My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Webster 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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Nathan T. Smith was born in Roane County, Tenn., July 13, 1831, and is a son of William and Mary (Turner) Smith, also Tennesseeans. The family located in Webster County, Mo., about 1843, where the father became a successful husbandman, and served a number of years as justice of the peace. His death occurred in March, 1871. His wife survives him, and is in her eighty-third year. Nathan T. Smith came to Missouri with his parents when a lad twelve years old, and grew to mature years in Webster County. He remained with his father until he attained his majority, and in 1861 enlisted in the Missouri State troops, under Gov. Jackson’s call, but at the end of six months joined the regular Confederate service, being with Col. Green’s cavalry regiment, and served until receiving his discharge in the fall of 1863. He enlisted as a private, but was promoted to orderly sergeant, which position he held the most of the time during his service. He was at Elkhorn and Helena, and after receiving his discharge went to Texas, where he resided until the spring of 1866. While in that State he was married, July 30, 1865, to Elizabeth J. Roberts, a native of Roane County, Tennessee. She was reared and educated in her native State, and when a young lady eighteen years of age, came with her father, John J. Roberts, to Missouri. The latter served as justice of the peace in Tennessee, and died in Texas in September, 1883. Since 1866 Mr. Smith has been residing on his present farm, which consists of over 300 acres, with 150 under cultivation. He has a comfortable residence, and a good young orchard of over 100 trees just beginning to bear. Mrs. Smith was previously married to Hardin McPherson, who was a soldier in the Confederate army, and was killed at the battle of Wilson’s Creek, August 10, 1861. One daughter was born to their marriage, Alice Mattie, wife of James Galbrith. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born the following family: Mary Lucy (wife of James M. Toughstone), Jessie Lorena, John W., Bessie Adella and Oscar Lee. Two sons and one daughter died in childhood. The family attend the Christian, Church, and Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is Master of Mount Olive Lodge, No. 439. He also belongs to the A. F. & A. M.

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This family biography is one of 110 biographies included in The History of Webster County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Webster County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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