My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Lewis County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Elder B. H. Smith was born in Richmond, Va., March 1, 1829, the son of William N. and Ann C. (Brown) Smith, natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The former came to this State about 1838, and settled in Howard County, where, he followed contracting and architectural work for a great many years. He afterward moved to Trenton, where he died in 1875, in his eighty-sixth year. The mother died when our subject was eight years of age, and the father married Ann Lewis, of Howard County. By his first marriage his children are Thomas P., William H., Ben H. and James K. Our subject lived in Glasgow until seventeen years of age, having a fair education, with some knowledge of Latin. He then became a deputy clerk at Trenton, and studied and practiced law there for six years. In 1854 he became a member of the Christian Church. He graduated from Bethany College, Virginia, with the degree of A. M., which included the theological course. In 1859 he became president of the Bloomington (Ill.) Female College for a year, and then for a year had charge of the Christian Church at Brunswick, Mo., and a year later became pastor of the First Christian Church, of St. Louis. After four years he went to Chicago. He resigned the pastorship of the First Christian Church to become president of the Christian University of Canton, serving ten years. In 1875 he became president of the Hesperian College, at Woodland, Cal. After serving three years, he preached a year at Oakland, Cal., and in 1879 returned to Canton, and became president of the Bank of Canton. He has preached also ever since. His first wife, Drusilla Merrill, of Trenton, Mo., gave birth to four children, two living: Robert M. and Adamantine J.; and his second wife, Mrs. Sarah (Hunt) Ralphe, was the mother of one daughter, Sallie S., the wife of Dr. J. H. Patton, of Trenton. In 1867 Mrs. Lura (Bradley) Hall became his wife. Their only son is Ben H. Our subject is a Democrat, and at the solicitation of his friends was a candidate for Congress in 1886. He considers the ministry and college work the glory of his life. He has baptized about 3,300 people, and graduates of his school are filling the highest positions in the State. He is a Knight Templar, and a Past Eminent Commander of the Star of Bethlehem Commandery, No. 37.

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This family biography is one of 293 biographies included in the Lewis County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Lewis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lewis County, Missouri family biographies here: Lewis County, Missouri Biographies

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