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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Montgomery County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  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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Samuel M. Smith is the efficient and trustworthy treasurer of Montgomery County, Ark., a position he has filled in a very acceptable manner for the past eight years. He has been a citizen in this county since 1852, but was born in Bedford County, Tenn., September, 10, 1831, to Josiah and Nancy (Drake) Smith, the former born in South Carolina and the latter in Virginia, their union taking place in Bedford County, Tenn., whither they had gone with their parents when young. They made their home there until 1847 at which time they removed to Tippah County, Miss., and in 1855 to Webster County, Mo. The mother died there in 1861, aged about fifty-seven years. Mr. Smith then moved to Boone County, Ark., and is there still residing, aged eighty-four years. He has always been a farmer, and a very successful one, and since 1845 has been a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, in which he has long been a deacon. He is a Democrat in his political views. He and his wife became the parents of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth. He attended the schools of Mississippi in his youth, and at the age of twenty-one years commenced to farm in Montgomery County, his first purchase of land here being on the present site of Oden. On this place he resided until 1871, then moved to Mount Ida, and here by hard work, good management and economy, he has become the owner of a fine tract of land, comprising 300 acres, the most of which is under cultivation. In 1882 he was elected to the office of county treasurer, and has served, by re-election, up to the present time, with every evidence of satisfaction. In July, 1861 he joined the Twenty-fourth Arkansas Infantry, and after a short service was discharged, but soon after joined Col. Newton’s regiment of cavalry, and was lieutenant of his company, serving until disbanded at Fulton, Ark. He was in the battle of Wilson’s Creek, and while at home, on one occasion, was taken prisoner, but was soon released. The war left him badly crippled financially, but as has been seen, he has, in a great measure, retrieved his losses. He has for the last few years operated a grist, saw-mill and cotton-gin on his farm, in all of which he has done well. In 1853 he was married to Miss Melvina Goodner, a daughter of John C. Goodner, an early settler of this county. She died in October, 1862, the mother of five children, two now living: John G. (a farmer of the county), and Josiah M. (following the same occupation here). William C. (the third son, died recently in this county, leaving a widow and three children). In February, 1863, Mr. Smith married Miss Martha Ann Deer, of this county, but she, too, passed from life, her death occurring in October, 1864, leaving a daughter, Mary J., who was the wife of Charles Laird, of this county. In October, 1865, Mr. Smith took for his third wife, Miss Mary Ann Fryar, of this county, she dying in October, 1883, and leaving him with seven children to care for: Thomas O., Samuel L., Susan H., Granville W., Alfred F., Margaret A., and Elizabeth (who died in childhood). Martha A. Shirley became the wife of Mr. Smith in August, 1888, she being a daughter of Goyle Nobles, and widow of Jackson Shirley. She was born in Louisiana, and died January 4, 1889. Mr. Smith is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and, politically, is a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 37 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Montgomery County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Montgomery County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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