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Below is a family biography included in The History of McDonald County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  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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Judge William E. Smith, judge of the probate court of Pineville, Mo., was born in Lincoln County, Ky., on September 10, 1844, and is a son of John C. Smith, of Neosho, Mo. William E. Smith received a fair education in the common schools of Clay and Marion Counties, Ill., his family having settled in the former county in 1849, and in the latter in 1854. He came to Missouri in 1867, and located in Newton County, where, for one year, he was engaged in farming. Thence, in 1868, he removed to Jasper County, where he remained engaged in farming and lead mining until 1872, when he returned to Newton County, and continued farming until 1879. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Thurman, that county, of which place he was also appointed postmaster on April 16, 1880, continuing in office and business until 1882, when he went to Indian Springs, McDonald County. There he engaged in merchandising and real estate business, and was elected chairman of the town council. In the fall of 1882 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he resigned in December, 1884, to take charge of the office of probate judge, to which he had been elected the preceding November, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge I. N. Shambaugh. In November, 1886, Judge Smith was re-elected to the same position, and is the present incumbent. Since January, 1885, he has resided at Pineville. His marriage with Harriet Smith, a daughter of William C. Smith, was celebrated on May 11, 1865, and to them were born seven children. Those living are Jerusha E. A., Meredith O., Richard R., Lodosca S. and Edward C. Mrs. Smith died on January 5, 1879, and on February 22, 1883, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Virginia F. Tweedy.

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This family biography is one of 82 biographies included in The History of McDonald County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: McDonald County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional McDonald County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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