December 13, 1956

Transcribed by Janette West Grimes

* CAL’S COLUMN *

SMITH FAMILY Continued

We have some favorable comment from part of those who read our recent article on the Smith Family. We appreciate the good words said or written. We continue with the same family again this week.

The next Smith listed in Smith County, Tenn., and we may add that the east two-thirds of the present Macon County were included in Smith County in the census of 1820, was Margaret Smith, a widow, we presume. She had two males under 10, one male from 10 to 16, one male from 16 to 18, and one from 18 to 26. Females: Three under ten, one from 16 to 26, one from 26 to 45, and one above 45. Possibly the last female, above 45 years of age, was Mrs. Margaret Smith. We have no idea at all as to whose widow she was, nor do we have the least idea as to where she lived in Smith County.

The next Smith head of a family was Jesse Smith, who had, Male: Only one, presumable Jesse, who in 1820 was between 26 and 45. Females: One from 16 to 26, one from 26 to 45, presumably Mrs. Jesse Smith. The family appears to have been fairly well off possessing two Negro slaves.

The next Smith head of a family was Thomas Smith, who in 1820 was above 45 years of age. Females: One between 26 and 45, and one above 45, supposed to have been Mrs. Thomas Smith. He owned three Negro slaves 136 years ago.

George Smith is next listed. He had: Three males under 10, three males from 10 to 16, one from 16 to 18, five from 26 to 45, and one above 45, supposedly George Smith. Females: One under 10, two from 10 to 16, one from 26 to 45, probably Mrs. George Smith; and three Negro slaves. We have not the faintest idea as to where the family lived in 1820.

Another Jesse Smith is listed in 1820. He had: Males: One under 10, one from 10 to 16, and one above 45 years, supposed to have been Jesse himself. Females: Two under 10, two from 10 to 16, one from 26 to 45, and one 45 and over. We suppose Mrs. Smith was the one 45 and older.

Thomas Smith, Junior, was a young man in 1820, having only one male, between 18 and 26, in his family. He had a girl baby, under 10. One other female, presumed to have been his wife, was between 16 and 26. We would surmise that this Thomas Smith was the son of the Thomas Smith, the third listed in this article.

Nurall Smith is the next listed in the Smith County for 1820, so far as the Smith family is concerned. He had: One male under 10, and one from 18 to 26. Mrs. Smith, we would guess was the only other member of the family and was listed as between 16 and 26. The family owned one Negro slave.

Next listed was Larkin Smith, who had ten listed in the 1820 census, Males: Three under 10, one from 26 to 45 and one 45 and up, supposedly Larkin Smith himself. He had two females under ten, one from 26 to 45, and one above 45. One negro slave is indicated.

Daniel Smith is another Smith head of a family in Smith County in the year 1820. He had two males under ten and one, supposedly himself, between 18 and 26. He had one female between 18 and 26.

Daniel Smith is the last head of a family by the name of Smith listed in Smith County in 1820. He was a comparatively young man, having five males under 10, one from 10 to 16, and himself, at that time between 26 and 45. Females: One under 10, and one from 26 to 45, presumed to have been his wife. The census did not give the names of the various members of each family and their ages until 1850. So it is difficult to know what family is being listed. In the above case, that of Daniel Smith, we would judge by some circumstantial evidence that the Daniel Smith mentioned was the minister, Daniel Smith, referred to in our previous article on the Smith family. The circumstances are as follows: He was born August 6, 1792, in Chatham County, North Carolina. Page 382, Grime's History of Middle Tennessee Baptists. In 1820 he would have been 28 years of age, in the same age group to which his wife belonged. In the census of 1820 his name appears next to that of Malachi Shoulders, who married a daughter of our great-great-grandfather, Bry Gregory. Her name was Polly and she and her family resided not far from where the Smiths lived a long time ago. In fact we once lived in a house built by Malachi located just across a big hill from where numerous Smith families once resided. Then the census records given Daniel Smith's second nearest neighbor, either "up the road" or "down the road" from him, as Edward Settle, and we have read that Daniel's son, later known as Elder Daniel Wiseman Smith, was converted in a prayer meeting in the old Settle home became the A. C. Stone home and is still standing. It is not far from where old Malachi lived and near numerous Smith early homes in the Stone's Branch section of Peyton's Creek, about two miles from the Pleasant Shade. However, we are not prepared to furnish the names of all the sons and daughters of Elder Daniel Smith.

