My Genealogy Hound

H. W. Smith was born in Hempstead County, Ark., in 1849, a son of H. W. (familiarly known as “Kie” Smith) and Nancy P. (Johnson) Smith, the latter a daughter of James Johnson, of Hempstead County, Ark., and a native of Missouri. The Smiths formerly came from the Blue Grass State, and were among the early settlers of Hempstead County, Ark., the county courts being at that time held in the settlers’ log houses. Mr. Smith, was of Scotch-Irish descent, was a member for thirty years of the Presbyterian Church, and in the early history of the State represented Hempstead County in its General Assembly for about two terms. He died in the month of October, 1865, and his worthy wife April 26, 1888. Their family consisting of eight children were born in Arkansas, and all are now living with the exception of one, who died in childhood. H. W. Smith, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Arkansas, with the exception of one year spent in McKinsie College, Tex. At the age of twenty-two years he began his own career as an independent farmer in Howard County, but two years later moved to the Lone Star State, where he was engaged in farming for nine years, and acting in the capacity of deputy sheriff and collecting agent in Hunt County. Upon his return to Arkansas he settled in Howard County, but after farming there for one year he came to his present place of abode and here, in connection with tilling the soil, was engaged in teaching school for four years. On December 24, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss Belle Z. Payne, a daughter of Widow Payne, of Texas, by whom he has two children: Nancy P. and Essie Belle. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and he and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presbyterian Church.