John R. Smith

As printed in 1910

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 Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.