Biographical Sketch of William B. Smith, Laclede County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
**********************************************************************

William B. Smith, a prominent stock dealer of Auglaize Township, Lac-
lede county, Mo., was born in Wilson county, Tenn., in January, 1831,
and is a son of William H. and Lucy (Piercy) Smith, and grandson of
George Smith, who came to Tennessee, where he was married and where his
wife died, when William H. was a small boy.  George Smith after his
marriage moved to Rutherford county, Tenn., and remained in this county
until 1845, when he came to Pulaski county, Mo., and later settled in
Madison county, where he passed his last days.  In early life he had 
followed the saddlery business.  His family consisted of three children
all of whom grew to maturity: William H., Robert and Martenia, all now
deceased.  William H. was born in Virginia, and came to Tennessee when 
a child.  Here he grew up, married, and afterward settled in Wilson
county, Tenn., where he farmed until 1839.  He then came to Missouri,
locating in Ripley county, now Dent county, but afterward moved to 
Madison county, where he remained one year.  He then moved to Pulaski
county, now Laclede county, and finally died in Laclede county in 1880.
He had improved a large farm in this county.  His wife, Lucy (Piercy)
Smith, was born in Virginia, and came to Tennessee when a child.  She
was married in this state, and became the mother of five children,
three now living: George Smith, living on Gasconade River, William B.
and Mary Titterington.  Mrs. Smith was born in 1802, and is still liv-
ing at Richland with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Titterington.  Mrs. Smith
is a member of the Methodist Epsicopal Church, South, and takes an 
active part in all religious work.  William B. Smith was but eight or 
nine years of age when he came to Missouri with his parents, and here
he grew to manhood.  He received a good common school education, and
December 20, 1855, he married Miss Eglentine Fitzgerald, a native of
McMinn county, Tenn., born in 1837, and the daughter of Joseph and 
Nancy (Thomas) Fitzgerald.  Her father was born in Jackson county, 
Tenn., in 1804, and remained in his native county until seventeen years
of age, when he went to Alabama, and from there to East Tennessee. Here
he remained until 1852, when he came to Missouri and located on the
farm where William B. Smith now lives.  He went to Texas during the 
war, and died there in 1866.  His wife was born in Warren county, Ky.,
in 1808, and was the daughter of James and Mary (Morris) Thomas, who
were of English and Welsh descent.  Grandfather Morris was killed by
the Indians, and some member of the Morris family was a signer of the
Declaration of Independence.  The parents of Nancy Thomas came to
Tennessee, where they passed their last days.  Their family consisted
of these children: Sarah, Mary, James, Esther, John, Eglentine, Joseph
and Edward.  Those deceased were named Margaret and Rachel.  The mother
of these children is yet living, and is one of the oldest members of 
the Christian Church, having joined the church when twenty-two years
of age.  After marriage, in 1856, Mr. Smith located in Smith township,
where he remained until 1871, when he came to the present location,
where he has a good farm of 480 acres, with 150 under cultivation.  To
his marriage were born thirteen children, but the eldest, James, died
when two years of age; Lulu, wife of John Winfrey; Joseph, George, 
Edwin, Willie (at home), Mollie, Robert, Imogene, Hugh, Merton, 
Eglentine and Ethel.  Mr. Smith does not take a very active part in
politics, but votes the Democratic ticket.  He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and is one of the county's most successful farmers
and stock raisers.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Joe Miller <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny (Eisenbarger) Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================