Fulton County GaArchives Biographies.....Rev. John M. Smith  November 27 1789 -  March 21 1863
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Shirley  Holland sdholland@mindspring.com February 23, 2003, 7:26 pm

Author: John Major Baker-Grandson

Rev. John M Smith is the son of John Smith of Franklin County, GA.  He joined 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1809.  Was a farmer in his younger days.  
Married Nancy Suttles,the daughter of William Suttles of Franklin County, GA  
and moved to Fulton County, GA  in 1822.  He taught school for may years, and 
made his own arithmetics-we have some of them now.  He was a tax collector and 
receiver for DeKalb & Fulton Counties for many years.  He was a self made man.  
He had one of his legs amputated just below the knee, by Drs. E. N. Calhoun and 
son John Calhoun and Gilbert of Decatur, GA   Was 60 years at that time.  He 
says (in his diary) that within three weeks he was able to walk to his door 
with help.   In 1824, Rev. Wm. Parks, a missionary came to his home and 
preached, and organized a Methodist Society, with fourteen members, J. M. Smith 
& Wife, John Dorsey & wife, Samuel Sewell & Wife, Richmond Barge & Wife, Nancy 
Redwine & Wm. Tate.  They built Mt. Gilead Methodist Church, Fairburn Rd., S 
Fulton County, Ben Hill, GA  in 1825.  (Ben Hill was called Cross Roads at that 
time).  Rev, John M. Smith gave the ground for the church and the graveyard.  
The first sermon that he preached was at the bedside of a dying slave in 1825.  
He was a good Bible student all his life, and his great theme was Christ and 
Him crucified for the whole world.  He always carried sinners to the mercy seat 
in his preaching.  He preached somewhere every Sunday and would often ride many 
miles to his appointment.  He preached the funeral of the first man who was 
hung in this part of Georgia.  The man's name was Crowder, and he killed his 
wife and child and then burned the house on them,  Then attempted suicide by 
cutting his throat.  He confessed to the crime and was hung at Decatur, GA  
1831.  This crime was committed near my father's home .  At the time Rev. J. M. 
Smith brought his family to S Fulton County,, 1822 the country was very 
desolate.  The Indians were all around them and would come to his place to 
grind their knives,  and his wife and children were very much afraid of them.  
He said the wolves would howl around the house at night.  He swapped his place 
in Franklin County for a thousand acres of land near Mt. Gilead.  He gave most 
of the land for the Camp Ground, about 200 acres, and was the cause of it being 
built, in 1825.  At that time he made a speech to the people of the community 
and others interested (we have speech now, as he made it),in which he said that 
the Camp Ground, or place of worship, would be a great spiritual blessing to 
the whole country around and to their children and grandchildren, and yea, to 
many who were then unborn, and that many would rise up and called them blessed 
for what they had done for them.  We now, 1912, see that prophecy was true, for 
we all love so well to go to that spot and worship.  We say God bless their 
memories for the good they have done for us.  The stand there has been rebuild 
the second time.  He was licensed to preach Nov 27,, 1825, by Rev. Wm. Arnold. 
Presiding Elder.  Ordained Deacon 1831, in Madison, Morgan County, GA  by 
Bishop Heading.  Ordained Elder by Bishop Andrews in 1825 Macon, GA.  He was a 
great preacher and preached all over the whole country. In his lifetime he 
preached 700 funerals, 1,878 sermons, married 116 couples and baptized 1,263 
people. 
In 1839 he bought a negro boy, aged 15 yrs, named king: paid $800 for him and 
raised him, and he stayed with him until sometime after the war.  He was sick a 
great deal with rheumatism.  1846 he bought a negro boy, aged 11, named Jack, 
paid $400 for him and raised him also.  He also owned a negro woman, and she 
had several children.  He sold all his salves before the war, except King.
Rev. John M Smith suffered with heart disease and died at the age of 73 yrs , 
1863.  He requested that he be buried as near the spot where the pulpit of the 
old Mt. Gilead Church had stood as possible, and his request was granted.  The 
funeral was preached by Rev. Wm. J. Parks.  He raised four sons, all Methodist 
preachers and four daughters.  He lived and died where he first settled.  Year 
1912-his house was still standing.  His grandson, J. M. McGee owned it at that 
time.  Rev John M. Smith was six feet tall, large of frame, had dark complexion 
and thick black hair which he wore long and combed straight back from his 
forehead.  Piercing black eyes and high cheek bones.  Was rather the type of an 
Indian features.  Had features of moral purity.

This was written by his grandson-John Major Baker, Temple, GA  1912

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