S. E. Smith

Baptist minister and civil rights activist S. E. Smith was born in Glasgow, Barren County Kentucky June 7, 1860. After completing his primary education in the common schools, Smith entered State University (later Simmons University) where he graduated with honors.

He would later serve as a Trustee of the University. In 1895, Smith was serving as Pastor of Fourth Street Baptist Church in Owensboro, and the congregation under his leadership had built a new brick church at a cost of $30,000.

S. E. Smith held the distinction of being a delegate to every National Republican Convention for sixteen consecutive years. During this time span, he also was the National Grand Secretary of the Order of the Samaritans. Smith was a staunch opponent of the Separate Coach Act in Kentucky, and was a member of the State Executive Committee handling arrangements of the case.

Upon leaving Owensboro, he was called as pastor of First African Baptist Church in Lexington, KY.

Reverend S. E. Smith passed away on August 5, 1907.

References

Source: Sermons, Addresses, Reminiscences & Important Correspondence; E.C. Morris, D.D., 1901, pg. 295
Source: Notable Kentucky African Americans Database; University of Kentucky
Source: Biographical Sketches of Prominent Negro Men and Women of Kentucky; W. D. Johnson, 1897
Source: The Baptist Home Mission Monthly, Volume 17-18, pg. 273
Source: http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/morris/ill295.html