Ferdinand D. Smith

As printed in 1881

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 History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.