My Genealogy Hound

Hercules Smith, a prominent citizen and resident of Miller Township, was born in Hardin County, Ky., January 7, 1821, and is the son of David and Mary Ann (Gray) Smith. The father was a native of Virginia, and came with his parents to Kentucky when a boy. They remained in Hardin County, Ky., until 1850, when our subject moved to Scotland County, Mo., and engaged in farming. He died in 1859, and was about seventy years of age at the time of his death. The mother of our subject was born in Kentucky, and was of Irish-German descent. She died in Scotland County, Mo., in 1865, when about seventy years of age. They were pioneers of Kentucky, and early settlers of Scotland County, Mo. Our subject was the second child and the eldest son of a family of six children, five now living. At the age of sixteen he left the parental roof, and began on his own resources by hiring out to the neighbors to do farm work. He afterward leased land, and began to farm. In 1843 he married Miss Mary E. Leeman, a native of Kentucky, who bore him eleven children, ten now living: Matilda, Mary A., Eliza, Thomas J., Nancy, America, Felix, William L., John C. and Charlotta. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, is deceased. In 1848 our subject came to Missouri, and located on 160 acres which he afterward purchased. Immediately after the war he sold his land, and about four years later he bought out the other heirs of his father’s property and lived on the old homestead until 1883, when he added the tract he now calls home. In April, 1885, he married Mrs. Margaret Talbott, widow of William Talbott and daughter of Handy Cathel, who has been a well-known resident of Missouri for many years. She was born November 16, 1845, and is a member of the Baptist Church. In 1880 our subject made a tour through California, Oregon, Washington Territory and other States and Territories in order to find a better place than Missouri in which to live, but after traveling a great deal he returned to Missouri, satisfied to remain there. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and a Democrat in politics. He is noted for his liberality toward schools, churches and all laudable enterprises, and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.