Polk County, Missouri Biographies - John M. SMITH

History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, 
Missouri; 1889, published by Goodspeed, Pgs. 696, 697
Polk County Biographies Section

John M. Smith. Among the very first settlers of this county were
John T. and Mary (Russell) Williams, natives of Virginia, where 
they were married, and lived until about 1811, when they moved to
Monroe County, Ky., and in 1830 to this county, locating one and a 
half miles west of Brighton.  They were the first white family in the
county, although the same year five other families came in, viz.:
John Mooney, Jacob Yocum, Absalom Renfrow, Cyrus Patterson and 
Andy Bass.  The nearest neighbor to Mr. William, when he first located 
here, was at Springfield.  The only living child of that family in 
this county, and the lady who wove the first piece of choth in this 
county, is Mrs. Martha Smith, widow of James H. M. Smith.  She was 
born in Monroe County, Ky., March 31, 1811, and has lived continuously
in Polk County since 1830.  Nine children were born to her marriage, six
of whom are now living.  Her husband, James H. M. Smith, was born in 
Mercer County, Ky., January 26, 1806, and with his parents came to the 
northern part of Missouri, and in 1833 to this county.  He was a farmer
and stock-raiser by occupation, and filled the office of justice of the
peace for several years.  He and wife were married January 4, 1835, and 
the names of their living children are: Lenna H., John M., Annie J.,
Hugh L., William T. and Margaret E.  Mr. Smith died September 16, 1867.
Mrs. Smith's father paid rent to the Indians the second year he was in 
this county, the rent being two sides of bacon and five bushels of 
shelled corn.  John M. Smith, one of the above-mentioned children, and 
now postmaster at Morrisville, Mo., was born in Looney Township, Polk
County, Mo., September 7, 1837, was reared on a farm, and educated in the 
district schools.  Having worked at home until September 14, 1858, he
married Miss Sarah F. McKnight, a native of Jackson County, Mo., and
ten children, nine now living, were born to this union.  The children
were named as follows: Martha L. B., Mary D., Robert M., Montie L.,
Homer E., Leda E., Sarah F., Beulah and Georgie A.  Both Mr. and Mrs.
Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.  In June,
1861, he enlisted in Capt. B. F. Mitchell's company, Clarkston's 
Confederate State Guards, and served six months.  Early in 1862 he 
joined Capt. A. C. Bradford's company, Gibbons' Battalion Confederate
Cavalry, and soon after his company dismounted and became infantry.  
In February, 1862, he was commissioned third lieutenant, and served in 
that capacity until his discharge at Tupelo, Miss., in July, 1862.  
On his way home he was captured, taken to Springfield and paroled.  He
was at the battles of Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge.  At the former battle
a piece of shell struck him, cutting to the bone, in his cheek, and
breaking his collar bone.  In December, 1865, he opened a store at
Evansville, Ark., and continued in the same for four years, after 
which he returned to this county, and followed agricultural pursuits
until 1885, when he moved to Morrisville.  In August, 1885, he was 
appointed postmaster, and has held that position since.  He is also 
insurance agent; has been justice of the peace several years, and took
the census of Looney Township in 1880.  He has lived in the county for
forty-six years, and since his majority has voted the Democratic ticket.
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