Biography of James H Smith, Scott Co, AR

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Submitted by: Charlene Holland <Char@presys.com>
        Date: 9 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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	Dr. James H. Smith, an energetic practitioner, is recognized
throughout this State as a friend of, and laborer in, the cause and
advancement of the medical profession, and has acquired a flattering
reputation as a physician. He was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1813,
to Harris and Nancy S. (Flood) Smith, who were born in Buckingham County,
Va., 1791 and 1796, respectively, removing with their parents while young,
to Wilson County, Tenn., where they were married. About 1821 they want to
Wayne County, Tenn., but a year later returned to Wilson County, moving a
short time after to Lawrence County, only to return to Wilson County,
once more. They afterward removed to De Kalb County, where both passed
from life, the former a farmer by occupation and a soldier in the War of
1812. Mrs Smith was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. The
paternal grandfather, George Lumpkin Smith, was a Virginian, but in an
early day he removed to Wilson County, Tenn., where he became a well-to-do
farmer, was widely known, where he passed from life. The maternal
grandfather, Thomas Flood, was a Virginian, also, and an early resident
of Wilson County, Tenn., where he became a well-to do farmer, and spent
the rest of his days. He was of English descent, a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, and upon his death, left a large number of descendants
in Tennessee. Dr. James H. Smith is the eldest of seven children (four
now living) born to his parents, and was brought up to farm life. What
knowledge he now has of books, was obtained in his youth by the light of
the fire at home and by attending school a short time after he was
eighteen years of age, his tuition being paid by doing odd jobs of work,
but although his road was an up-hill one he, in this mariner, became a
well-educated young man, and soon became sufficiently posted to enable
him to teach school, after which he found his way much easier. In 1834 he
went to Lawrence County, Ala., and in 1835 he was married to Miss Eliza,
daughter of Maj. Joel and Jane Denton, who were born in East Tennessee,
the former dying in Scott County, Ark., and the latter in Alabama. Mrs.
Smith was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1852, and died in Alabama,
a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and leaving five children. The
Doctor's second marriage took place the same year to Elizabeth; a sister
of his first wife, her death occurring in Waldron, in 1882, she being
also a church member. In 1882 the Doctor's third marriage was celebrated;
his wife, Mrs. Margaret S. Money, being a daughter of Joseph G. and
Margaret Gibson, the former a Georgian and the latter born in South
Carolina, their marriage taking place in the former State, where Mrs.
Gibson died. Mr. Gibson married a second time and moved to Texas, where
he passed from life. Mrs. Smith was born in Georgia, and went to Texas
with her father, where she was married to Mr. William T. Money, who died
in Texas in 1865. She came to Arkansas in 1866. In 1834 the Doctor went
to Alabama, and about 1841 began the study of medicine, attending, during
1845-46, the Louisville Medical Institute of Kentucky, after which he at
once entered upon his practice in Alabama, where he continued until 1856,
when he removed to Scott County, Ark., and settled five miles west of
Waldron, and with the exception of from 1863 to 1867 he resided there
until 1881, since which time he has been a resident of Waldron, but is
not a very active practitioner at the present time. He is quite well to
do, and besides owning some valuable town property, he has over 500 acres
of land. From 1860 to 1862 he was probate judge of Scott County, and in
1876 was elected to the State Legislature, serving one term and being
chairman of the committee on roads and highways. He is a charter member
of Waldron Lodge No. 132, of the A.F. & A.M., and he and his family are
members in good standing of the Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Smith is
one of the oldest and most universally known physicians in Western
Arkansas, is universally loved and is in every respect worthy the
universal respect shown him. His surviving children are Nancy J. (wife of
Capt. John Rawlings), and George Walker. Joel Flood was killed while on
picket duty near Fayetteville, in 1862.