History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties, MO
Cedar County Biography Section

     Hon. Samuel L. Smith.  Among all classes and in every 
circumstance in life are those who excel in whatever they 
undertake, whether of a professional, agricultural or 
commercial nature, and such a one is the above mentioned 
gentleman, who is one of the prominent and progressive farmers
and stock-raisers in Box Township.  He was born in Franklin 
County, Mo., in 1830, and is the son of Thomas and Esther 
(Hutton) Smith, natives of Kentucky and Alabama, respectively.
The parents were married in Kentucky about 1812, came to 
Franklin County, Mo., in 1818, remained there for a short time,
then moved to Gasconade County, and in 1848 came to Cedar 
County, there being but two or three settlements between there
and Fort Scott, Kan.  The country at that time was full of 
Indians; wild animals were to be found everywhere, and, in 
establishing their little home in the wilderness, all the 
hardships and privations incident to pioneer life were 
experienced.  Here the father died in 1857 at the age of 
sixty-three years.  He was a successful minister of the 
Baptist Church for over forty years, and established many 
churches in Southwest Missouri. He was a soldier in the War 
in 1812.  His wife died in 1863 at the age of about seventy 
years.  She was a member of the Baptist Church, and was a 
Christian woman in the true sense of the term.  Hon. Samuel L.
Smith is the ninth of seven sons and five daughters, two sons
and two daughters now living, born to his parents.  These 
children are named as follows: William; Margaret, wife of 
Clark Hardin, of Oregon, and Samuel L.  The last named was 
reared on the frontier, with but meager chances for an 
education.  He emigrated with his parents to Cedar County, 
and in 1849 was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Casey, a 
native of Virginia, and the daughter of Thomas and Sarah A. 
Casey. Mr. and Mrs. Casey were among the first white settlers 
of Cedar County, locating here about 1835, and spent the 
remainder of their lives here.  Mrs. Casey died in the year 
1837, and Mr. Casey was killed by bushwhackers in 1862.  
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children, two daughters 
now living; Emily H., wife of William Casey, and Eliza E., 
wife of Prof. George M. Liston.  Mr. Smith lived on Cedar 
Creek until 1852, then near his present farm, where he has 
1,100 acres, all in one body, one of the best farms in the 
county, and with 700 acres under cultivation.  All this is
the result of industry and good management, as he started in 
life a poor boy, and his first forty acres were entered with 
money earned by day labor.  He is now one of the county's most
substantial farmers and stock-raisers.  His first tax was but 
two and a half cents.  During the late war he served in 
several different regiments of Missouri troops, known as 
State Militia, and was in many engagements occurring between 
the militia and bushwhackers for two years, and was in the 
engagements at Humansville and Stockton.  He was wounded, 
accidentally, by his own gun, in the spring of 1864.  In 
1868 he was elected to represent Cedar County in the Legislature,
again in 1876, and re-elected in 1878, serving three terms, 
or six years, with credit.  He has twice since refused the 
nomination of state senator.  Until 1864 he was a Democrat, 
his first presidential vote being for Franklin Pierce in 1852,
but since then he has been an earnest worker in the Republican
party, being one of the leaders.  He was a delegate to the 
State Convention in May, 1888, at Sedalia, that nominated 
E. E. Kimball for governor, and is a prominent member of the
Farmers' Alliance.  His first wife died July 25, 1881.  
She was a member of the Baptist Church.  His second marriage 
took place in September of 1884, to Mrs. Clementine Williams
nee Rankins, a native of Tennessee, who came with her parents 
to Cedar County, Mo., at an early day.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
have been members of the Baptist Church for many years.  

History of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade and Barton Counties,
Missouri, published by Goodspeed, 1889--Pages 778, 779
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