Abbott "Pete" Smith, D.V.M.
June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017). A graduate of Colorado State University and a well-known veterinarian in southeast Ohio, Dr. Smith continues to motivate and inspire.
Several years ago, interviewing former Milliron Clinic employees and clients for Dr. Smith's biography, I traveled with Jessica and Jody to Marietta to meet a longtime friend of the Smith family, Kelly Lincoln. Arriving at Kelly's historical Marietta estate - Fernwood Farm and Studio - we were welcomed into the living room to sit by the fire and talk about old times. There was much to talk about.
Kelly is an avid equestrian (her work with horses is extensive) and the proprietor of Fernwood Farm and Studio. Kelly holds a BFA from Pratt Institute, New York, School of Art and Design, Print Making. She is a prolific artist, creating fantastic imagery that has been exhibited in museums... and more. Her art is whimsical and heartfelt, embracing life experiences and magical places.
Kelly designed and created the interior art for Dr. Smith's Tails of a Country Vet. I enjoyed working with Kelly on Tails. Since, we have collaborated with another author, Mark M. Dean, and his illustrations for The Adventures of Coal & Andy: Charlie the Catfish (Monday Creek Publishing 2018). Kelly is currently writing and illustrating her own children's book Snowflake.
Besides being an artist and maintaining her estate, Kelly and her husband, Mark, run Fernwood Farm. It is home to their pig rescue and recovery, homing quality pigs for 4-H projects and breeding programs.
Kelly once worked for Dr. Smith at Milliron Clinic as a vet assistant. After taking her own horse to Dr. Smith for treatment, she became a friend to the Smith family, working at the clinic, and riding (many) horseback trails alongside the Smiths. The story of one of Kelly's encounters with Dr. Smith and how he saved her horse will be in the upcoming Tails of a Country Vet II.
These days I see Kelly about every other week and we text at least twice a day. She sends me photos of her Fernwood Farm menagerie - horses, pigs, chickens, sheep. Recently she was featured in The Marietta Times. Read the article here.
Stay tuned for more stories from Kelly and Fernwood Farm as we dive further into the Smith archives. Enjoy the week ahead!
Do you have a story about Dr. Smith and Milliron Farm/Clinic? Send me an email gmcknight11@gmail.com!
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Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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