Jackson County FlArchives Biographies.....Smith, Jefferson Davis 1861 - 
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Jefferson Davis Smith

    A builder of railroads and a prime factor in the promotion of industrial and
financial enterprises, a substantial business man of sturdy integrity, Jefferson
D. Smith, is one of the men who have been in the forefront of the movement by
means of which Florida's natural and material resources have been developed, her
wealth and population increased and her people made prosperous and happy. His
ancestors were of old Virginia stock, and among the pioneers in Georgia, the
family being inseparably linked with the early history of Methodism in both
Georgia and Florida. His grandparents on both sides were among the first
settlers in and around Atlanta, Ga., and his grandfather, John Smith, was a man
of wide influence throughout the settlement among both whites and Indians, and
was noted for his bravery and success in dealing with the troublesome red man,
on numerous occasions rescuing captive whites in the hands of the Indians. His
uncle. P. P. Smith, was among the first to introduce Methodism in Florida, and
established many of the earliest churches in the State.

    His father, Milton C. Smith, was a successful, consecrated Methodist
preacher, who prosecuted his Master's work throughout Georgia and Florida for
many years. He married Martha J. Thames, whose family were also pioneers, and
they left Atlanta and settled in Thomasville, Ga., in 1852. Here Jefferson D.
Smith was born May 10, 1861. He attended the Fletcher Institute in Thomasville
for several years, and later entered the District High School at Dawson, Ga. He
did not graduate, however, for the reason that his health became impaired to
such an extent that it would not permit of the confinement to the school room.

    Owing to the necessity of having outdoor employment. Mr. Smith secured the
contract for building a portion of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, a
division of the L. & N. R. R., which he successfully carried out, and having
regained his health in the fall of 1881, he began business of a general
merchandising character in Marianna, dealing largely in furniture, wagons,
carriages and hardware. This business he continued with success, though he has
by no means confined himself to it, having branched out and largely invested in
and promoted various interests and industries, and also conducting business in
the same lines in Dothan, Ala., and Thomasville, Ga. He has been a large
investor in lands in West Florida.

    In 1904 he organized the Citizens' State Bank of Marianna, with $30,000
capital stock, and has been president of the institution since its organization.
While he has always been active in politics, it has been for the good of the
people and not for any personal benefit, having never run for any office of
profit. He has served his people as alderman for eight years, and was chairman
of the prohibition campaign committee. He has been president of the Marianna
Board of Trade since its organization, and is one of the Board of Trustees for
Jackson county.

    Mr. Smith is an ardent Methodist, and is chairman of the Board of Stewards
for his church, and a district steward. He is also a member of the Executive
Committee of the Southern Cotton Association, and has frequently contributed
articles to the press, including his home papers, the Pensacola Journal, the
North and South, and the Cotton Journal.

    Mr. Smith was married May 25, 1885, to Elizabeth Lee Hentz. a daughter of
Dr. Thaddeus W. and Hattie E. Hentz. Mrs. Smith numbers among her ancestors
several well known authors, including her grandmother, Caroline Lee Hentz, who
is buried at Marianna, Fla., and who, during her life-time, charmed thousands of
readers and attained not a few literary imitators. Among the most noted of her
productions the following are worthy of special mention: "Linda, or the Young
Pilot of the Belle Creole": "The Planter's Northern Bride": "Marcus Warland, or
the Long Moss Spring" (the scene of this story is laid in Jackson county. Fla.):
"Helen and Arthur, or Miss Thusas' Spinning Wheel": "Eoline. or the Magnolia
Vale," and "Ernest Linwood." Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children, as follows:
Hattie E. Smith, M. Janie Smith, Milton Clarke Smith, and T. Hentz Smith.

    Mr. Smith has always been conservative, though progressive in business, and
doubtless owes much of his success to the fact that he always preferred to do a
moderate business on a sound basis, rather than become financially involved. He,
from the beginning, never allowed an account to stand, meeting all payments
promptly. He takes commendable pride in the fact that he has not signed a note
in over twenty years, but on the contrary-has discounted every bill at the time
he purchased goods. By pursuing these methods he sees no reason for failure in
any business where economy is practiced and energy applied.

    Mr. Smith is not only one of the most prosperous citizens of the community,
but is an influential factor in every movement which has for its object the
advancement of the interests of the people at large. He finds time, however, for
recreation in the woods and on the streams of the section, being a true
sportsman who loves both to hunt and to fish, though his favorite sport is in
the field. It is even whispered that his decision to locate in Marianna was
largely influenced by the fact that the streams and lakes teem with fish, and
that the woods furnish splendid sport by reason of the abundance of deer, wild
turkeys and small game. He is gifted with a facility of expression, and has
written for the Pensacola "Journal" and other paper numerous articles concerning
his hunting experiences that were of the greatest interest to every one having a
drop of sporting blood in their veins.

    Mr. Smith is an enthusiastic advocate of purification in politics, and a
more economical administration of public affairs. He is one of those Democrats
who believe that all appropriations of public money should be for the general
good, with no favoritism for localities or individuals. He condemns all trades
in politics, and believes the people should be absolute in their power to select
pure and worthy men for office, and that men should be chosen who have made a
success for themselves. He is firm in the faith that enough such men can be
found to serve the public, and that under administration of such men much needed
improvements, such as public highways, can be made at reasonable cost. He
considers "the paramount public need the casting out of the politicians whose
lives have been failures and who make a business of politics. Then there could
be elected to office successful men of honor who will pay their debts and live
within their means. Such men can fill the offices intelligently, and will insure
the making of public improvements at their actual cost.

    Attention to good roads is demanded. People must have more enterprise,
applying more money to such improvements, but cutting out the extravagance of
useless appropriations for salaries of unnecessary offices. Lessen fees and make
taxes pay for something we can see and feel and use. Our highways will then
serve to introduce visitors from the North, to the wonders that nature has
worked in Florida. Our people should do more to advertise the wonderful
attraction of our beautiful land, the splendors of nature, the magnificent
climate and its marvelous effect on tired and over-taxed nerves. The salubrious
atmosphere that is such a tonic to wearied business men. Then more of them would
come to enjoy the outdoor sports in field and forest and stream. There would be
more homes built, and more investments in our industries, and the growth and
material prosperity of the State promoted.

    Since the above was written, Mr. Smith has interested the movers of several
new railroad lines in his section to the desirability of tapping the Louisville
and Nashville system at Marianna, and as chairman of the committee appointed at
a large meeting of the townspeople, he is now giving his time freely to the
movement. If he meets with success in this, and the prospects are now excellent.
Marianna will jump at once into the position of a wholesale market, and its
future will be established as the next important interior city of West Florida.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

FLORIDA EDITION
MAKERS OF AMERICA
AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS
VOL. II.
Published under the patronage of
The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida

ADVISORY BOARD:
HON. W. D. BLOXHAM          COL. FRANK HARRIS
HON. R. W. DAVIS            SEN. H. H. MCCREARY
HON. F. P. FLEMING          W. F. STOVALL
      C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY
1909
A. B. CALDWELL
ATLANTA, GA.


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