University of Virginia Library

CHARLES JOHNSON SMALLWOOD

Charles Johnson Smallwood, the subject of this
sketch, is a son of the late David Selden and Mary
Catherine (Dungan) Smallwood, and was born in
Smyth County, Virginia,
September 29th,
1862, being a descendant
of President Andrew
Johnson. He was
seven years old when
his mother died. Several
years afterwards
his father passed away,
leaving him an orphan.
He went to live with
his uncle, John W.
Dungan, and in early
life his schooling was
neglected, but as he
grew to manhood, determined
to have an
education, he started to
school. After two terms
and his entry upon the
third term of ten months, he was offered a position
to learn the carpenter's trade, and through the advice
of Dr. J. S. Apperson, a friend, he accepted
same, and began his business career under J. S.
Morris, a contractor of Chilhowie, Virginia. On
September 10th, 1883, he moved to Roanoke, Virginia,
and drove his first nail in that city on Church
Avenue. Later he began contracting and building
houses in the city and county. Many of the best
residences of the Bent Mountain section were erected
by him.

Mr. Smallwood is regarded as one of the best orchardists
in the county. He leased a small tract of
land in the orchard belt many years ago and started
a nursery, growing his own trees, from which he
later planted an orchard of twenty-six acres on a
tract of land willed to Mrs. Smallwood by her father.
Later he purchased the fine orchard on Back Creek
formerly owned by James W. Turner. This orchard
to-day is valued at $25,000, and ranks as one of the
largest and most valuable pippin orchards in the
county.

On October 27th, 1884, Mr. Smallwood married
Louvenia Ferguson, daughter of Samuel and Malinda
(Hayes) Ferguson, of Back Creek, and to them
the following children have been born: Ernest Emmett,
George Diver, John Wilson, Mary May, Luther
Bell, Emma Sarah Della, Jennie, deceased, Selden,
Bertha, deceased.

Mr. Smallwood is one of the county's most progressive
citizens, his hospitable home being one of
the very best in the southern end of the county. He
has been twice elected, and is now a Justice of the
Peace for Cave Spring District. His various apple
orchards number two thousand trees, mostly of the
pippin variety, and to-day, through his efforts, his
holdings are estimated to be worth $50,000.