My Genealogy Hound

John M. Smith. Among the very first settlers of this county were John T. and Mary (Russell) Williams, natives of Virginia, where they were married, and lived until about 1811, when they moved to Monroe County, Ky., and in 1830 to this county, locating one and a half miles west of Brighton. They were the first white family in the county, although the same year five other families came in, viz.: John Mooney, Jacob Yocum, Absalom Renfrow, Cyrus Patterson and Andy Bass. The nearest neighbor to Mr. Williams, when he first located here, was at Springfield. The only living child of that family in this county, and the lady who wove the first piece of cloth in the county, is Mrs. Martha Smith, widow of James H. M. Smith. She was born in Monroe County, Ky., March 31, 1811, and has lived continuously in Polk County since 1830. Nine children were born to her marriage, six of whom are now living. Her husband, James H. M. Smith, was born in Mercer County, Ky., January 26, 1806, and with his parents came to the northern part of Missouri, and in 1833 to this county. He was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, and filled the office of justice of the peace for several years. He and wife were married January 4, 1835, and the names of their living children are: Lenna H., John M., Atnnie J., Hugh L., William T. and Margaret E. Mr. Smith died September 16, 1867. Mrs. Smith’s father paid rent to the Indians the second year he was in this county, the rent being two sides of bacon and five bushels of shelled corn. John M. Smith, one of the above-mentioned children, and now postmaster at Morrisville, Mo., was born in Looney Township, Polk County, Mo., September 7, 1837, was reared on a farm, and educated in the district schools. Having worked at home until September 14, 1858, he married Miss Sarah F. McKnight, a native of Jackson County, Mo., and ten children, nine now living, were born to this union. The children were named as follows: Martha L. B., Mary D., Robert M., Montie L., Homer E., Leda E., Sarah F., Beulah and Georgie A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Capt. B. F. Mitchell’s company, Clarkston’s Confederate State Guards, and served six months. Early in 1862 he joined Capt. A. C. Bradford’s company, Gibbons’ Battalion Confederate Cavalry, and soon after his company dismounted and became infantry. In February, 1862, he was commissioned third lieutenant, and served in that capacity until his discharge at Tupelo, Miss., in July, 1862. On his way home he was captured, taken to Springfield and paroled. He was at the battles of Wilson’s Creek and Pea Ridge. At the former battle a piece of shell struck him, cutting to the bone, in his cheek, and breaking his collar bone. In December, 1865, he opened a store at Evansville, Ark., and continued in the same for four years, after which he returned to this county, and followed agricultural pursuits until 1885, when he moved to Morrisville. In August, 1885, he was appointed postmaster, and has held that position since. He is also insurance agent; has been justice of the peace several years, and took the census of Looney Township in 1880. He has lived in this county for forty-six years, and since his majority has voted the Democratic ticket.