Anson Smyth (1812 – 1887) was an American

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

minister and educator from

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

. He worked with Senator Harvey Rice to reform Ohio's school system, and became the "Father of the

Cleveland Public Library The Cleveland Public Library is a public library system in Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1869, it had a circulation of 3.5 million items in 2020. It operates the Main Library on Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland, 27 branches throughout the cit ...

" through his efforts in the legislature.

Biography

Anson Smyth was born in

Franklin, Pennsylvania Franklin is a city in and the county seat of Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States, located at the confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny River. The population was 6,097 in the 2020 census. Franklin is part of the Oil City microp ...

, and attended Milan Academy, as well as

Williams College Williams College is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established as a men's college in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim ...

, Massachusetts, in the class of 1839.Boston Evening Transcript
Tue, May 03, 1887 ·Page 8SMYTH, ANSON
Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Case Western University, Accessed March 15, 2024 He then started teaching for a few years, and went thereafter to

Yale College Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...

, where he graduated in

theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

from

Yale Divinity School Yale Divinity School (YDS) is one of the twelve graduate and professional schools of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Congregationalist theological education was the motivation at the founding of Yale, and the professional school has ...

. After graduating, he first settled in

Orange, Connecticut Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 14,280 at the 2020 census. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen. History The Paugusset and Algonquian people ...

, where he was pastor. He then became an early

pastor A pastor (abbreviated to "Ps","Pr", "Pstr.", "Ptr." or "Psa" (both singular), or "Ps" (plural)) is the leader of a Christianity, Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutherani ...

and missionary in Michigan around 1845, and worked at the

Congregational Church Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the western end of Lake Erie along the Maumee River. Toledo is the List of cities in Ohio, fourth-most populous city in Ohio and List of United Sta ...

. He was made superintendent of the Toledo public schools, and later, the State Commissioner of the Common Schools of Ohio from 1856 to 1862. He was put in charge of reforming the school system, and visited number of schools in every county of the state of Ohio. He worked with Senator Harvey Rice and other educators to restore Ohio's public schools. In 1861, he is recorded writing a recommendation letter to president

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

while being the State Commissioner. He arrived in

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

in 1863, and was made superintendent of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District from 1863 to 1866.William Fitch Smyth
CPL Staff Write, Cleveland Public Library, January 26, 2018 He was then involved with the creation of 10 primary and secondary schools in the state during his office. In 1867, Smyth played a leading role in creating the

, mainly through his efforts in the legislature. He helped passed an act authorizing the support of libraries through taxation, which gave him the nickname of "Father of the

". In 1872, he became the first pastor of the North Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, and remained there for two years until his retirement. Smyth became a writer in the New York Evangelist and other religious newspapers. He was also editor of the Ohio Educational Journal and the Educational Monthly newspaper.The Semi-Weekly New Era
Sat, May 07, 1887 ·Page 4 Smyth died in Cleveland in 1887, at 75 years old.The Boston Weekly Globe
Wed, May 11, 1887 ·Page 5 With his wife Caroline, he had 3 children, being George, William and Sarah Smyth. He was buried at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland. His son William also became a reverend and worked at the library in Cleveland.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smyth, Anson 1812 births 1887 deaths Religious leaders from Cleveland 19th-century American educators Educators from Ohio Educators from Cleveland Williams College alumni Yale Divinity School alumni