Carroll Co., AR - Biographies - Joseph Smith

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Joseph Smith, one of the substantial farmers and stock raisers of 
Carroll County, Ark., is a native of North Carolina, and was born in 
Orange County, that State, March 19, 1831. He is a son of Joseph and 
Susan (Compton) Smith, both also natives of the "Old North State." In 
the fall of 1850 Joseph Smith, Sr., removed his family to Tennessee, 
and the following year to Carroll County, Ark. He was a soldier in the 
War of 1812. His death occurred in Carroll County in January, 1856. 
Joseph Smith, Jr., was reared in his native [p.1074] State to the age 
of thirteen years, when he went to Tennessee and remained six years. 
Returning to his father's home in 1850, he remained until fall, when 
he and his father's family removed to Tennessee. In 1851 he came to 
Arkansas and settled on the Osage River, in Carroll County, but the 
second year, in the expedition with Capt. Meadows, he crossed the 
plains to California, reaching there after five months. Engaging in 
mining, he continued until 1855, when he returned home by way of 
Panama, Aspinwall and New Orleans. The venture proved successful, and 
after returning he purchased a farm adjoining some land he owned in 
Osage Township. Here he located and resided until 1886, when he 
removed to his present home in Liberty Township. He owns two good 
farms, comprising 320 acres of good land, of which 240 acres are 
improved and under cultivation. He has also given one farm of 160 
acres to his daughter. Mr. Smith was first married, August 14, 1855, 
to Rachel Phillips, a native of Overton County, Tenn., who was reared 
in Carroll County, Ark. She died four weeks after their marriage, and 
on May 11, 1856, Mr. Smith married Ingober B. Poteet, a daughter of 
James Poteet, deceased. Mrs. Smith was born and reared in Overton 
County, Tenn. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. They have three children living: Mary Ellen (Mrs. 
James Fancher), Ingober B. (Mrs. John Boughtright) and William B., and 
three dead: Thomas J., who died in December, 1871, in his fourteenth 
year; Nancy Sue, who died August 30, 1880, in her eighteenth year, and 
Rachel Jane (Mrs. S. J. Morris), who died March 24, 1887, in her 
thirtieth year. In September, 1861, Mr. Smith enlisted in the 
Confederate army, and was assigned to the Third Arkansas Infantry, and 
was elected first lieutenant of Company C. Col. Peel, the present 
Congressman from Mr. Smith's district, also served in the same company 
until the Prairie Grove engagement, when the regiment was entirely 
broken up. It was afterward reorganized, with Major Herrell in 
command, and did good service until the close of the war. Mr. Smith is 
a charter member of Osage Lodge No. 219, A. F. & A. M., and is a 
Master Mason.