Michael Smith, Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Jane P. McManus
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Michael Smith
Michael Smith (17 Dec 1851 Calcasieu Parish, LA/19 Jun 1934 LA), son of 
Archibald Smith and Sophia Paul, married on 6 Feb 1878 in Hineston, LA
(with the Rev. W.M. White officiating) to Lucy Alice Stokes (Mar 1856 AK/
14 Jun 1945 Vernon, LA), daughter of Samuel W. Stokes and Kindness Breadlove
Pope, and eleven children were born. They are buried in the Smith Cemetery, 
Leander (Rapides), LA.
Michael Smith was duly ordained to the gospel, administered by Amiable
Baptist Church, Glenmora (Rapides), LA, on 24 Sep 1876, some months prior
to his 25th birthday. He pastored just about all, if not all, Baptist
Churches that existed within the areas of central Louisiana that he was
able to reach. Some of his posts were Mt. Moriah, Amiable, Pine Ridge at
Melder, New Hope at Calcasieu, Union Hill, Big Hammock, Flactor, Castor
and Laurel Hill, just to name a few.
Michael Smith served as pastor of Laurel Hill Baptist Church from 1877 to 
1882, 1902 to 1904, 1912 to 1913, and then again in 1918. Many people
believe, although an accurate record does not exist, that Michael Smith
baptized well over a thousand persons into the Baptist faith, and the
number of marriages he preformed would number into the hundreds. In
addition to serving as a minister of the gospel, Michael also operated 
a blacksmith shop and a grist mill, and he was a rather good country
doctor and veterinarian.
The issue: Leon Walter (28 Jan 1879/28 Mar 1939, buried Smith Cemetery);
Unnamed son (b&d 11 Jun 1880); Mary Rosalie (5 Jun 1881/6 Sep 1881); 
Lucy Amelia (10 Dec 1883), married (?) Thompson; Cora Palestine (11 Feb 
1886/27 Jan 1890); David A. (30 Jan 1888/11 Oct 1897, buried Smith Cemetery);
Elva Holland (22 Mar 1890/17 Nov 1976); Kindness Sophia (22 Aug 1892/2
Jan 1966); Charles Hampton (12 Feb 1895); Leona Elizabeth (21 Sep 1898); 
and Samuel F. Smith (31 Oct 1900/20 Nov 1926, buried Smith Cemetery).   
References:
1850 Rapides Parish, Louisiana Census Records
1880 United States Population Census Records, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
1900 United States Population Census Records, Vernon Parish, Louisiana
Ruff, Verda Jenkins, Central Louisiana Families in 1880, (Forest Hill,
LA: Privately Published, 1986)
Bible Records, Michael Smith, xerox copy in possession of Jane McManus, 2005
McManus, Jane P., L'est We Forget, Volume I-III (Revised), Parker Enterprises, 
Ball, LA, 1995 (Welcome Cemetery & Good Hope Cemetery)
McManus, Jane P., A Backward Glance, (Pineville, LA: Parker Enterprises, 1986)
McManus, Jane P., Pioneers West of Appalachia, Revised, (Seattle, WA: Parker 
Enterprises, 1984)
McManus, Jane P., Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church Vernon Parish Louisiana 
1869-1920, It's People and Its History, (Englewood, Co: Parker Enterprises, 1988)
McManus, Jane P., L'est We Forget, Volume I-III (Revised), Parker Enterprises, 
Ball, LA, 1995 (Welcome Cemetery & Good Hope Cemetery)
McManus, Jane P., A Backward Glance, (Pineville, LA: Parker Enterprises, 1986)
McManus, Jane P., Pioneers West of Appalachia, Revised, (Seattle, WA: Parker 
Enterprises, 1984)
McManus, Jane P., Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church Vernon Parish Louisiana 
1869-1920, It's People and Its History, (Englewood, Co: Parker Enterprises, 1988)