Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 325 - 329

DRS. SMITH & HOUGLAND, dentists, office, No. 113 East Douglas avenue, Wichita. This is one of the strongest dental firms in Kansas, both of these gentlemen for ability, professional knowledge and skill, standing very high in their profession. Dr. David W. Smith, the senior member of the firm, is a worthy descendant of an old New York family who were among the early settlers of that State. His grandfather, the Rev. Elijah Smith, was born in that State, and became a pioneer farmer of another, and later settled portion of the same State, and he was also a pioneer clergyman of the Baptist denomination. As a soldier in the Revolutionary War, he did gallant service in assisting to free the Colonies from British dominion. In his death, at the age of sixty-seven, a valued citizen was lost to the community. His birth occurred in 1756, and his death took place in 1824. His wife lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years; their union had been blessed by the birth of seven children.

     Chester Smith, their son, the father of our subject, was born in New York State in 1794. He was a farmer in Tompkins County, N. Y., and there married Miss Amanda M. Howe, daughter of Titus Howe, a farmer of Herkimer County, N. Y. Of their union ten children were born, namely: Mary A., George W., John C., Henry, Harriet, Phoebe, Daniel H., David W., Serena A. and Bemis. Mr. Smith lost his farm in Tompkins County, through fraud of an agent, and then moved to Allegany County, in the same State, where he bought another. Mr. Smith was beloved and respected by all who knew him, for his marked integrity of character and honor, which was shown by his careful example to his children, and by the training in strict moral principles which they received at his hands, and of which they can feel justly proud. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church, and took a warm interest in all religious affairs, being, in fact, one of the pillars of the church, serving as Deacon for at least fifty years. He was a true patriot as well as a Christian, as is shown by his services as a soldier in the War of 1812. The lesson of such a moral and upright life cannot fail to give character to his family and descendants, forming a precious inheritance. His useful and honorable life was brought to a close in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1876, at the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Smith rounded out an existence of eighty-two years, dying in Norwalk, Ohio. She was also a devout member of the Baptist Church, and died an earnest Christian, respected and esteemed by all who knew her.

     Dr. Smith, of this sketch, was born in Tompkins County, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1834. He received a good common-school education, and when a young man, went to reside in Ohio, and during the Rebellion was one of the men whom that State sent to the front in the service of the United States Government. He enlisted in 1863 as a private in Company A, 10lst Ohio Infantry, but was afterward promoted to the rank of Orderly Sergeant, and acted in that capacity in the battle of Perrysville, Ky. In 1864 the Doctor began his dental career in Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio. He afterward practiced in Shelby, Ohio, and still later in Chicago, Ill., and subsequently opened an office in Jackson, Mich. While a resident of that State he was one of the three dentists who were instrumental in establishing the Chair of Dentistry in the State University at Ann Arbor; he was also Treasurer of the State Dental Association of Michigan, and was otherwise prominently identified with the leading members of his profession in that part of the country.

     In 1877 Dr. Smith came to Wichita, opened an office here, and very soon was in possession of an excellent practice, his reputation for experience and skill having preceded him. In a few years his business had so increased as to warrant his taking into partnership Dr. Hougland, a young and skillful dental surgeon, with a fine knowledge of his profession. Dr. Smith is an important member of the Dental Association of Kansas, and ranks among the leading dentists of this State, who jealously guard the good name and character of their profession, who are adverse to anything like charlatanism, and who, by their example, have raised the practice of dentistry in this State from a mere mechanical trade to the dignity of a profession. These gentlemen well deserve the thanks of their fellows for their persistent efforts in raising the standard of dental surgery, and for the professional etiquette that now prevails among the ablest dentists.

     The happy home circle of our subject embraces his wife, formerly Miss Emily L. Shane, daughter of Peter C. Shane, of Bloomingville, Ohio, and two children - Artie M. and Ralph W. Both himself and his excellent wife are influential members of the Baptist Church, and be has been Sunday-school Superintendent for many years, and also Deacon, which office he still holds, the mantle of his forefathers seeming to have fallen on him, for they have been strong Baptists for many generations and officers in the church. In political opinions be is a stanch Republican. The Doctor is a man of substantial means, and owns a goodly portion of real estate in Wichita.

     Dr. Smith's able partner, Dr. U. S. Hougland, was born in Boonville, Ind., where his parents were residents, in 1863, and is the son of Andrew and Anna (Stinson) Hougland. He received a High School education in his native town, and at the early age of sixteen began to study the profession of dentistry there. He afterward went to Evansville, Ind., and studied under Herman Wilde, a noted dentist of that city, remaining in his office until 1884. He then entered the dental department of the University of Maryland, and was graduated from that institution in 1885. He came to Wichita the same year, and entered into partnership with Dr. Smith. He has had excellent opportunities for learning his profession, and has attained his present honorable position by his own unaided exertions, earning the means for pursuing his studies by his own labors. He is talented and skillful to a marked degree, and as he is a young man of correct habits and of an upright moral character, an honorable career lies before him in his chosen calling.

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