Union Record newspaper, was several times mayor of West Union, and for 20 years was Doddridge County's Democratic chairman. He was educated in Doddridge County public schools and at Fairmont State Normal School. He taught six terms of school in Doddridge and two summer schools for teachers in Tyler County. He bought the West Union Record in March 1886, and owned and edited that newspaper for 25 years, until March 1911, when he sold it to State Senator George W. Bland of Clarksburg. He was considered one of the best county newspaper editors in West Virginia. After retiring from the newspaper business, he first operated a drug and book store in West Union, then engaged in a successful insurance business. He was chairman of the Doddridge County Democratic Executive Committee for 20 years, and had served on state, congressional, senatorial and judicial committees. He served as mayor for several terms, and was the West Union postmaster during the second Cleveland administration.