My Genealogy Hound

R. M. Smith, senior member of the firm of Smith, Graham & Jones, merchants at Wynne, owes his nativity to Batesville, Independence County, Ark., where his birth occurred in 1849. His parents, William and Mary (Miller) Smith, were also natives of Arkansas, and the father died when his son, R. M., was quite young. The paternal grandfather, Robert Smith, was a native of Maryland and came to Arkansas in about 1835, settling at Batesville where he followed farming for many years. He owned a fine tract of land on the opposite side of the river from the town. He moved to Springfield, Mo., in 1878, and there he died a few years later at the age of seventy-eight years. The maternal grandfather, John Miller, moved to Independence County, Ark., in 1817, bought a large tract of land near the site of the present city of Batesville and was a very successful farmer, accumulating a very large fortune. He died in 1886 at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. R. M. Smith passed his youth in Batesville and in 1866 went to Little Rock, where he entered St. John’s College, and there remained for four years. After this he engaged in the retail grocery business in Little Rock, remaining there until 1871, when he sold his business and went back to Batesville. Going to Wittsburg in 1875 he started a drug store, which he carried on until 1881 when the firm title was changed to Hamilton, Smith & Co., continuing thus until January, 1888. That partnership was then dissolved and the firm of Smith, Graham & Jones was formed, which in February, 1888, opened business in the brick block known as the Commercial Hotel, at Wynne. Here they carry an average stock of $20,000 and are doing a good business. Mr. Smith was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Mebane (a native of Cross County and daughter of W. T. Mebane). To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two children: Bertie and Willie. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Smith owns two farms comprising 475 acres, with fifty under cultivation and another tract three miles southeast of Wynne with 125 acres under cultivation. He is at present building an elegant new cottage with the hall and ceilings finished in natural wood and the rooms planned and designed by Mrs. Smith.