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Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Capt. E. T. Smith was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1830, and is a son, of William and Rebecca (Todd) Smith, who were born in Virginia, in 1798, and Georgia, in 1800. The former was educated in the schools of his native State, and when a young man removed with his parents to Ohio, where he met and married Miss Todd, who had removed to that State when she was a child. Mr. Smith first followed the occupation of farming and then engaged in merchandising, and died in the State of his adoption in 1846. His widow afterward married a Mr. Pierson, who is now deceased, and died in 1875. By Mr. Smith she became the mother of eight children: Thomas, Sabilla (wife of Dr. A. Atkinson), Elisha Todd, Asenath (deceased), Hannah (wife of Elisha Smith), Elwood, William (deceased) and Stephen. Elisha T. Smith, the subject of this biography, was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and at the Friends’ High-school at Mount Pleasant, Ohio. He was married to Miss Lydia Clendenon, who was born in Ohio in 1832. Her father was born in the “Keystone” State and her mother in Georgia. She also attended the Friends’ High-school and by Mr. Smith became the mother of five children: Annie (wife of O. B. Wilson), Rebecca T., Willie (wife of J. D. Mann) and Nettie May(wife of David M. Smith). Ella, the fourth child, is living at home. Mr. Smith was living in Iowa when the war broke out, and he espoused the Union cause, but did not take an active part in the war. In 1858 he was elected clerk of the district court in Iowa, and served in that capacity twelve years, and was then elected to the State senate for four years. After spending one year in the Republic of Mexico, engaged in mining, he located in Stephens County, Texas, and was appointed clerk of the district court, by Judge Fleming, for six years, but before his last term had expired he came to Siloam Springs, Ark., and here has since resided. He is a Republican in politics, and is justice of the peace of Hico Township. He was nominated as a candidate for representative on the Republican ticket in 1888, but declined the nomination. He is interested in the mining lands located in Washington County, Ark., being a member of the Northwestern Arkansas Mining and Smelting Company. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the K. of P.

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This family biography is one of 240 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Benton County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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