The Smith Families of Lafayette County, Missouri

Mr. Smith is a native of Lafayette county. Mo.; born April 6th, 1834- He has been a continuous resident of this county since his birth, and in the meantime has acquired as liberal an education as was afforded by the common schools. Is engaged in farming. He is the son of Charles and Nancy Smith. His father is a native of Virginia, and came to this county in 1820. His mother was born in Tennessee and is the daughter of Sam-' uel Fergurson, who settled here in 1821. Mr. Smith was married Feb. 14, 1866, to Miss Martha N. McLaughlin, of this county, who died Oct. 1,1875. He was again married to Miss Tillie Morrison, also of this county. Their nuptials were celebrated Feb. 19, 1878. They have two children, viz.: Fannie and Mary. Mr. S. is a ruling elder of Mt. Hebron church. His great-grandfathers were both engaged in the Revolutionary war. PostoflBce, Mayview.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ROBERT JACKSON SMITH,

P. O. Lexington, Mo. The subject of this sketch is one of the old citizens of this county; was born in Caldwell county, Ky., April 14, 1815. He is the son of Robert and Lucy Smith, his mother's maiden name being Gordon. He lived in Caldwell county, Ky., until he was about sixteen years of age, and was principally educated there. In the fall of 1831 he moved with his widowed mother to this county, and in 1833 he settled on the farm on which he now resides, seven miles southeast of Lexington. Hh father died shortly before his birth, and his mother never remarried. In January, 185S, she died in this county. On the 12th of Feb., 1844, he was married, for the first time, to Miss Susan C. Thornbrugh, a native of Virginia, who had recently moved to Missouri. She lived about five years and died Jan. 21, 1849. Subsequently he married Miss Mary C. Nowlin, of Ray county, Mo. There was only one child, a son, by the first marriage, who died in infancy. By the second marriage he has six children living: five daughters and one son. Lucy C, wife of John P. Ardinger, of AuUville, Mo.; Susan E., wife of Chas. W. Ford, of this county; Mary Alice, wife of Berry Hughes, of Ray county, Mo.; Thomas B., Sallie C. and Fannie B. Though he sympathized with the South, Mr. Smith remained quietly on his farm during the war. By keeping silence he managed to get along without much disturbance save some loss of personal property. Except two years spent in Jackson county, he has always lived in this country since 1831. He is a Presbyterian, and his wife a Missionary Baptist. Mr. Smith stands high as a citizen and as a Granger, and has taken an active part in politics. He is a Democrat.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM L. SMITH.

After a long period of toil and labor, it is gratifying to be able to retire with the consciousness that such a life has brought its reward, that enough and more has been laid by to provide for a peaceful old age in which one may live content and in the knowledge that his life has been well spent.

William L. Smith was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, September 27, 1834, the son of Lawson and Sarah (Riley) Smith, the latter a native of Maryland. Lawson Smith, who was born in Kentucky, was a saddler and owned a tanyard. In 1838 he moved overland to Missouri, a party of eight families driving through with teams, among them being John Graves, Hiram Bledsoe, Hiram Henderson and Wing Lytton. Lawson Smith located in Lexington township, seven miles south of Lexington, and remained in the township until 1842, when he moved to Washington township, and rented for two years, then entered government land and bought other land, acquiring about seven hundred acres. He was a Whig and a member of the Christian church, and died at the age of seventy-four years in 1885. He had a family of nine children: George died in Kentucky; William L.; Wesley, deceased; Edward, deceased; Georgia lives in San Antonio, Texas; Lawson lives in New Mexico; Algis Range, deceased; Sally, deceased, wife of John T. Majors; and Edward, deceased.

William L. Smith received a common school education, attended the high school at Chapel Hill in 1847, under A. W. Ridings, and Lexington College in 1852. After 1852 he took charge of his father's farm until he enlisted, in September, 1861, in Captain Withers company, Col. Ben Elliott's regiment, under General Price. He took part in the battle of Lexington, and shortly afterwards was captured and paroled to the county under two thousand dollars bond. After the war he farmer in this county until 1902, when he moved to Mayview, and since retiring, rents his farm. He lives in a comfortable residence erected on the highest ground in Mayview or in Washington township.

Mr. Smith was married on April 17, 1867, to Mary O. Young, the daughter of John Young and granddaughter of Col. Jim Young, once governor of the state. To their union nine children were born: James, who lives at home; Riley, who lives in New Mexico; Betsy, who died at the age of two years; Forrest is married and lives in Kansas City; Upton lives at Mayview; Lena, at home, and Tillie, at home. These children were all given good education, and the girls are graduates of the local school. Riley and Forrest served in the Cuban war under Colonel Roser. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Mt. Hebron. He is a member of the Grange, and a Democrat. His married life and family relations have always been happy, his farming was successful, his relations with his fellow men have been such that he has the number of friends which he deserves, and he can without fear call his life, if not brilliant or great, at least successful.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SAMUEL L. SMITH.

