My Genealogy Hound

J. J. Smith is a successful farmer of the county, and was born in Henderson County, Tenn., in 1847, being the third of eleven children born to J. C. and Susan (Johnson) Smith, who were also Tennesseans the former being a gunsmith by trade. In 1850 he settled in Poinsett County, Ark., and made the town of Bolivar his home until the county seat was changed to Harrisburg, when he moved to the latter place, this being in the year 1857. In 1863 he settled on an excellent farm in Craighead County, near Jonesboro, and here worked at his trade until his death, in 1885, at the age of sixty-six years. He was a Democrat, and held the office of deputy sheriff of the county for many years, and in 1860 was elected county treasurer, winning, during his official career, the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His worthy wife died in 1883. J. J. Smith was educated in the subscription schools of Bolivar and Harrisburg, and at the age of twenty years started out in life for himself, and is now one of the well-to-do agriculturists of the county. His first purchase of land was a timber tract embracing 100 acres, and this he commenced clearing, and added to until he now owns 560 acres, with over 200 acres under cultivation, his being one of the largest farms in the county. He is extensively engaged, in stock dealing, and his farm is devoted principally to raising cotton and corn. He is a Democrat, and as such was elected, in 1880, to the office of treasurer of Poinsett County. He has always been a patron of education, and socially is a member of the K. of H. Having been a resident of this county from earliest youth, he has witnessed the gradual growth and improvement, and has aided largely in bringing about this desirable result. He is a thoroughly self-made and self-reliant man, and his opinions on all subjects are acknowledged to be sound and unbiased. He and wife, whose maiden name was Mary Davidson, a native of Harrisburg, and whom he married in 1867, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Pleasant Valley, and are the parents of the following family: Hattie, Lucy, Dovie, Emisley, Johnny, Jennie, Dexter, Augustus, Grover C. and Elizabeth, who died in infancy. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of James and Harriet (Lokey) Davidson, who were Tennesseans, the father a farmer by occupation, and an early settler of Poinsett County, Ark. He was a sheriff of this county for many years, and was one of the most energetic and enterprising men of the county. He engaged in merchandising in Harrisburg, in 1861, and later became a soldier in the Confederate army, dying in 1862, in Cross County. His wife survived him some years, her death taking place in 1872.