Page:The Afro-American Press.djvu/581

Rh In 1887 he was elected, and in 1888 re-elected, chaplain-in-chief of the G. A. R. department of New York, being the first of his race to hold an elective position in that organization. He attained the distinguished honor of being the first of the colored race to offer prayer in the Senate of the State of New York. His re-election to the above chaplaincy in 1888 was by an almost unanimous vote in the face of many competitors.

In the same year at Columbus, O., he was elected president of the association composed of officers and men who served as colored troops, which position he still holds.

He continues to be a writer for the press, being a contributor to The National Tribune of Washington, D. C., The G. A. Journal of New York State, The Star of Zion—the organ of Zion's connection—and other papers and periodicals devoted to the advancement of the race.

Mr. Smith is yet a comparatively young man, enjoying the companionship of a charming family. He married in 1867, at Rochester, Miss Rachel Murphy, a sister to the wife of Charles R. Douglass, son of the race orator, Fred Douglass. He is a talented man, a fluent speaker, and believes in the future of his race with strong faith.

C. E. Yarboro the talented, thrifty and enterprising young editor of The Southern Appeal, published in Atlanta, Ga., was born at Louisburg, N. C., October 17, 1863. His father was a blacksmith, his mother a seamstress. He is their only child. He is one among the natural born Afro-American newspaper men of this country. His manly independence, his polished boldness in expression and his deep reasoning on matters commanding public thought have made for him a