DeSoto Parish, Louisiana; Biography: S.J. Smart - s563 --------------------------------- Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson Typed by Trudy Marlow ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** S. J. Smart, M. D. Seventeen years devoted to the service of humanity sums up in a line the career, thus far, of Dr. S. J. Smart, who is one of the most successful and best known physicians of this section. He was born in Vernon Parish, La., in September, 1851, being a son of John R. and Louisa (Coward) Smart, the former of whom was a native of Georgia, born in 1807. When a child he was taken by his parents to Mississippi, where he was reared, after which he removed with them to St. Landry, now Calcasieu Parish, La., then to Vernon, where he has since lived. The father served as a member of the police jury here many years ago, was a representative of Sabine Parish in the State Legislature, and also in the Constitu- tional Convention of 1856, and was also State senator for a number of terms, during which time he held permanent positions on committees and made an enviable record for himself. Having been an extensive planter he lost heavily in slaves and otherwise during the war. He worked for wages when twenty-one years of age. Since the war he has regained much of his lost wealth. His views on nearly all subjects were decidedly orig- inal, and being of a fearless disposition he ex- pressed his views boldly on all matters of impor- tance, and carried his point, not only on the stump, but in the halls of the Legislature, being known as "the bull-dog of the treasury.'' He still takes an active part in politics as an advocate of democ- racy, but not as a candidate for office, and in 1886 "as chairman of the convention that nominated N. C. Blanchard for Congress. He is a son of John Smart, a Georgian, and in 1828 rode 100 miles from Bigwoods to Apolansas, to vote for Andrew Jackson. The family furnished several soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Smart, our subject's mother, is a Mississippian by birth, and is still living at the age of seventy-seven years. They have been married over fifty years, in fact married life has extended over sixty-one years and resulted in the birth of twelve children, two of whom died when quite young. All the sons have become well known men, and have been exceptionally successful in their different callings: Dr. E. E. (graduated from the medical department of the University of Louisiana when quite young, prior to the war, and afterward represented Rapides Parish in the Legislature, the same time that his father was a member of that body from Vernon Parish; he afterward represented this dis - trict as senator, and has also represented Vernon Parish in both Lower and Upper Houses of the Gen- eral Assembly; he has been treasurer of the last named parish since its organization, and has held a number of local offices of honor), W. W. Smart (another son, was in the saw-mill business for a number of years, and also represented Rapides Parish in the secession convention and commanded a company in the Virginia army during the late war; he is now deceased), a sister, Minerva (be- came the wife of J. M. Sandel; she is now a widow and resides in Texas), Leathy (became the wife of Thomas Richardson, an ex-representative of Vernon Parish, who is now engaged in farming and milling), Maggie (became the wife of J. F. Smith, deceased, who was a member of the State Senate, at the time of his death, and became cele- brated on account of the stand he took on the subject of the Louisiana State Lottery; he was a noted man throughout this section, and was a very prominent attorney), Andrew (died soon after returning from the war), M. N. (is a farmer of Vernon Parish), Virginia (became the wife of P. W. McGee, and died in Vernon Parish), Missouri (is the widow of L. H. Hadnot, who was a farmer and died in Grant Parish). Dr. S. J. Smart re- ceived the most of his education in Pleasant Hill High School and College, and afterward turned his attention to teaching, and during the time he was a pedagogue he devoted his leisure time to the study of medicine, but afterward became sales- man and book-keeper for Smart & Cooper, at Leesville, La. In 1871-72 and 1872-73 he at- tended the Louisiana University at New Orleans, and was graduated as an M. D. in the latter year. His early preceptor was Dr. E. E. Smart, his brother. He commenced practicing in Leesville, continuing until November, 1889, when he came to Logansport, and has since been associated in his practice and in the drug business with Dr. W. J. Headrick. He was married November 21, 1873, to Miss Theodocia Burr, a daughter of Murray Burr, of Vernon Parish, an old and prominent family of that section. The Doctor and his wife have three sons: John R., Jr., Murray B., and Ed- mund E., Jr. Mrs. Smart is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Doctor has, like the balance of the family, always worked for the success of democracy, but not as a candidate for any office.