Wayne Craft Smith (New Burlington, OH)

Obituary photo from Xenia Evening Gazette June 12, 1940

Wayne Craft Smith (November 11, 1872 – June 11, 1940) was the longest serving president of the Spring Valley National Bank during the national bank period. He was also the proprietor of a hardware store in New Burlington, OH for over 35 years.

Biography

Early life and family

On October 26, 1898 Smith married Roma Dora Huffman. Unfortunately, Roma died soon after in 1904.

The 1910 census lists Zella Mae Weer as single and clerk of a dry goods store (most likely W. C. Smith's store). Sometime after this Weer and Smith married with two children, Robert and Ruby being born in 1912.

Banking career

Smith was promoted from vice president to president of the Spring Valley National Bank in 1918. He served as president until his death in 1940.

Other career highlights

In 1917, Smith was listed as a clerk for the board of education for Spring Valley. This was almost certainly connected to the fact that the Spring Valley National Bank brokered the sale of $24,000 in bonds for the school in the same year.

Wayne Smith and later with his son Robert operated a hardware and general store in New Burlington, OH for over 35 years. As of 1915, the store was noted as having been built for over 80 years and was an "underground station".

In addition to his work with the Spring Valley National Bank and his dry goods store, smith was president of the New Burlington Cemetery Association, an ongoing exhibitor and board member for the Greene county fair, and president of the Ohio Farm Equipment Association.

Later life and death

Smith died at his home after an extended illness on June 11, 1940.

Bank Officer Summary

During his banking career, Wayne Smith was involved with the following bank(s):

• Spring Valley National Bank, Spring Valley, OH (Charter 7896): Vice President ? - 1918; President 1918 - 1940

1929-T1 note from Spring Valley National Bank signed by W. E. Crites, Cashier and W. C. Smith, President.