Madison County Biography of:
|
"Capt. G. W. R. SMITH, a prominent citizen of Madison County, was born in Madison County , Ala., January 10, 1827, and is a son of Simon P. and Ellen (LEE) Smith, natives of North Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The father went to Alabama when a young man, engaged in farming for a number of years, and in 1829 moved with his family to Arkansas, locating in Polk County. In 1830 he came to Madison County, where he died in 1863. The mother accompanied her parents to Alabama when a child, where she was reared and married. Her death occurred in 1860. The following children were born to her: W. A. G., G. W. R., Lucy J., Desdemona, Melissa, S. P., Frances and Nancy J. is now deceased. Our subject passed his youth on the place where he now lives, and where he has always been engaged in farming and stock raising. He organized Company G, of the First Arkansas Infantry, Federal army, in 1863, and served as captain of the same until the close of the war, after which he again devoted his attention to farming. He was one of the reconstruction officers after the war for three years. He is a public-spirited man, and was elected sheriff, holding that office four years. In 1850 he wedded Mary Ann STOTTS, daughter of H. STOTTS, who bore him one child, which is now deceased. Mrs. SMITH also died, and in 1863 he was married a second time, Bethesda BOLLINGER becoming his wife. This lady is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She has no children. Capt. SMITH is a member of the G. A. R." (Goodspeeds History of NW AR…) |
G. W. R. "Russell"
and Mary STOTTS Smith are listed on the 1850 Madison Co., AR Census in HH#528 of Bowen Twp. His parents, Simeon and Ellender LEE Smith appear in HH#611, and Mary STOTTS' parents, Hiram and Rosana F. McCONNEL Stotts, were listed in HH#530.Excerpt from article "An Old Time Revival" ca 1940 by Rev. A.J. GRAHAM:
"...there was a log school house just a little west of where the school house now stands. It was called the Bolinger School...Russ SMITH, better known as Cap SMITH, lived just across the creek on what (later became) the PHARRIS farm. Smith was the sheriff of the county, about the year 1888. (He)mostly out of his own money, built the school house now standing, and it was called SMITH'S Chapel. Later, a store and postoffice were established and the place was called Witter."
The military record of Captain GWR SMITH, 1st AR Inf Volunteers:
-vol. for Union service at St. Paul, Madison Co, AR, on 10/25/1862.
-enlisited -March 15,1863- at Fayetteville, Washington Co., AR
-discharged Aug. 10, 1865, at Ft. Smith.
Capt. GWR SMITH & brother Pete (Simon Peter Lee SMITH) were in the battles of Prairie Grove, Backbone Mt., and Camden, all in N.W. Arkansas. In his enlistment papers, he listed his 'comrades' as: W. W. ROBINSON, Ben DRAKE, Fred. BOLINGER, David HOOPER, Pleas. SEALS, & Isaac KECK. He had moved to AR from AL with his family as a boy around 1829 'on a wagon train', and sometime around 1890, he and wife Bethena left NW AR and went to live in Taney Co. MO.
Though they are both buried at Dickens Cem., Hilda, Taney Co. MO, a cenotaph memorial stone was placed for GWR at Capt Smith Cemetery in (1992).
The children of Simon Peter and Mary SMITH are:
Wm. Asbury Green married Melissa Jane WILLIAMS
Geo. Washington Russell 'Russ'
Lucy Jane married Jonas WILLIAMS
Destemonia 'Desty' Andaline Angeline Ann Van Cora married Isaac KECK
Melissa E. married Jacob B. CLUCK
Simon Peter Lee married Rachel BOLINGER, daughter of Frederick BOLINGER, Jr.
Frances Caroline 'Fanny' married Frederick Tillman HOOPER
Three more children died very young: Susan, John, and Robert.
See Also
the Madison Biographies of:This Site Created and Sponsored by Madison Online Researcher: