My Genealogy Hound

Thomas C. Smith, Jr., is a son of Capt. Thomas C. and Emma C. (Fowlkes) Smith, and was born near Prescott, Ark., in 1842. Both parents were born in Charlotte County, Va., the former in 1816 and the latter in 1822, and their marriage took place there in 1838, after which they came to Nevada County, Ark., and a short time later to Hempstead County. When the subject of this sketch was about thirteen years of age, they purchased a farm, on which he is now living, it comprising about 2,000 acres of land, situated some three miles northeast of Washington. The father became one of the very wealthiest men of the county, and upon his children attaining mature years, he divided his property among them, and they are now all in good circumstances. The mother died in July, 1889, a Presbyterian in faith. Of eight children born to her union with Mr. Smith, seven are now living: Edward W., Thomas C., Jr., George J., Abner F., William A., Jennie L. (wife of William H. Butler, of Texarkana) and Emma C. (wife of E. B. Jett, of Little Rock). The grandfather, William A. Smith, was born, and lived and died in Virginia, a farmer by occupation, having been a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The mother’s father, Edward B. Fowlkes, was born in Halifax County, Va., and came to Southwestern Arkansas at about the same time that Mr. Smith did, and here he passed from life, in 1851, his wife dying here also, both members of the Baptist Church. The subject of this sketch was educated in the country schools of Randolph County, Va., and later attended the Randolph and Macon College, of that State, but upon the opening of the war, left school to join the Confederate army, becoming a member of Company H, First Arkansas Infantry, known as the Hempstead Rifles, in the Army of the Tennessee, and was at Corinth, Iuka, Port Hudson and Jackson, Miss. He returned to his home after the close of the war, and resumed farming, a calling to which he has since devoted his attention. His farm comprises 1,000 acres, and between 500 and 600 are under cultivation. He has been a Democrat all his life, his first presidential vote being cast for Seymour, in 1868, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F., Organ Lodge No. 10, of Washington.