It is with pleasure that there is now placed before the readers of this work the life record of the honored gentleman whose name initiated this paragraph, for he is deemed eminently worthy of representation along with the best and most industrious citizens of Lafayette county, owing to the fact that he belongs to the energetic and enterprising class that has made this favored section of the Empire state of the West one of the most noted and richest in the Middle West. He has led a long, active and useful life, and although the twilight of his age is now upon him, he is still active and his brain clear as a result of his careful habits. He comes from one of the best old Southern families of the Old Dominion.

Samuel L. Smith, a Washington township farmer, first saw the light of day in Hampshire county. West Virginia, December 28, 1825. He is the son of Lewis and Mary (Emmett) Smith. The paternal grandfather, Timothy Smith, a native of Virginia, was the son of a native of England, this family having come to the United States in the colonial days. The father, Lewis Smith, was in the war of 1812, ranking as ensign. The subject's paternal grandfather was a Methodist preacher. Lewis Smith moved to Illinois, where his son, Carlton, lived, and there the father died in 1877; his wife also died there. They were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, the only ones living being Samuel L., of this review, and Carlton, mentioned above.

Samuel L. Smith grew to maturity at his native home and w'as educated in the neighboring schools. He came from Virginia to Missouri in 1855 and lived at Greenton, Lafayette county, one year, then bought land in Johnson county and lived there until the Civil war. In the fall of 1862 he proved his loyalty to his family traditions, sympathizing with the Confederacy, by enlisting for service under the noted Joe Shelby, and he saw considerable active service until the close of the struggle, taking part in the battle of Prairie Grove and others. During the last eight months before the close of the war he was a prisoner. He was at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, during the seven days' engagement there, and he always performed his duties as a soldier most faithfully according to his comrades.

After the war Mr. Smith and his family were compelled to leave their Johnson county farm, which had been devastated by Union soldiers. He bought one hundred and twenty acres in Davis township, Lafayette county, and lived there eighteen years, then in the early eighties he bought one hundred and twenty acres on the east side of Washington township and here he has since made his home, improving his place, as he did the one he owned in Davis township. He has erected excellent buildings here and has been rewarded by bounteous harvests. Considering the many obstacles he has had to overcome, Mr. Smith is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished.

Mr. Smith was married in November, 1854, in Virginia, to Lavina Mc- Cauley, daughter of John and Sarah McCauley. They came to Missouri in 1855 and took up farming. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Smith, one dying in infancy, namely: Walter H., who is married and has three children, lives in Davis township on his father's old farm; Edward O. (deceased) was married and had a family of four children; John L., who lives with his father, is married and has one child; Oscar died in infancy; Mary S. (deceased) married Joseph Attebery, who is a farmer, lives in the state of Washington and has one child, Edna. Mrs. Attebery has a college education, having attended Central College two terms.

Mrs. Smith was called to her rest on September 17, 1893. She was a member of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Smith and his children are also members. Mr. Smith has always taken considerable interest in public affairs, but he has held no office in this county. He was justice of the peace in Johnson county for some time. In his younger days he was a surveyor and was an expert at this line of work, having been at one time department surveyor in Johnson county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FERDINAND D. SMITH,

P. O. Lexington, Missouri; was born in Buford county, Virginia, August 14,' 1832. His father Jno. W. Smith, was an extensive southern trade, and died in 1846 in North Carolina, on his way home from a southern tour. In 1847 his widowed mother moved with her family to Missouri, and settled in Pettis county, where the subject of this sketch lived, with her until 1850. In 1850 he went to CaUfornia, where he remained seven years, engaged in mining, and made some money. He returned to Missouri and settled at Wellington, in this county, where his mother and sisters were then living. In 1858 he went to Salt Lake City on a freighting expedition of Russell & Waddell, as wagon master, in which he was absent eighteen months. He then returned to this county, and settled on a farm on Texas Prairie. December 13, 1859, he was married to Miss Mary E. Van Camp, daughter of William Van Camp, of Lexington, now deceased. In 1863 he moved to Pettis county, and remained there until the war closed. In 1867 his wife died, and in 1869 he married again, this time to Miss Matilda H. Young, daughter of Ex-Gov. James Young, who was acting governor of Missouri, in 1844. In 1870 he sold his farm in Pettis county and returned to this county,, where he has since resided, on a fine farm, six miles southeast of Lexington. By his first marriage he had three children, two now living, Leslie and Ada Mary. By his second wife he has one child, Sallie Leftwich. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church South, his first wife was a member of the Christian church. He also belongs to the Masonic order.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DR. CHARLES SMITH, physician and surgeon, Waverly, Mo. The subject of this sketch is one of the most promising physicians of Lafayette county. A graduate of the Missouri medical college; graduated in the class of 1878-79. Returned to Waverly, where he spent his boyhood days to practice his learned profession, at which he has been successful. Dr. Smith is a native of Lafayette county, Mo., born December 27, 1855. His parents are George W. and Susan Smith, natives of Kentucky, and came to this county in 1852. Dr. Smith is a Mason of good standing, also a member of A. O. U. W., and of the Lafayette County Medical Association, before which body he has read some fine papers, which reflected much credit upon him as a physician.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN R. SMITH.

