Biography of Elmer Wheat Smith, White County, Arkansas

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Submitted by: Bonnie Palmer <bpalmer@bihs.net>
        Date: Jun 1997
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/white/white.html
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From "A Centennial History of Arkansas", edited by Dallas T. Herndon, the Director of the Dept.
of Archives & History, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Little Rock, 1922.

ELMER WHEAT SMITH

Elmer Wheat SMITH of Searcy, who is filling the position of circuit clerk, is a native son of White
Co., his birth having occurred July 20, 1889. He is the son of J. F. & Sarah Elizabeth (WALKER)
SMITH, who are also natives of White Co. The paternal grandfather, J. L. SMITH, was a native of
Mississippi & engaged in farming in that state previous to his removal to Ark. which occurred in
1850, at which time he took up his abode in White Co. He traveled across the county in a prairie
schooner accompanied by 5 brothers & after reaching his destination homesteaded. He also engaged in
freighting during the early days & as opportunity offered gave his attention to the further
development & improvement of his farm. He had to clear his land, which was covered with timber & he
used an ox team to break the sod & develop the place. There was much big game to be had in this
section of the country in that early day & all of the conditions of pioneer life were here found. As
the years passed his labors resulted in the development of a good farm property & he continued his
residence in White county to the time of his death, which occurred in 1899 when he was 68 years of
age. In young manhood he was married, near Searcy, to Miss Sarah SKIDMORE & the house in which the
marriage was celebrated is still standing, being one of the old landmarks of this section of the
state. Miss Sarah SMITH passed to the home beyond in 1920 at a notable age, being in her 90th year.
The maternal grandfather of Elmer W. SMITH was A. G. WALKER, who removed from Tenn. to Ark. but
afterward returned to the former state. Later he again came to Ark., taking up his abode in White
Co. He opened a market in Searcy & engaged in selling meat & produce for a number of years. He
married Saline PAIGE & died at the age of 60 years, while his wife departed this life at the age of
62.  J. F. SMITH, father of Elmer W. SMITH, was born in White Co. in 1852, and acquired a common
school education, pursuing his studies in one of the old-age log schoolhouses with its homemade
benches & other primitive equipment. He remained with his parents to the age of 29 years, when he
married, purchased land & began farming himself. As his tract was covered with timber he had to
clear away the trees & brush ere he could break the sod. He still owns the land which he first
purchased 2 miles from Searcy & has devoted his life to general farming & stock raising. He served
as deputy sheriff of White Co. for one term but has never been anxious to hold public office. He
married Sarah Elizabeth WALKER and to them have been born 4 children: Lorena, the wife of A. I.
DARNALL, a salesman with the Neelly & Smith Hardware Co. in Searcy; Elmer W.; Grace, the wife of
Dudley MORRIS, who follows farming near Searcy; & Hettie, the wife of F. J. DAVENPORT, who is
engaged in farming near McRae, White Co.. The parents are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church & fraternally J. F. SMITH is connected with the Independent order of Odd Fellows & with the
Woodmen of the World. His political endorsement has always been given to the democratic party.
Elmer W. SMITH attended the country schools of White Co. & afterward the high school at Searcy while
later he pursued a commercial course in the Memphis Business College at Memphis, Tenn., and thus
became well qualified for life's practical & responsible duties. He stated out in the business world
as bookkeeper for the Sandefur-Julian Wholesale Co. of Little Rock & afterward came to Searcy to
fill the position of deputy circuit clerk in 1914. For 4 years he occupied that position & in 1918
was elected circuit clerk, entering upon the duties of the office on the 1st of Jan., 1919. He was
reelected at the close of his first term, so that he is now serving for the second term in office,
devoting his entire time to his duties in this connection. He is prompt, reliable & systematic & his
official record is winning him high commendation from all who know aught of his work.  Mr. SMITH was
married to Miss Martha Irene CHRISP, who was born in White Co., a daughter of Horace CHRISP. They
have become parents of 2 sons: Elmer Wheat & Edward Forest. Mr. SMITH has always given his loyal
support to the democratic party. He is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Searcy Lodge No.
49, A. F. & A. M., while in Albert Pike Consistory of Little Rock he attained the 32 degree of
Scottish Rite in Nov., 1921. He also belongs to Al-Amin Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He and his wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a steward, and they take an
active & helpful interest in all branches of the church work & contribute liberally to its support.
They are well known socially in Searcy, where they have many friends & the hospitality of their home
is greatly enjoyed by all who know them.