My Genealogy Hound

Mrs. Margaret Smith, widow of Henry Smith, of Pleasant Valley Township, Wright Co., Mo., was born in Roane County, E. Tenn., in 1826. She is a daughter of Daniel and Jane (Mattox) White, the father having lived all his life in Tennessee, where he was engaged in farming. After his death his widow with her six children came to Missouri. Margaret Smith grew to womanhood in Tennessee, and was married there, in October, 1851, to Henry Smith, who was a native of the “Old North State,” born in 1824. He was taken by his people to Tennessee when a boy, and there grew to manhood. While a young man he served in the Mexican War, and after his return he and Mrs. Smith were married, came to Missouri in 1852, and located in Webster County, but at the end of two years came to Wright County, and located on their present farm. Mr. Smith entered the Union army, Company B, First Missouri Cavalry, and served about three years. His health at this time became very much impaired, but he has never applied for a pension. After his return home he was engaged in farming until his death, in 1880. He left a valuable 500 acre upland and bottom farm, which is still in possession of the family, with the exception of twenty-seven acres, which were sold for $50 per acre. Mrs. Smith became the mother of six children, five of whom are living: Eliza, wife of John A. Hensley; Houston, Huldah E., wife of Gid. M. Hensley; William J. and Samuel Lafayette. Her oldest child, Alexander, was born in 1852, and died in 1881, leaving a wife and three children. The family attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Smith was a Republican in politics.