My Genealogy Hound

J. P. SMITH, Fulton County, was born December 11, 1842, in Mississippi, and is the eldest child of William and Nancy (Craig) Smith, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee respectively. The early life of our subject was spent on a farm. His mother dying when he was quite young, he made his home with his grandparents until the age of eighteen. He then enlisted in Company F, of the Second Mississippi Infantry, under Col. W. C. Faulkner. Among the battles in which he participated were the first and second battles of Bull Run, Sharpsburg, Seven Pines and Gettysburg. At the latter battle he was taken prisoner and sent to Fort Delaware, where he was confined until the close of the war. He was paroled in May, 1865, and returned to Mississippi, where he clerked for two years, and subsequently followed farming for two years. In 1870 he began railroading and has followed it ever since. He worked first as a bridge carpenter, next as conductor of construction train, and in 1880 was appointed roadmaster on the Illinois Central Railroad, a position which he has continued to hold. In April, 1867, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Jennie Newland, of Hardiman County, Tenn. Eight children have blessed this union, of whom six are living: Eddie L. Pearl, Lorrymore, Beauty, George P. and Tusner. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., K. of H., A. O. U. W. and K. of P. fraternities.