Wherever the "boys in blue" are to be found they may be classed as leading citizens of their respective communities and they should receive the highest honor considering the great sacrifice they made for us and what they have accomplished. They willingly gave up the pleasures of home and the opportunities of business to save the nation, freely offering their services and their lives if need be in order that succeeding generations might be benefited. One of that brave band was John R. Smith, a well known farmer near Mayview, Lafayette county. He is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Warren county, Ohio, June 3, 1840, and is the son of Hugh and Sarah (Rogers) Smith. This family is of English descent, the paternal grandfather, Thomas Smith, being a native of the state of Maine. Sarah Rogers was the daughter of Henry Rogers, of New Jersey. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Smith died in 1861. They were the parents of five children, John R., of this review, being the only one now living.

John R. Smith received his education in the common schools of his native community, and when the war between the states began he enlisted in the Federal army, serving three years in a very creditable manner in the Army of the Cumberland, under Generals Buel, Thomas and Rosecrans. He took part in many trying campaigns and hard-fought engagements, including the great battle of Chickamauga, in which he was wounded. After the war he returned to Lafayette county and took up farming, buying an excellent place of three hundred and twenty acres in Lexington township with his brothers and sisters. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock man and has a well improved and productive place and a good home.

On June 10, 1869, Mr. Smith married Anna M. Ferguson, daughter of William J. and Elizabeth R. (Brabston) Ferguson, the former the son of Vivian Ferguson, of Scotch and Welsh descent. Vivian Ferguson died in Kentucky. His son, William J., came to Missouri in 1850 and located on the farm now operated by John R. Smith, which consists of as fine land as this township can boast. Of the five hundred and ninety acres which comprised the paternal estate, three hundred and fifty still remain in the name of Anna M. Smith and her children. It is well improved and has been so carefully tilled that the soil has retained its original fertility. Nine children constituted the family of William J. Ferguson, three of whom are living, one son and two daughters.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. John R. Smith, five of whom are living, namely: Hugh married Eula Whitsett and they have one daughter, Hula Derwood; Hugh is a farmer and in politics a Democrat. Luncford Smith died at the age of twenty years. Grace is having at home. Clifton married Rhoda Warren, who died in 1906, after which he married Mary Benning; one child, Anna Lucille, was born to the first union. Rogers Smith married Sally Higgins, and they have four children, Higgins, Victor, Mattie and Mary Alice. Laurence Smith married Blanche Foulds and they have one child. Jack Kermit; Laurence is farming near the home place. All these children received common school education.

Mr. Smith and his family are members of the Baptist church and they are popular in all circles in their community. Mr. Smith is one of the best known and most successful farmers of the county and his life has been exemplary in every respect so that he merits the high esteem in which he is held.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

DR. EDWARD H. SMITH, physician and surgeon, P. O. Napoleon. Son of Richard Smith; was born in Montreal, Canada, March 16, 1857, where he was raised and educated.. After taking an academic course at Montreal College and graduating, he entered the McGill Medical University, established in 1812, where he completed one of the most thorough courses of medical science to be found in the curriculum of any college in the country, receiving his diploma in March, 1881. After graduating, he went to Kansas City and engaged in the practice of medicine. He, however, remained there but a short time going to Napoleon in June of the same year. Having a thorough and complete theoretical knowledge of the " art of healing," the doctor hopes by close application and strict attention to business, to build up a large

COUNTY. 485 and lucrative practice in the town and surrounding country. Few men have begun life under more favorable auspices — -with youth, health and energy on his side, he is sure to succeed.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD H. SMITH.

The subject of this sketch is a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky, born June 2, 1830. Was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy H. Bradley, a native of Ken- ' tucky. They havejhad nine children, six now living, three sons and three daughters, viz.: Martha J., John W., Susan M., Mary L., Benjamin H., and Elias E. In 1847 he enlLsted for service in the Mexican war, in Capt. J. W. Brannan's company, under Zack. Taylor. Served sixteen months as a private. In 1854 he came to Lafayette county, and located in Lexington, where he lived six years. He then went to Freedom township, where he has since resided. During the civil war, he was appointed a sharp-shooter at the battle of Lexington, under Gen. Price. Was not regularly sworn into the army. When Major Grover was ordered to Lexington to rescue Cols. White and Grover, he took fifty-four prisoners, all citizens, six of whom were negroes. Not a soldier was among the lot, of whom Mr. Smith was one. They were marched from Lexington to the fair grounds and were there released. Mr. Smith's postoffice address is Aullville.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.