Smith, Reuben

Smith, Reuben, a Presbyterian minister, was born in South Hadley, Mass., Sept. 26, 1789. He enjoyed a good academical training, graduated at Middlebury College, Vt., in 1812, and at Princeton Theological Seminary, N.J., in 1816. Licensed by the New York Presbytery, he was ordained and installed pastor of the Church at Ballston Center, N.Y., in 1816, by the Troy Presbytery. He afterwards labored in the Third Presbyterian Church at Albany for some years; in 1829 became pastor of a Congregational Church in Burlington, Vt.; in 1832 of the Church at Waterford, N.Y., where he remained sixteen years.; in 1848 again at Ballston Center. In 1854 he removed West, joining the Winnebago Presbytery, and living at Beaver Dam, Wis.; but increasing age prevented his taking that active part in the ministerial duties which marked his earlier years. He died Nov. 7, 1860. Mr. Smith was a man of deep, earnest piety, a close Biblical student, and in his prime an eloquent preacher. He was the author of Africa Given to Christ (Burlington, Vt., 1860), a sermon: — The Pastoral Office, embracing Experiences and Observations from a Pastorate of Forty Years (Phila. 18mo). See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1862, p. 119; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v. (J.L.S.)