In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1830, Boone county
From History of Boone County, Missouri (1882)
JOHN E. SMITH.
John Ellis Smith is the son of William and Nancy (Ellis) Smith, who were among the first settlers of Boone county. The subject ot this sketch was born on the old Smith farm, in Boone county, October 15th, 1830. He was the fifth son and sixth child of a family of seven sons and three daughters. He was reared on the farm and educated at the common schools of the neighborhood. He lived on the home place until 1859, when he bought the farm, where he now lives, which contains 320 acres and is situated six miles northeast of jhlaiid. He is largely interesteiJ in agriculture and is an extensive eller in stock. He was married in Callaway county, October 9th, 856, to Miss Mary J. Boyd, daughter of Thomas Boyd, now a citizen TBenton county, Missouri. They had four sons, three of whom are mor, Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist church.
As printed in History of Boone County, Missouri (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1882. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.