IDA JANE SMITH (1873 - 1958)
Jackson County, North Carolina Heritage Vol. 1 article 1233

Ida Jane Smith, the fourth child of Lewis J. Smith/Clarisa Almira (Clara) Coward, was born 12 March 1873 at the family home in East LaPorte. During early childhood, Ida regularly attended East LaPorte Methodist Church with her devout Christian parents. When Cullowhee Methodist Church was chartered, she became a member of that church.
When Ida was growing up, schools quite often were taught by preachers, and Christian morals were taught along with the ABC's. Ida's parents, who were better educated than many mountain people, believed strongly in education. Ida's father had taught in Richland Institute in Haywood County. Ida's parents were strong supporters of the East LaPorte School, which was in operation for about four or five years, beginning about 1876. Ida attended this school.
The Smiths moved into a new home in Painter about 1882/1883. Because there was no school in the area, Ida's parents donated an acre of land to the Public School Committee, and "Liberty School" was built. It was in this school that Ida resumed her education. About 1888, Ida attended school at Jackson Academy in Sylva where Professor Robert Lee Madison was the principal.
Since there was no high school in Cullowhee, Ida's father was among those who wanted to remedy that. Ida's great-uncle David Rogers donated an acre for a school site across from the Cullowhee Baptist Church. When Cullowhee High School was built, Ida continued her education there. She was in the 1893 graduating class, along with her sisters Lena and Beulah, her cousin Fannie Rogers, and a young man named Welch Galloway.
Ida taught school for a while. Later, she operated a general store and tea room. Then, she returned to teaching. Ida was highly regarded. She was a gentle, kind, trusting and caring woman who was always interested in others and treated little children with love, tenderness, and patience.
In 1946, Ida's old classmate Judge Felix E. Alley published his book entitled WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST? He inscribed a copy to Ida Smith thusly, "To my friend, Miss Ida J. Smith, one of the few schoolmates of more than fifty years ago still living, whose daily life, I believe, for the more than half a century that I have known her, has reflected all the Christian virtues, this history of our Savior is presented in token of my appreciation of her friendship in the long ago, and through the intervening years. With the best wishes of the author Felix E. Alley. January 30,1947."
Ida lived the last years of her life with her sister Nannie McGuire in Cullowhee. When Ida became ill, Nannie nursed her and looked after her. Nannie refused to put her in a nursing home, saying, "Ida looked after our dear mother until she died, and I certainly plan to look after her as long as she lives." ,
Ida Smith died 6 June 1958. She is buried in East LaPorte Methodist Church cemetery, beside her parents and paternal grandparents.

Submitted by Nan Rideout; Written by Jo Ann Smith
Reference: Alley, Judge Felix E. Alley, WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST? (Ida's copy.);
Byrd, W. E. THE HISTORY OF WESTERN CAROLINA COLLEGE.;
Jackson County Register of Deeds (Deeds 1871-1874); McGuire, Nannie Smith, unpublished writings;
Oral history: Cassia W. Griffin, Clara M. Wendt, Ellen H. Smith.;
Smith, Jo Ann, BY CHANCE OR BY PLAN.