The only sons of Daniel Smith, shown on our old records, were: Billie Smith, believed to have married Susan Dixon; Daniel Wiseman Smith, the man referred to as having been converted in the home of Edward Settle; Neal Smith, who removed to Kentucky; Don Dixon Carlos Smith, married Sarah Jane Meador and later Eliza Meador; and Henry Smith, who died unmaried. Daughters included: Tilda Smith, who is believed to have married Isham Beasley; Polly Smith, married Billie Bob Smith, but we do not know of their relationship, if any; another daughter, who married Josh Smith, relationship, if any, not known; and Emily Smith, married William L. Buie, who later became a prominent Baptist minister in this section of North Middle Tennessee.

According to our old records, made a number of years ago, Daniel Smith married first a Mashburn, and later a Halliburton. How many children were born to the Mashburn woman or the other woman, we do not know. Daniel Wiseman Smith, one of the first of Daniel Smith's children, if not the first, was born in Robertson County, Tenn., on Aug. 5, 1814.

The following sketch of this noted minister is from Grime's History of Middle Tennessee Baptists, page 420-425.

Elder D. W. Smith

"At the name of Elder Daniel Wiseman Smith every loyal Baptist heart in Enon Association bounds with delight. His life was a heritage such as few can claim. He first saw the light of day in Robertson County, Tenn., Aug. 5, 1814. He is the son of Elder Daniel Smith, of blessed memory. Soon after Daniel Wiseman Smith was born, his father settled on the waters of Peyton's Creek, Smith County, Tenn., where he grew to manhood. He gave his heart to God at the age of seventeen, in 1831. He made profession at a prayer meeting, held at the home of one old Brother Settle, on one of the branches of Peyton's Creek. He at once united with Peyton's Creek church. Thus began a very remarkable Christian career.

"He grew up on the farm and in comparative poverty. His father, being a minister, was from home a great deal, and he being one of the older children, the burdens of the home lay heavily on his shoulders. Thus he grew up with but little knowledge of books. His, however, was one of the most fruitful brains ever produced in this mountain section-a brain which could not be hedged in by circumstances. He became self-educated and a man of extensive research.

"In 1836 he secured a letter and became one of the constituent members of Mount Tabor church, some five miles higher up the creek. He was, and had been from the very start, an active member. He remained here until about 1850, when he purchased a farm on the head waters of Long Fork Creek, Macon County, Tenn., where he spent the remainder of his days. He again became a constituent member of Union church, in 1852. He now became more active as a church worker and his brethren discovered that he was the Lord's anointed to bear his message to the perishing of earth. "On June 30, 1854, he was ordained to the full work of the gospel ministry by Union church, with the following presbytery, viz. : Elders Daniel Smith, Andrew Jackson, Washington Glover and L. A. Smithwick, with Deacons Alfred Gibbs, Wiley Jones, R. Smith, Alexander Pipkin, J. Nixen, M. Wallace, John Shoulders, R. Williams and G. Owen. "From this day to the day of his death he stood as a beacon light among the Baptists of his section. It is no disparagement to others when we say that he was the leader in thought among his brethren.

"He entered at once actively into the pastorate. Among the main points he served as pastor we mention the following: Mt. Tabor, Defeated Creek, Union, thirty-five years; Liberty, twenty-four years; Dixon's Creek, twelve years; Lafayette, ten years; Pleasant Valley, Jackson County, a long while. He also served Bellwood, Peyton's Creek and others as the sketches of the churches will show. He was like a father in these churches. Perhaps no pastors were more loved by their charges than he.

"In person, he was small of stature, yet possessing a constitution capable of untold indurance. He was of Scotish-Irish descent, light-complexioned, and a well-developed forehead. He had a strong voice, spoke rapidly and distinctly, often growing eloquent. In manner, he was logical, clear and convincing, preaching with great unction, and often closing with an exhortation that touched the hearts of all.

