GOODSPEED BIOGRAPHIES
Contributed by Charlene Holland
Dr. JAMES H. SMITH
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.