Jesse Smith, Presbyterian minister and missionary of Clarksburg, Virginia and Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, was born in Shelburne, Massachusetts in 1785, the son of Asa Smith. In 1799, he moved with his parents to Halifax, Vermont. He graduated from Williams College in 1815 and removed to Clarksburg, Harrison County, Virginia, where he taught school and served as a missionary. He remained at Clarksburg until 1823, with the exception of 1821, when he resided in Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia. In 1823, he removed to Young Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where he served as minister of the Ebenezer and Bethel congregations until 1831, when he removed to Rose Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. The Synod of Blairsville revoked his commission as minister on the charge of drunkenness in 1834, and for the remainder of his life he served as a school teacher. He removed to Perry Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, in 1848 and reminded there until his death on March 21, 1851.
Reverend Smith was married twice and had four children. His first wife was Juliet W. Armstrong of Clarksburg, Virginia, the daughter of Mrs. Catharine Armstrong. She died on July 13, 1827, and left three children: Theophilus, born September 21, 1817, Juliet Catharine, and Harriet Ann. On April 14, 1829, Jesse Smith married Rachel Elder Whitby (Mrs. George Whitby) (December 27, 1806-February 12, 1840). They had one daughter, Sibble Mariah. Theophilus Smith became a doctor and eventually settled in Wausau, Wisconsin.
