Biography of Simpson Smith, Greene Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: 5 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas

page 171

Simpson Smith. In former years the life of the farmer was considered a
laborious one, but in this progressive age, with such improvements in machinery, he
can do his work with half the dispatch or labor as in the time of his father, and in
fact works but little if any harder than the average man who strives to make a
living. Besides all this he is independent, which is one of the much sought for
conditions of life. Mr. Smith is one of the successful farmers who have kept
thoroughly apace with the times, and has reached the condition of life mentioned
above. He was born in Benton County. Tenn., in 1833, and is the son of William and
Elizabeth (Lewis) Smith, natives respectively of South Carolina and North Carolina.
William Smith came with his parents to Tennessee when a small boy, settling in Maury
County for some time, and then moved to Benton County, where he passed the remainder
of his days. He was a farmer and trader by occupation. He volunteered in the war
under Gen. Jackson. [p.171] Mrs. Smith was born in 1798, and died May 13, 1889, on
the old home place in Tennessee. She was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. Their family consisted of eight children, six now living: Angeline,
Ellen, Elizabeth, Simpson, Mary and Thomas J. Those deceased died in infancy. Simpson
Smith grew to manhood on the home place in Tennessee, and at the age of fourteen
years began working for himself as a day laborer. After this he worked on the
railroad for two or three years, then farmed for some time, and when the war broke
out he enlisted in the Confederate army, Company I, Forty-ninth Volunteer Infantry,
and served three years. He was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Port Hudson and
Jackson, Miss. He was taken prisoner twice, first at Fort Donelson, and was carried
to Chicago, where he was retained seven months and three days, and was then
exchanged. He then returned to the South, entering the Southern army in the same
company, re-organized and consolidated with the Forty-eighth Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry, and was captured at Port Hudson, but was soon afterward paroled, when he
returned home and resumed his farm work. He remained in Tennessee until 1881, when he
came to Arkansas and settled on his present farm in Greene County. He had first moved
to Arkansas in 1854, but later returned to the home-place, where he was married, in
1856, to Miss Ellen Erp, a native of Benton County. Tenn. The result of this union
was the birth of nine children, seven now living: William, Mary, Belle, Caldonia,
John, Augustus, Scott, Doy, Daniel Lee and Vency. Those deceased were Porter and an
infant unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, in which he is a deacon. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., is a Democrat in
politics, and takes an active part in all public enterprises. He has a fine farm,
with 170 acres under cultivation, and is one of the leading farmers of the county..
page 172 Irvin G. Smith, whose career as a farmer has been one of success and
prosperity, was born in Benton County, Tenn., in 1846, and is the son of John and
Fannie (Erp) Smith, both natives of North Carolina, who came to Benton County, Tenn.,
with their parents when children. They were married in that State after growing up,
and there the father followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1877 at the
age of fifty-six years. The mother died in 1862 at the age of forty years, In their
family were seven children, six of whom are still living: Irvin G., Disa (now Mrs.
Smith), Harvey, Jonathan, Berry H., Thomas W. and Simpson. Harvey died at the age of
eighteen years. Irvin G. Smith attained his majority on a farm in Tennessee, and when
of age commenced for himself on the home place, where he remained until 1861, when he
enlisted in the Confederate army. Forty-ninth Tennessee; the regiment was captured at
Fort Donelson and taken to Chicago. Mr. Smith was sick at this time and was at home.
As soon as able he went back to the army, joined the Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry,
and served until the close of the war. He was captured at or near Johnsonville,
Tenn., and was put on a parole of honor. He participated in the Okolona, Miss.,
battle, was also in the battle of Yazoo City, Bolivar, Tenn., Johnsonville, Tenn.,
and in a number of other engagements. After the cessation of hostilities Mr. Smith
returned to Tennessee, resumed his farming interests, and thus continued until 1873
when he came west to Arkansas and located in Greens County, three miles southwest of
where he now lives. In 1876 he moved to his present property, where he has remained
ever since. He was married in 1868 to Miss Louisa Swindle, a native of Benton County,
Tenn., born in 1844, and the daughter of Thomas and Mariam Swindle, natives
respectively of South Carolina and Kentucky. Thomas Swindle went from South Carolina
to Illinois, thence to Tennessee, where he was married in 1832, and is still living
in Benton County, Tenn. He was born in the year 1814, as was also his wife. She died
March 16, 1872. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After the death
of his wife Mr. Swindle married Mrs. Nancy Harris, who still survives. Mrs. Smith is
one of twelve children, eight of whom are living, born to her parents. She was reared
in Tennessee, and by her marriage to Mr. Smith became the mother of [p.172] three
children, all living: Martha A., wife of William Swindle, now residing in Greene
County, Ark.; Walter D. and Cordal C., at home. Mr. Smith resides three and a half
miles southwest of Gainesville, where he has improved a good farm and has 155 acres
under cultivation. He is an active worker in school affairs, and is director in his
district. He served as deputy sheriff in 1881-82-83 and 1884 under Mr. Willcockson,
and served as constable of his district to fill a vacancy. In 1883 he was elected to
that position, which he held one term. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South.