Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
Dr. Clyde
L. Smith
Introduction
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content
Inventory
Introduction
The ledgers were donated by Kenneth L. Smith to the
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in 2006.
Biographical Sketch
Clyde L. Smith was born on August 31, 1878 in Leipsic, Ohio,
to W. W. and Viola A. Smith. His father
was editor of the Leipsic Free Press,
and he received newspaper training under his father. He later served as clerk and assistant postmaster
of Leipsic and then entered into railway mail service. After leaving that position, Clyde entered the University of Illinois School of
Medicine, graduating in 1904. After
graduating, he practiced in Lindsey, Ohio, for two years, and then moved to Fremont in 1906, where he lived and worked
until his death.
Besides keeping his daily office, Dr. Smith was also surgeon
for the National Carbon Company since 1906, was on the staff at Fremont, Ohio’s Memorial Hospital, and was medical examiner for several
life insurance companies. He was a
former president of the Sandusky County Medical Society and member of the Ohio
State Medical Society, Northwestern Ohio Medical Society, and the American
Medical Association.
An active Mason, Smith was initiated in September of 1899
and became a Master Mason of the Leipsic lodge that same year. He became affiliated with the Brainard Lodge,
#336, in Fremont
on January 22, 1909 and was worshipful master in 1914. Smith was extremely active in local Masonic
organizations, and some of his held positions include: chairman of the general
committee for laying the cornerstone for the Masonic Temple in Fremont,
president of the Masonic Temple Association from 1929 to 1932, a member of the
Masonic Veterans’ Association, a member of the orders of Red Cross, Knight of
Malta, and Knights Templar. He was
elected grand commander of the Ohio Commandery Knights Templar in 1934. He was also a past patron of the Fremont chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a
sovereign prince of Northern Light Council, Princes of Jerusalem, and a member
of Zenobia Shrine in Toledo,
Ohio.
Smith married Melvia E. Tustison of Dunkirk, Ohio. She died in 1939. They had two daughters, Helen E. Smith and
Edna V. M. Smith, both of whom lived at home.
C. L. Smith died on February 28, 1945 at the age of 66. He had been in failing health for about a
year and a half prior to his death, although he still worked every day in his
office. On the morning of the 28th,
Smith died in his home, 1228 W.
State St. in Fremont,
of coronary thrombosis while getting ready to leave for his office. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Scope and Content
These two ledgers, dating from 1906 and 1921, are the
personal finance records of Dr. C. L. Smith.
They give a day-to-day account of his expenses (for example, “shave,
.10; sausage and pretzels, .20”) and incoming funds (patients examined). Sometimes he simply gives the name of the
patient and how much he charged, and at other times he also writes a little
note on the patient’s illness (“kidney stones” or “thyroid”). He also notes the name of the insurance
company if the patient is being examined for a life insurance policy.
Inventory
Ac. 5666
1. Ledger, January 1, 1906-December 31, 1906
2. Ledger, January 1, 1921-December 31, 1921