My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  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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S. R. SMITH, Graves County, was born March 15, 1818, in Granville County, N. C. He is a son of Samuel and Sallie W. (Williams) Smith, both natives of North Carolina, and of English origin. Our subject was reared on his father’s farm, where he remained until about the age of eighteen. He then entered a dry goods store as clerk, there remained about five years, after which he opened a general store in Montgomery County, Tenn. This he continued about two years. His father’s death occurred about this time, which gave him possession of the farm, consisting of 300 acres. He then engaged in farming about fifteen years, after which he sold this farm and removed to Texas, where he bought 400 acres of land, paying for the same $600. After holding this land one year, he sold it for $3,600, and came to Christian County, Ky., where he hired out his slaves and engaged in merchandising till 1859. He then purchased 320 acres of land in Graves County, at $12 per acre, and engaged in farming pursuits until 1864. He then sold this land for $20 per acre, and removed to Mayfield, where he engaged in the grocery and dry goods business till 1881, when he retired, but has recently re-engaged in business, and is now conducting an extensive dry goods establishment Mr. Smith was married, in 1839, to Miss Mary J. Patillo, of Warren County, N. C. She died in 1876, aged fifty-two. They had four children—two sons and two daughters. Of the sons, R. E. was formerly proprietor of the Southern Hotel at this point, and is now a dry goods merchant, and William M., who graduated from the Louisville Law School at the age of eighteen, is now engaged in the practice of his profession. Of the daughters, Saluda married J. M. Hists, and is now living in Louisville, Ky., and Mary married R. L. Anderson, and is now living in Olala, Fla. Mr. Smith’s second marriage was in 1881, to Mrs. Sherrill, of Graves County. This lady died August 30, 1883. Our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and of the Masonic fraternity.

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This family biography is one of 91 biographies included in the Graves County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Graves County, Kentucky family biographies here: Graves County, Kentucky Biographies

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