My Genealogy Hound

Alfred E. Smith, a specialist in the culture of fruit and berries, and of bees, living near Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in Richmond, Va., June 15, 1847, son of John A. and Mary Ann (Clark) Smith, both natives of Virginia. When Alfred was eight years of age the family removed from Richmond to Kentucky, where John Smith engaged in the manufacture of tobacco. He also conducted a hotel at Columbus, Ky. Alfred went to school in a log school house. At the close of the Civil war the family removed to Mt. Vernon, where the father resumed the manufacture of plug tobacco and cigars. Our subject started out in life by helping his father in the tobacco business. When they discontinued the manufacture of cigars, Alfred became a carpenter and helped build the first Louisville & Nashville depot in Mt. Vernon. After working as a carpenter for a few years he began draying in 1878, and still continues this business. Mr. Smith also manufactures bee hives and fixtures, and has also developed a large bee industry, having at present 140 colonies of bees, making a comfortable income from this source alone. Some years ago he removed to a farm overlooking the city of Mt. Vernon for the accommodation of his bee interests, and since that time has developed a large fruit and produce business, raising peaches, pears, apples and cherries. Mr. Smith is scientific and carries on experiments for the betterment of his methods. He has succeeded in raising on one tree twelve different varieties of plums, three of cherries and one of peaches. Another line to which he pays a great deal of attention is berries, of which he has several varieties. His garden is one of the largest in this section of the State. The Smith home is one of the most beautiful spots in or about Mt. Vernon. It is located on a high hill just outside of town. Our subject is making a close study of fruit and produce culture, and is meeting with marked success. In politics he is a Democrat. On November 20, 1870, Mr. Smith eloped with Nannie Daniels and they went to Shawneetown, where they were married. She was born in Mt. Vernon, Ind., May 6, 1854, daughter of William P. and Eliza (Wilson) Daniels, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Kentucky. The Daniels home stood where the Methodist Episcopal church is now located. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had eleven children: Nelia, Nellie, Alfred E. deceased, William Archibald, Nannie, Charles, Floyd, Percy, Nora, Thomas, and Cornelius, deceased. Nelia married Samp Jeffries, and they live in Black township. Nellie married William Brissell, a merchant of Mt. Vernon. William Archibald married Ethel Wilson, and is farming on Greathouse Island. Nannie married Ed Mischke, agent for the Louisville & Nashville railroad at Hartford, Ky. Charles married Myrtle Mischke, and is now agent of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois at Farmersburg. Ind. Floyd married Miss Margaret Winn, and is in the automobile business at Nashville, Tenn. Percy married Eugenia Pembroke, and is ticket agent at Guthrie, Ky. Nora married Ralph Curtis, and they live on a farm in Black township. Thomas is at home with his parents. The family are members of the Methodist church.