Biography of W. J. Smith, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

W. J. Smith was born in Jackson County, Ala., March 7, 1851, and is a
son of Arthur and Mary J. (Adams) Smith, natives of Alabama. Mrs. Mary
J. Smith was born in Jackson County, Ala., July 22, 1828, and was a
daughter of Toliver and Frances (Stephens) Adams, who removed to
Alabama from Tennessee. Toliver Adams died in 1836; his widow
afterward married Mr. Grizzle, and died in 1876. Mrs. Mary J. Smith
was reared in Alabama, where, in 1845, she married Arthur Smith, whose
parents moved from North Carolina to Kentucky, and finally located in
Alabama. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Smith lived in Alabama
until about 1860, when they removed to a farm near Ozark, Franklin
Co., Ark. At the outbreak of the late war Mr. Smith enlisted in the
Confederate [p.1278] army, and in 1863 died from sickness contracted
while in the army. In this family were eight children, viz.; Nancy E.
(wife of J. N. Williams), Leroy, William, Dr. John J., Henry, Frank,
Allie (wife of C. Gammill) and Dr. Arthur. Mrs. Smith is a member of
the Baptist Church. W. J. Smith was but ten years of age when his
parents came to Arkansas, where he received his education and has
since lived. In 1872 he married Mary Pendergrass, daughter of John J.
Pendergrass, a native of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have six
children, viz.: Maude, Roscoe, Cora, Bessie, Thomas S. and Hoyt A. Mr.
Smith located on his present farm in 1873, and in 1886 began operating
a gin-mill, to which he devotes the greater part of his attention.