My Genealogy Hound

Hiram C. Smith, a resident of Benton County, Ark., and the son of Allison and Louisa (Kates) Smith, was born July 18, 1831, in Benton County, near Osage Creek. The father, Allison Smith, was born in Tennessee, received a limited education in that State, and remained with his father until after his marriage, which occurred in Washington County, Ark., whither he had moved with his parents. After marriage he went to Illinois, and after moving around for some time settled in Washington County, Ark., but moved from there to Benton County, where he died in 1847. Mrs. Louisa Smith was also born in Tennessee, received a common education, and by her marriage to Mr. Smith became the mother of seven children, three now living: Hiram C., William H. and Mrs. Martha E. Weldon. The children who died were named Eliza M., Thomas J., Isaac and D. A. Allison Smith, after coming to Arkansas, with the aid of his wife went vigorously to work at his books, and thus obtained a good education. He was afterward appointed justice of the peace, and held this position two years, occupying that position at the time of his death. Mark and Annie (Allison) Smith, grandparents of Hiram C., were both natives of North Carolina, and were quite well off in this world’s goods. The grandparents Kates were natives of Tennessee, and moved from that State to Arkansas. Very little is known of their history prior to that time, Hiram C. Smith, up to his fifteenth year, had never been located very long in any one place, and until that time had received no school advantages, having to work hard on the farm. December 31, 1850, he married Miss Lucy J. Carter, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of John L. and Annie (Gibson) Carter, who were formerly from Virginia. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born ten children, eight now living: James M., Serena, Mrs. Mary J. Dunn, Hiram, Clinton, Robert E., Mrs. Annie Peters, Mrs. Maggie Douglas. Henry and John are the children who are deceased. Mr. Smith remained at home tilling the soil until the opening of the late Rebellion, when he enlisted in the Confederate army and served throughout the war, surrendering at Prairie Grove. He was in the following battles: Wilson Creek, Prairie Grove and Fayetteville, and many other minor engagements. During the last named battle his captain and a number of his associates were killed around him. During the war his family had been obliged to move in order to save themselves from being molested or burned out. After the war Mr. Smith returned home, but did not remain long, but went from there to Texas, where he remained for one year. He then returned to the home he had left at the beginning of the war, and here remained for four years. He then moved to the farm upon which he was born, and there remained seventeen years engaged in farming, after which he moved to his present farm. Mr. Smith has been quite fortunate in his business transactions, and is now the owner of 300 acres of good land, 225 under cultivation.