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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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David C. Smith was born in Lawrence County, Ark., February 10, 1837, and is the son of David Smith, of Vermont, who settled in Kentucky in his earlier days, where he met and was married to Miss Mariah Hornby, a native of that State. In the year 1830 Mr. David Smith and his family left their Kentucky home and found a suitable location in Lawrence County, Ark. This section of country was sparsely settled at that time, and Mr. Smith had all the difficulties to contend with that befell the pioneers of that State. However, he cleared up a portion of the timber and commenced farming, which occupation he followed until the time of his death, which occurred on the 12th of March, 1881. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Seven children were born to them, of whom four are still living, David C. being the youngest. The advantages of education were very limited in those days in Mr. Smith’s section, owing to the newness of the country, and he found, quite early in life, the necessity of schooling himself. At the age of twenty-two he located on the home place, where he remained until he was able to purchase a home of his own, and, owing to his natural ability and pluck, was not long in attaining his object. He served three years in the Confederate army, being a member of Col. Shaver’s regiment, and was present at the surrender at Jacksonport, Jackson County, Ark. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in farm work, and some years later was elected justice of the peace of Black River Township, filling the duties of that office for two terms. He was then elected to the office of county judge in the fall of 1880, serving two years. Mr. Smith has also been a member of the board of equalization for four years, and has filled several minor offices. He was first married in 1859 to Miss Mary A. Bottoms, a lady of Tennessee, who died on the 19th of March, 1888. He had seven children by this wife, five of them deceased: David W., Elias H., Mary E., Clay C. and Emmett E. Those living are James C. and John R. Mr. Smith was married a second time to Mrs. C. A. Pyland, a native of Tennessee, and this lady had three children: Mary F., Georgia A. and Modena W. They are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Smith is an active worker in school and church affairs. He is a stanch Democrat, and was a Whig before the reconstruction.

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This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lawrence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Lawrence County, Arkansas Biographies

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