Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/580

Rh at Lima, N. Y. Among his teachers there were the Rev. De Witt Huntley, and William Whiting. He concluded his studies under the directions of the Rev. J. Q. Galpin at Naples, N. Y. While at Naples he became attached to the staff of The Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, N. Y., and was noted as a brilliant writer under the nom de plume of "Neopolitan."

Mr. Smith subsequently spent some time in the South, and in 1872 became permanently connected with affairs political in the State of New York. He was delegate to the Colored Men's State convention at Troy, N. Y., and was chosen by that party delegate to the Republican State convention which was held at Elmira. He was largely instrumental in having the Rev. William F. Butler sent as a delegate-at-large to the Philadelphia convention which renominated President Grant. Under the direction of the National and State committee he took an active part in the political canvass of that year. In 1873, together with William H. Johnson, a prominent citizen of Albany, he was active in securing the passage of the Civil Rights Bill in New York State. In 1876 he served as first vice-president of the Colored Men's State committee, of which the Rev. Henry Highland Garnett, D. D., was chairman, and spoke largely in New York and other States.

In 1877 he became the editor of The Western Echo in Bath, N. Y., which paper was the organ of the colored men of the State. While at Bath he rendered efficient aid in the establishment of the Soldiers' Home in that place. The office of The Echo was afterward removed to Utica, N. Y., and in 1881 the paper was located in Brooklyn, with an office in New York City, and did good work in assisting the election of Hon. Seth Low as Mayor of Brooklyn.

In 1882 Mr. Smith joined the conference of the African M. E. Zion's church and is now a prominent member of the same.