My Genealogy Hound

Benjamin A. Smith was born in the Palmetto State, in 1823, and with his parents, William and Margaret (Roberts) Smith, moved to Mississippi in 1839. The father was a farmer of that State until his death, in 1850. His wife died in 1867. Benjamin A. is one of their twelve children, and resided with his mother until 1859, when he began traveling in the interests of the Pratte Cotton-gin Factory. In 1860 he traveled for the Griswold Cotton-gin Factory, and continued for six years. In 1859 he married Lucretia Simmons, who was born in Alabama, in 1834, and became the mother of two sons and three daughters, one son and one daughter of whom are dead. Mr. Smith came to Gibson County shortly after his marriage and engaged in the mercantile business at Lynn Point, where he remained two years. He then discontinued the mercantile business until after the war, then resumed it for a short time. He next took a general machine agency, and in 1870 erected a cotton-gin shop at Rutherford. He makes a specialty of gins and feeders but is prepared to manufacture other machinery also. He held the office of lieutenant-colonel in the State militia of Mississippi, and has been colonel of the State militia of Tennessee. Mr. Smith began life for himself poor in purse but has gained his possessions by his honesty, industry and perseverance. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and he is a Mason and a stanch Democrat in politics. Mr. Smith takes a deep interest in all educational enterprises, and contributes liberally to the erection of public institutions and houses of worship. He has striven hard to educate his children and is himself well read and well versed on the topics of the day.