My Genealogy Hound

William H. Smith, one of the substantial citizens of Lawrence County, Mo., is a native of the county, and was born on December 11, 1844. His parents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Harper) Smith, were natives of Illinois, who settled in Lawrence County, Mo., at an early day. Here they spent the remainder of their lives, dying at a ripe old age, beloved and respected by all. Alexander Smith was of English descent, and came to Lawrence County a poor man but when he died left over 600 acres of some of the finest land in the county, all of which was under a fine state of cultivation. William H. Smith was reared on his father’s farm, and upon attaining his majority engaged in farming for himself. He has made that a life vocation, and now has one of the best improved farms in the county. It comprises 270 acres of land, well adapted to farming and stock raising. Having received only the rudiments of an education in the subscription schools common to the days of his boyhood, he has since greatly increased his fund of knowledge by much desultory reading and close observation. His wife to whom he was married in Lawrence County, was Mary A. Jennings, a native of the county, who was born in 1849. To their union have been born nine children, eight of whom are living: they are Pleasant A., Joseph, James W., Samuel E., Fred L., George A., Myrtie and John A. The one dead is Sarah E. From November 8, 1863, to August 8 1865, Mr. Smith served in the Union army as a member of Company A; Fourth Missouri Cavalry, and is an active member of the G. A. R.