Crawford-Oglethorpe-Talbot County GaArchives Biographies.....Smith, Anthony Garnett [Reverend, Sr.] August 30, 1776 - January 18, 1852 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: T. Bradford Willis http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007638 March 3, 2013, 9:08 pm Source: The Southern Christian Advocate on March 12, 1852 and Family Records. Author: T. Bradford Willis, DDS By Bradford Willis The Rev. Anthony Garnett Smith, Sr. was the father of Anthony Garnett Smith, Jr. (1809-1891) who was a pioneer of Upson and Talbot counties. The Rev. Anthony Garnett Smith, Sr. was born August 30, 1776 in Cumberland County, Virginia and later died January 18, 1852 in Crawford County, Georgia. He married Mary "Polly" Allen (1777-1857) on January 19, 1797 according to the Anthony Garnett Smith, Sr. Bible. He was licensed to preach in the Methodist Church in 1801. The Rev. Anthony Garnett Smith, Sr. is listed, as are many of his relatives, as a charter member of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church in Oglethorpe County, Ga. in 1820. The Smith family moved to Crawford County, Ga. circa 1824. He and his wife are buried at the Anthony G. Smith, Sr. family cemetery near his circa 1830 home, which is still standing, in Crawford County, Ga. He was the son of Robert Smith, Jr. (1749-1834) and Hannah Andrews Smith (1755-1845). Robert Smith, Jr. was a veteran of the American Revolution. In The Southern Christian Advocate on March 12, 1852 appears the following obituary: Died the 18th Jan. in Crawford Co. Ga. Rev. Anthony G. Smith [Sr.] in the 76th year of his age. He embraced Religion when about 11 years of age and joined the M. [Methodist] E. [Episcopal] Church at Smith's Chapel, Cumberland County, Va. Ever afterwards he undoubtedly believed that a change was divinely wrought upon his heart, for several years after his conversion he experienced a large measure of religious enjoyment but coldness and back-sliding succeeded and for some years his heart was a stranger to the comforts of DIVINE GRACE, but in 1801 he was reclaimed and was fully restored into the joys of salvation. During the same year he was licensed to preach. In 1811 he received ordination [as a Deacon] at the hands of Bishop [Francis Asbury] Asberry and in 1812 was ordained [an Elder] by Bishop [William] McKendree. During the last six years of his life his mind was almost a total wreck, yet, strange to say, he did not lose his consciousness of the things of GOD, and for a long time he continued to pray regularly and devoutly in the service of the family Altar. Religion had become a habit of his heart and life. He was never heard during his affiliation but to pronounce the name of GOD but with tones and tokens of Holy Reverence. He never forgot the name of JESUS, it sounded sweetly to his ears and amidst the decay of his mind his memory was graven like a heavenly talisman upon his heart. The last act of his ministry was singularly touching and memorable to those present. It was at the burial of one of his grandchildren. The corpse was composed to its sepulcher, but there was none found to breath a prayer over the remains, ere dust was consigned to dust; when unexpectedly to all, this aged and smitten servant of GOD raised his voice in one of the most appropriate and impassioned Prayers which has ever been echoed from the opened grave to the ears of GOD. Thus when reason seemed to forsake her throne, Grace maintained its impire of the heart. When the temple had fallen to decay, Holy fire still radiated from its altar, consecrating its very ruins. Bro. Smith's piety was eminently characterized by firmness of faith and a professed love for the Word of GOD, as a Minister he labored faithfully and very usefully in the local ranks, and was ever a warm friend and ally of his brethren in the itinerant work. He was a plain strong preacher of practical and experimental religion, and doubtless very many to whom he ministered will rise up in the last day to call him blessed. -C. R. J. On Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, Jack Grubb, Daniel Brown, and the author visited the A. G. Smith family cemetery and home in Crawford County. The owners of the historic home and cemetery exhibited true Southern hospitality to these Smith descendants. A bronze Methodist clergy grave marker, mounted to a block of granite, was placed that day at the base of his marble altar-tomb. The following is the inscription found on his grave marker: In memory of Rev. ANTHONY G. SMITH, Born Aug. 30th, 1776. Died Jan. 18th, 1852. He was for Forty Five years a faithful and devout Minister of Jesus Christ. OUR FATHER Additional Comments: This article was published in the Talbotton New Era, Talbot County, Ga., on Feb. 28, 2013 with the help of Mr. Vann Chapman, the editor. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/crawford/bios/smith417bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb