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Below is a family biography included in The History of Barton County, Missouri 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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Robert P. Smith, of the firm of C. H. Brown & Co. was born in Crawford County, Ill., October 4, 1844, and is the son of Robert C. and Mary E. (Smith) Smith, both natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Smith came with her parents to Illinois at an early day, and Mr. Smith came some time later. Both were of English descent. The maternal grandfather was a very early settler of Palestine, Ill., and was receiver of the land office. The paternal grandfather came from Virginia to Kentucky, at a very early day and lived at Danville. Robert C. and Mary E. (Smith) Smith were married in Crawford County, and he followed farming as an occupation. He was a highly respected citizen, and died in the prime of life, when his son, Robert P., was only four years of age. The mother is still living, is seventy years of age, and is a member of the Methodist Church. She was the mother of four children, two of whom are now living, a son and daughter. Robert P. Smith, the second child, attained his growth on the farm, and received his education in the common schools, also at Marshall, Ill., and at Merom College, in Indiana. He then read law under Judge John Schofield, now on the supreme bench of Illinois, and later entered the Chicago Law School, where he graduated in 1866. Subsequently he located in Decaturville, Tenn., practiced a year, and then went to Texas. He followed a drove of cattle from there to Lamar, Mo., where he went into the employ of Brown & Avery, which firm is succeeded by the present firm of C. H. Brown & Co; of the latter firm he became a member in 1872. For twenty-one years he has been a resident of this county. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been county treasurer three terms. July 1, 1875, he married Miss Mary E. Culver, a native of Illinois, and they have three children: Guy, Eula and Reba. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Congregational Church.

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This family biography is one of 166 biographies included in The History of Barton County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Barton County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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