My Genealogy Hound

George P. Smoote, of the law firm of Smoote, McRae & Arnold, Prescott, Nevada County, Ark., was born in Hickman County, Tenn., on December 28, 1828. His paternal grandfather, Dr. Charles Smoote, was born near Frederick, Md., about 1776, where he intermarried with Miss Letticia Tyler in 1803. He emigrated to Hickman County, Tenn., in 1815, and there practiced his profession until, by reason of his increasing age, he became unable to do so. He was prominent in his profession, especially as a surgeon. He died in 1838. The maternal grandfather of George P. Smoote, Edward Williams, was a planter, born near Charleston, S. C, about 1760. In early life he emigrated to Tennessee, and founded the village of Williamsport, on Duck River, twelve miles west of Columbia, Maury County, where he lived until his death in 1833. He married and reared a large family of children. John N. Smoote, the eldest child of Dr. Charles Smoote, was born near Frederick, Md., in 1804, and emigrated with his father to Hickman County, Tenn., in 1815. He studied medicine, and followed the practice of it, until his death in 1841. He intermarried with Margaret, the youngest daughter of Edward Williams, in 1826. She died in 1839. They had born to them three children, of whom George P. Smoote, the subject of this sketch, is the only survivor. He was reared and educated in Tennessee, attending the academy at Williamsport for several sessions, and afterward the school of David Reeve Arnold, in Maury County, with whom he read Latin and studied mathematics. Mr. Arnold was a well-prepared and skillful educator, and a poet of some distinction. Mr. Smoote, after leaving the school of Mr. Arnold, studied law under the Hon. Edward Dillahunty, a distinguished Tennessee circuit judge, residing near Columbia. He was admitted to the bar in 1849, a few months before his majority, and commenced the practice of his profession at Centreville, Hickman County, immediately after obtaining license. He remained there about twelve months, and then moved to Camden, Ouachita County, Ark., reaching that place in October, 1850. After stopping at Camden for two years, he went to Magnolia, Columbia County, where he made his home, and practiced his profession (except a short interval, spent at Washington, Hempstead County) until 1877. In the meantime he served four years as a soldier in the Confederate army—first as lieutenant of artillery, and then as aid-de-camp on the staff of Maj. Gen. John P. McCown, until the retirement of that general in 1863, and afterward in the provost-marshal’s department. Mr. Smoote was a member of the Arkansas State Convention of 1861, which passed the ordinance of secession, for which he voted. He was also a member of the convention which framed the present constitution in 1874—representing on both occasions the county of Columbia. In 1877 he moved to Prescott, Nevada County, and formed a partnership in the practice of law, with the Hon. Thomas C. McRae, who is the present Congressman from the Third Arkansas District. The firm still continues under the style of Smoote, McRae & Arnold. As a lawyer, Mr. Smoote has been successful, and holds a reputable standing in his profession. On several occasions he has served as special supreme judge of the State, by executive appointment. He is also the author of a small volume of poems, “The Mississippi and Other Songs,” recently published by Charles Wells Moulton, Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Smoote has been twice married. First, to Mrs. Sarah A. Mullins, by whom ten children wore born to him. Five of them, namely: Ida A., Jennie, Nettie, Charles W. and Tyler A., still survive. His first wife died in April, 1882, and, on December 2, 1884, he married Mrs. Julia Goode Mathews, his present wife, both being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.