Robert Hudson Smith

As printed in 1882

ROBERT HUDSON SMITH.

Few business men have occupied so prominent a position before the people of Boone county as the subject of this sketch, and none, perhaps, have a number hold upon the confidence of the, public. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Cress) Smith, originally of Millersburg, Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he was born May 17, 182K. He came with his parents to Callaway county, Missouri, in the spring of 1826, and settled near Millersburg. They resided in Callaway county until the fall of 1844, when they came to Boone and settled three miles north of Columbia, at what was known as Hannah's Mill on Hinkson creek, where, they remained until 1848, when Mr. Smith went to Santa Fe, taking with him a saw-mill, the first ever erected in that country. He remained there until 1850, when he came back to Boone county and located two miles south of Columbia > taking charge of the Reuben Black grist and saw mill, which he changed from a water-power to steam. He remained with this mill until 1855, when he went to the John Keene farm, three miles east of Columbia, on the Mexico road, where he built a steam mill which he operated until 1862, when he came to Columbia and bought the mill then under construction, paying the proprietor, Gaines C. Raney,. $10,000 for the property, which he completed, adding from time to time such new machinery as the increase of business demanded. Ho

954 HI8TOHY or BOONE OOUNTT.

sold the property in 1871 for $18,000, to Conley, Anderson & Guitar. The mill is now valued at $60,000. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Smith went to Bocheport, Missouri, and bought the old Stailey mill, which was blown up a few months later, killing A. J. Norris, the engiDeer, and badly injuring a man named Roberts. He at once rebuilt the mill, putting in new machinery and spring no expense in his efforts to repair the loss. In less than a year the new mill was in ashes. The cause of the fire was never known. Mr. Smith was, for the time being, financially ruined. He came to Columbia without a cent. The people, appreciating his active, earnest labors in the past, and feeling a generous sympathy for his losses, elected him collector of Boone county, which position he held for two years, at the same time conducting a livery stable and stock business at Columbia, which he continued to follow for four years after his term of office expired. He then bought a third interest in the Columbia mills, for which he paid $9,000. He remained with this firm for one year and a half, when he sold his interest to Anderson, Hubbard & Co. He now turned his entire attention to trading in stock and real estate, which he followed until April, 1882, when he became one of the proprietors of the Farmer's mill, Columbia, Missouri, saw and grist combined, situated in the northwestern part of town. Mr. Smith was married. May 25, 1843, to Martha A., daughter of Thomas and Patsey McCutchen. Mrs. Smith died in less than one year after their marriage. She was buried in the old Hinkson Creek church-yard. He was married to his second wife, Caroline, daughter of John and Mary (Williams) Cave, of Scott county, Kentucky, July 17, 1850. By this marriage they had two sons and one daughter, Andrew F., Thomas C. and Mary E., all of whom are dead. They were buried at the Columbia cemetery. Mr. Smith is still in vigorous health, and is as active and enterprising as when he first commenced his business career, years ago. In addition to the mill already mentioned, Mr. Smith owns a nice residence in Columbia, and a half interest in a farm of four hundred and forty-four acres, one-half mile north of Stephens' Store, Callaway county, Missouri. It is hardly proper to close this biographical sketch without making brief mention of the parents of Mr. R. H. Smith. His father, William Smith, was born September 11, 1787, and died July 17, 1860, at the age of seventy-two. He is buried in the Bonne Femme church-yard. His wife, Elizabeth, was born May 25, 1793, and is still living, having reached her ninetieth year. She is living with her son, G. W. Smith, in Callaway county. William

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.