William L. Smith

As printed in 1910

WILLIAM L. SMITH.

After a long period of toil and labor, it is gratifying to be able to retire with the consciousness that such a life has brought its reward, that enough and more has been laid by to provide for a peaceful old age in which one may live content and in the knowledge that his life has been well spent.

William L. Smith was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, September 27, 1834, the son of Lawson and Sarah (Riley) Smith, the latter a native of Maryland. Lawson Smith, who was born in Kentucky, was a saddler and owned a tanyard. In 1838 he moved overland to Missouri, a party of eight families driving through with teams, among them being John Graves, Hiram Bledsoe, Hiram Henderson and Wing Lytton. Lawson Smith located in Lexington township, seven miles south of Lexington, and remained in the township until 1842, when he moved to Washington township, and rented for two years, then entered government land and bought other land, acquiring about seven hundred acres. He was a Whig and a member of the Christian church, and died at the age of seventy-four years in 1885. He had a family of nine children: George died in Kentucky; William L.; Wesley, deceased; Edward, deceased; Georgia lives in San Antonio, Texas; Lawson lives in New Mexico; Algis Range, deceased; Sally, deceased, wife of John T. Majors; and Edward, deceased.

William L. Smith received a common school education, attended the high school at Chapel Hill in 1847, under A. W. Ridings, and Lexington College in 1852. After 1852 he took charge of his father's farm until he enlisted, in September, 1861, in Captain Withers company, Col. Ben Elliott's regiment, under General Price. He took part in the battle of Lexington, and shortly afterwards was captured and paroled to the county under two thousand dollars bond. After the war he farmer in this county until 1902, when he moved to Mayview, and since retiring, rents his farm. He lives in a comfortable residence erected on the highest ground in Mayview or in Washington township.

Mr. Smith was married on April 17, 1867, to Mary O. Young, the daughter of John Young and granddaughter of Col. Jim Young, once governor of the state. To their union nine children were born: James, who lives at home; Riley, who lives in New Mexico; Betsy, who died at the age of two years; Forrest is married and lives in Kansas City; Upton lives at Mayview; Lena, at home, and Tillie, at home. These children were all given good education, and the girls are graduates of the local school. Riley and Forrest served in the Cuban war under Colonel Roser. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Mt. Hebron. He is a member of the Grange, and a Democrat. His married life and family relations have always been happy, his farming was successful, his relations with his fellow men have been such that he has the number of friends which he deserves, and he can without fear call his life, if not brilliant or great, at least successful.

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.