H. C. Smith

As printed in 1881

H. C. SMITH.

Henry Clay Smith is a native of Kentucky, born in Woodford county, on the lath day of October, 1820. His father emigrated from Maryland to Kentucky at an early day. He died soon after the birth of our subject, leaving his widow, with seven young children, in very straitened circumstances. Henry's advantages for obtaining an education were, in consequence of his father's death and the family's poverty, quite limited. He remained with his mother, working for the common support of the family, until his twenty-first year, when the whole family removed to Ray county, Missouri, and stopped for about a year on a farm near Richmond. This was in 1841. In 1842 Mr. Smith and his brother, B. F., bought a tract of land near the town of Millville. This land was in a wild state, covered with dense forest and underbrush. # By their indomitable industry the brothers cleared and improved this place, and made a living for themselves and their mother's family. They continued to clear and improve the place until, in 1849, Henry bought out the interest of his brother, and thus gained entire control of the place. His mother continued to reside with him until her death, which occurred in 1859. Mr. Smith was married in the autumn of 1870 to Miss Cynthia A. Smith, daughter of Peyton T. Smith, a prominent farmer of Ray county. Though their names were the same, they are not in anyway related to one another by ties of consanguinity. Two children were born of this union: Nora Belle and Lucy Rachel. Mr. Smith still resides on the farm which himself and brother improved. He has added to it from time to time until it now comprises some four hundred and forty acres. His residence, a large and handsome frame building, occupies a conspicuous location near the point where the Richmond, Russellville, Millville, and Tinney's Point roads intersect one another. Since the war Mr. Smith has turned his attention mostly to the raising of stock. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Millville M. E. Church. Mr. Smith is a self-made man, and one of the most prosperous and successful farmers in the county.

As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.