"His sermons were exceedingly doctrinal. In fact, he stood as a great bulwark in defense of the doctrines of the Bible. Neither did he shun polemics when it was necessary. He had on public debate, in which he carried everything before him.

"He possessed one of the most remarkable memories-- a memory which enabled him to recall and use anything he once read without the use of notes. Deacon J. M. Williams, who furnishes much of the data for this sketch [though this author was well acquainted with him] , has this to say of him on this point:

"In preaching on the subject of the church, I have often seen him present the whole subject with all the proof texts, and all the prophecies and all the history bearing on that subject, together with all the dates and exact year of the rise of each denomination, the edict of every king and emperor. The decrees of each council and pope....without a single jot or title being noted down."

"From the above, it will be seen that he was a man of wide research and varied knowledge. In doctrine, he was a mild Calvinist and a staunch Landmark Baptist. He also practiced the "Washing of Feet" as a duty, but not as a church ordinance. He was a great lover of the book of Revelation, and it was a treat to hear him unfold its teachings.

"He was the last of our ministry in this section, who figured in the "split" on the mission question in 1837. He gave many interesting interviews on this "split," but as this history has already been given at another place in this work, it is useless to record them here.

"He was first married to Elizabeth Smith, a daughter of Robert Smith, who was a soldier under General Jackson in the war of 1812. Of this union five children were born, one son and four daughters. The wife of his youth went home to glory September 11, 1854.

"In 1861 he was again married to Caroline Williams. Of this union, six children were born, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living. His wife preceded him to the better land about two years ago. After this he found a home with his children. Broken hearted over the departure of his life-mate, the ravages of old age soon told upon him, and anxious friends saw the end was fast approaching. With anxious and burdened hearts they watched the old hero of many battles as he went bending to the tomb. It was on Saturday morning, September 17, 1892, that he died. This was the meeting day of his home church [Union] where he had been pastor for thirty-five years. He died of paralysis. On that morning while the members of the old church were preparing to assemble for worship, God touched his heart; it stood still and his spirit bounded away to join assembled hosts on high. For thirty-five years he had met with old Union church and told the story of Jesus and his love as he viewed his home by faith. But never had he witnessed such a meeting as he had that morning. It was here her met his companions and hundreds of others whom he had baptized and married, and with whom he had labored. Faith and hope had given way and he stood gazing upon the beauties of the gloryland. He perhaps viewed with amazement the trophies of his humble labors. On Sunday, the next day, his remains were taken from his son's, where he had died, to the churchhouse where his yokefellow, Elder W. L. Buie, held appropriate services amid a grief-stricken church and community, after which he was laid beside his second wife in Union Cemetery to await the resurrection.

"At the instance of Union church, his churches, to which he had preached, erected a beautiful monument over his grave as a token of their esteem. This was unveiled with appropriate services in which quite a number of ministers and others took part. This was certainly a befitting token of love. But when this shaft has crumbled down, his untiring labor will still be yielding its fruit."

Daniel Wiseman Smith married Elizabeth Smith, but we do not know whether they were related. By her he was the father of: Hiram Smith, married Lucinda Witcher; Mary Ann SMith, died young; Nancy Jane Smith, died young; and Sarah Smith, married Henry W. Smith, her first cousin, who was the son of the Billie Smith above referred to.

The next marriage was to Caroline Williams, who became the mother of: Daniel Wiseman Smith, who married Miss Johnnie Parker; William Henry Smith, who married Loretta Dotson and later Maggie Maxwell, and who was a resident of Lafayette for many years and County Court Clerk of this county; Paraline Smith, married Isaac T. G. McDonald, and became the mother of the late Fred Smith, who died a few years ago in Lafayette; Eason Smith, married Alice Patterson; Emmie Smith, married James Kendall Hall, whom the writer baptized during the past July in Brother Hall's 88th year and who still lives, near Dixon Springs, TN., and Burr Smith, also still living near Lafayette, and who married Ella Jones.

[ To be continued ]