My Genealogy Hound

Hon. Samuel L. Smith. Among all classes and in every circumstance in life are those who excel in whatever they undertake, whether of a professional, agricultural or commercial nature, and such a one is the above mentioned gentleman, who is one of the prominent and progressive farmers and stock-raisers in Box Township. He was born in Franklin County, Mo., in 1830, and is the son of Thomas and Esther (Hutton) Smith, natives of Kentucky and Alabama, respectively. The parents were married in Kentucky about 1812, came to Franklin County, Mo., in 1818, remained there for a short time, then moved to Gasconade County, and in 1848 came to Cedar County, there being but two or three settlements between there and Fort Scott, Kan. The country at that time was full of Indians; wild animals were to be found everywhere, and, in establishing their little home in the wilderness, all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life were experienced. Here the father died in 1857 at the age of sixty-three years. He was a successful minister of the Baptist Church for over forty years, and established many churches in Southwest Missouri. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife died in 1863 at the age of about seventy years. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and was a Christian woman in the true sense of the term. Hon. Samuel L. Smith is the ninth of seven sons and five daughters, two sons and two daughters now living, born to his parents. These children are named as follows: William; Margaret, wife of James P. Caldwell, both of Cedar County; Polly C, wife of Clark Hardin, of Oregon, and Samuel L. The last named was reared on the frontier, with but meager chances for an education. He emigrated with his parents to Cedar County, and in 1849 was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Casey, a native of Virginia, and the daughter of Thomas and Sarah A. Casey. Mr. and Mrs. Casey were among the first white settlers of Cedar County, locating here about 1835, and spent the remainder of their lives here. Mrs. Casey died in the year 1837, and Mr. Casey was killed by bushwhackers in 1862. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children, two daughters now living: Emily H., wife of William Casey, and Eliza E., wife of Prof. George M. Liston. Mr. Smith lived on Cedar Creek until 1852, then near his present farm, where he has 1,100 acres, all in one body, one of the best farms in the county, and with 700 acres under cultivation. All this is the result of industry and good management, as he started in life a poor boy, and his first forty acres were entered with money earned by day labor. He is now one of the county’s most substantial farmers and stock-raisers. His first tax was but two and a half cents. During the late war he served in several different regiments of Missouri troops, known as State Militia, and was in many engagements occurring between the militia and bushwhackers for two years, and was in the engagements at Humansville and Stockton. He was wounded, accidentally, by his own gun, in the spring of 1864. In 1868 he was elected to represent Cedar County in the Legislature, again in 1876, and re-elected in 1878, serving three terms, or six years, with credit. He has twice since refused the nomination of state senator. Until 1864 he was a Democrat, his first presidential vote being for Franklin Pierce in 1852, but since then he has been an earnest worker in the Republican party, being one of the leaders. He was a delegate to the State Convention in May, 1888, at Sedalia that nominated E. E. Kimball for governor, and is a prominent member of the Farmers Alliance. His first wife died July 25, 1881. She was a member of the Baptist Church. His second marriage took place in September, 1884, to Mrs. Clementine Williams nee Rankins, a native of Tennessee, who came with her parents to Cedar County, Mo., at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been members of the Baptist Church for many years.