J. Logan Smith, junior member of the firm of Sparks & Co., Harrisburg, Ark. Born on the 5th of February, 1837, at Old Bolivar, Poinsett County, Ark., Mr. Smith is one of the old settlers of the county and a much respected citizen of the same. He is the son of William and Sarah (Clark) Smith, natives of Tennessee and North Carolina, respectively. William Smith and wife came to Arkansas in 1831, when the country was very unsettled, and began improving wild land. He held the position of county treasurer in 1844, and was a prominent and enterprising citizen. He and wife were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Their family consisted of thirteen children, all of whom are now deceased except J. Logan and J. W., who is a minister in the Christian Church, and resides in Craighead County, Ark. Mrs. Sarah Smith's father was one of the early settlers of Greene County, Ark., and built the first watermill in that county.
J. Logan Smith's facilities for an education in youth were not of the best, and what schooling he did receive was in the old court-house at Old Bolivar, a log structure about 20x28 feet in dimension, with fire-place, puncheon benches with pin legs, and the writing desks were puncheons supported by pins driven in the wall. Mr. Smith can distinctly remember the original chimney was stick and clay, which were afterward supplanted by brick. The school was of course a subscription school. Early settlers frequently built their houses without nails, and the first sawed lumber was manufactured by hand and with a whip-saw. Mr. Smith was reared on a farm, and spent some time as a brick maker. At the age of twenty-two he enlisted in Company F, Sixth Arkansas Infantry, and was in the battles of Shiloh and Perryville, Ky., where he was wounded and taken prisoner. At the end of thirty days he was exchanged, and took part in the battle of Stone River, where he was again wounded, and after lying in the hospital at Ringgold, Ga., until February, 1863, joined the army again. He was in the battle of Chickamauga, and at that engagement received two wounds. He was also at Missionary Ridge, Tenn., then at Ringgold Gap, and after this at Resaca, Kenesaw (Ga.), Smithfield (N. C.), and surrendered at Greensboro (N. C.) He then came to Poinsett County, Ark., tilled the soil, and, in February, 1866, was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Stanford, daughter of William and Matilda (Hall) Stanford, natives of Tennessee and early settlers of Arkansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born the following children: Lockie L., wife of Thomas C. Ainsworth, a farmer of Poinsett County; Rutha V., keeps house for her father; Roger Williams, Joseph T. and Logan S. (twins), who live at home. Mrs. Smith died on the 18th of October, 1881, and was a worthy and much esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an active Sunday-school and church worker, a loving wife and mother, whose memory will remain green in the hearts of her many relatives and friends long after her body has moldered to dust.
For none return from that quiet shore, Who crossed with the boatman cold and pale. We hear the dip of the golden oar, We watch for a gleam of the snowy sail; But, for they have passed from our yearning hearts, They have crossed the stream, they are gone for aye. We may not sunder the vale apart That hides from our vision the gates of day; We only know that their bark no more Will sail with ours o'er life's stormy sea; Yet somewhere, I know, on that unseen shore, They watch, and wait, and beckon to me.
In June, 1865, Mr. Smith, at the request of the people, was appointed by Gov. Murphy, then military governor, to fill the position of assessor and collector for his county, and in the following year was elected to fill the same office, which he did until the reconstruction, in 1868. He then followed farming until 1874, when he was elected sheriff, and re-elected in 1876. He again returned to the farm, and there remained until 1881, when he embarked in the mercantile business, continuing at the same until 1884, when he again became a tiller of the soil. In 1888 he became a member of the above mentioned firm, but during his entire life he has followed farming. He is the owner of five farms of over 1,000 acres of land, 200 acres under cultivation. He takes much interest in stock raising and has Jersey and Short-horn cattle, and Berkshire hogs. Mr. Smith became a member of Poinsett Lodge No. 184, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of the Chapter and Council, Harrisburg; is also a member of Lodge No. 74, K. and L. of H. Council No. 29 was organized in 1887. He is a Democrat in his political views.