Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Capt. E. T. Smith

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Submitted by:
        Date: 20 Jun 1998
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SOURCE:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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Capt. E. T. Smith was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1830, and is a son [p.894] of William and
Rebecca (Todd) Smith, who were born in Virginia, in 1798, and Georgia, in 1800. The former was
educated in the schools of his native State, and when a young man removed with his parents to
Ohio, where he met and married Miss Todd, who had removed to that State when she was a child. Mr.
Smith first followed the occupation of farming and then engaged in merchandising, and died in the
State of his adoption in 1846. His widow afterward married a Mr. Pierson, who is now deceased,
and died in 1875. By Mr. Smith she became the mother of eight children: Thomas, Sabilla (wife of
Dr. A. Atkinson), Elisha Todd, Asenath (deceased), Hannah (wife of Elisha Smith), Elwood, William
(deceased) and Stephen. Elisha T. Smith, the subject of this biography, was reared on a farm and
educated in the common schools and at the Friends' High-school at Mount Pleasant, Ohio. He was
married to Miss Lydia Clendenon, who was born in Ohio in 1832. Her father was born in the
"Keystone" State and her mother in Georgia. She also attended the Friends' High-school, and by
Mr. Smith became the mother of five children: Annie (wife of O. B. Wilson), Rebecca T., Willie
(wife of J. D. Mann) and Nettie May (wife of David M. Smith). Ella, the fourth child, is living
at home, Mr. Smith was living in Iowa when the war broke out, and he espoused the Union cause,
but did not take an active part in the war. In 1858 he was elected clerk of the district court in
Iowa, and served in that capacity twelve years, and was then elected to the State senate for four
years. After spending one year in the Republic of Mexico, engaged in mining, he located in
Stephens County, Texas, and was appointed clerk of the district court, by Judge Fleming, for six
years, but before his last term had expired he came to Siloam Springs, Ark., and here has since
resided. He is a Republican in politics, and is justice of the peace of Hico Township. He was
nominated as a candidate for representative on the Republican ticket in 1888, but declined the
nomination. He is interested in the mining lands located in Washington County, Ark., being a
member of the Northwestern Arkansas Mining and Smelting Company. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity and the K. of P.