Bill Arp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Arp
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Charles Henry Smith
June 15, 1826 |
| Died | August 24, 1903 (aged 77) |
| Resting place | Oak Hill Cemetery |
| Education | University of Georgia (did not graduate) |
| Occupation | Author, editor, politician |
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Charles Henry Smith (born June 15, 1826 – died August 24, 1903) was an American writer and politician from Georgia. For almost 40 years, he was known by his pen name, Bill Arp. He was famous across the country for his down-to-earth humor. Several towns are even named after him, like Arp in Banks County, Georgia and Arp, Texas.
Life and Work
Growing Up
Charles Henry Smith was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on June 15, 1826. He went to the University of Georgia. Later, he married Mary Octavia Hutchins. Her father was a rich lawyer and plantation owner. Charles and Mary had 10 children who grew up to be adults.
Smith studied law with his father-in-law. He became a lawyer in Rome, Georgia. He lived there for a while before moving.
During the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Smith started writing funny letters. He used the name "Bill Arp" for these letters. Southern newspapers often published them during the war. His letters joked about the challenges white Southerners faced during wartime. Smith also served as a major in the 8th Georgia Infantry Regiment. He worked for several Confederate generals, like Francis Bartow.
After the War
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After the war, Smith went back to Rome. But in 1877, he moved to Cartersville, Georgia. He was very active in politics there. He served as an alderman (a city council member), mayor, and a member of the Georgia State Senate.
Smith's writing career really took off after the war. His "Bill Arp" letters to the editor of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper were very popular. This led to him becoming a regular columnist for the paper. He often wrote in a style called "Cracker dialect" (a way of speaking common in rural Georgia). His topics included politics, government, current events, farming, and more.
He also worked as an editor for newspapers in Rome, Cartersville, Georgia, and Atlanta. Smith published five books during his lifetime:
- Bill Arp's Letters (1870)
- Bill Arp's Scrap Book (1884)
- The Farm and Fireside (1891)
- A School History of Georgia (1893)
- Bill Arp: From the Uncivil War to Date (1903)
He also wrote a monthly column for the Southern Cultivator magazine. As he became more famous, Smith also became a successful speaker. He gave many lectures and speeches.
During the time after the Civil War, society in the South was changing a lot. Like many people from his time and place, Smith had strong opinions about these changes. He wrote about his beliefs, which included ideas about race that are not accepted today. He shared his thoughts on topics like education and voting rights for African Americans, which were very different from what we believe about equality now. However, some of his "Bill Arp" writings still focused on humor and everyday country life.
His Death
Charles Henry Smith passed away on August 24, 1903. He died in Cartersville, Georgia. He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery there.
See also
- Literature of Georgia (U.S. state)
