Cornelius Franklin "Frank" Smith, M. D.

Notes:

From OLD TIMERS OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS

Dr. Cornelius Franklin Smith 29 March 1962

Dr. C.F. Smith, veteran Sabine County physician, celebrated his 91st birthday at his home in Hemphill Sunday, March 25, 1962 with members of his family, other relatives and friends. "Dr. Frank," as he is affectionately known, was born on March 25, 1871 at Fairmount, Sabine County, the son of Dr. John Wesley Smith and Caroline Smith (first cousins). Dr. John Wesley Smith had practiced medicine for 52 years prior to his death at the age of 79 in 1923.

Dr. Frank practiced medicine for 60 years before his retirement about three years ago. He began his practice in the Fairdale community in 1899, later establishing offices above Hemphill Drug Company in Hemphill. In the past years, Dr. Frank hasn't been as active as in previous years and folks "around the square" in Hemphill have missed his warm smile and friendly greeting. However, he was able to attend the recent meeting of Littleton Fowler Masonic Lodge.

Recalling his early days as a practicing doctor in an interview last year, Dr. Frank said, "The first 17 years of my practice of medicine was during the horse and buggy days, only mine was mostly "horseback." I have saddled my horse many times in all kinds of weather, put on slickers and overcoats in rainy and cold weather, stretched an umbrella, put my lantern on the bend of my elbow, sometimes not returning for a day or more. I recall one time my horse got scared of the stretched umbrella, threw me and medicine in every direction, but usually I managed to keep gentle horses."

"One time I was called across the Sabine River in Louisiana in a somewhat rowdy vicinity. The ferry was bad and the river was high so I was forced to spend the night. When I went to bed, I slipped my pocketbook under my pillow, thinking it would be safer there. The next morning when I was about a mile away on my way back home, heard someone behind me calling. The man was bringing me my purse, which I had forgotten and left under the pillow."

Dr. Frank says the Model T was warmly welcomed by the doctors and helped to ease their heavy load, even though the times were many when a team of good horses or mules were necessary to pull you and the Model T and later Model A's from the mud holes or deep sand. It was still years before modern highways were constructed.

In February 1896, Dr. Smith was married to Eva Clementine McDaniel, who is now deceased. She was the daughter William (Bill) Watson and Zerowine Joan Smith McDaniel. The McDaniel family came to Texas in 1850 from Spartenburg, South Carolina after stopping for awhile in Itawomba County, Mississippi. There were five children born to this marriage, four of whom are still living. Dr. and Mrs. Smith also raised a foster son, Jack McDaniel of Port Arthur. The children are Mrs. Bertha Peveto of Beaumont, Mrs. Edna (Ted) Barbee of Crockett, Mrs. Sadye Nelsen of Kirbyville, and Robert Earl Smith of Hemphill.

(Research):Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 3, District 133
Enumerated 21 April 1910
SD 2 ED 133 Sheet 8B
151-156
Smith, Frank C. Head M W 39 M1 14 Tx US US Physician Genera
l Practice
Smith, Eva Wf F W 30 M1 14 5/4 Tx SC SC
Smith, Bertha Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Sadie Dtr F W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Edna Dtr F W 2 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, C. R. Son M W 5/12 S Tx Tx Tx

Cornelius married Eva Clementine McDaniel on 20 Feb 1896 in Sabine County, Texas. Eva (daughter of William W. McDaniel and Zeroine Joan "Jo Ann" Smith) was born on 15 Sep 1879 in Bayou Community, Sabine County, Texas; died on 21 Jul 1957 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She married Ivan Peveto.

Notes:

She married first Hubert Nelson and second Lewis C. Pratt.

Notes:

She married first Jack Barbee and second a Dr. Hines.

Notes:

He married Deva Dainwood.

(Research):Shown as C. R. Smith, age 5 months, on the 1910 Census of Sabine County, Texas.

Robert married Deva Dainwood on 1 Jun 1928 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. Deva (daughter of John Thomas Dainwood and Anna Nola Fletcher) was born on 29 Jun 1912 in Sabine, Texas; died on 14 Sep 1999 in Sabine, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]