Biographical Sketch of Ferdinand D. Smith, Lafayette County, Missouri

>From "History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled
from the most authentic official and private sources" St. Louis, Mo.
Historical Company, 1881.
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Ferdinand D. Smith, P. O. Lexington, Missouri; was born in Buford county,
Virginia, August 14, 1832.  His father Jno. W. Smith, was an extensive
southern trader, and died in 1846 in North Carolina, on his way home from
a southern tour.  In 1847 his widowed mother moved with her family to
Missouri, and settled in Pettis county, where the subject of this sketch
lived, with her until 1850.  In 1850 he went to California, where he re-
mained seven years, engaged in mining, and made some money.  He returned
to Missouri and settled at Wellington, this county, where his mother and
sisters were then living.  In 1858 he went to Salt Lake City on a freigt-
ing expedition of Russell & Waddell, as wagon master, in which he was
absent eighteen months.  He then returned to this county, and settled on
a farm on Texas Prairie.  December 13, 1859 he was married to Miss Mary
E. Van Camp, daughter of William Van Camp, of Lexington, now deceased.
In 1863 he moved to Pettis county, and remained there until the war 
closed.  In 1867 his wife died, and in 1869 he married again, this time
to Matilda H. Young, daughter of Ex Gov. James Young, who was acting
governor of Missouri, in 1844.  In 1870 he sold his farm in Pettis county
and returned to this county, where he has since resided, on a fine farm,
six miles southeast of Lexington.  By his first marriage he had three
children, two now living, Leslie and Ada Mary.  By his second wife he has
one child, Sallie Leftwich.  Both he and his wife are members of the
Methodist Church South, his first wife was a member of the Christian
church.  He also belongs to the Masonic order.

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