Alexander Smith, farmer, was born in Hawkins County, April 28, 1843, the son of Campbell and Maria J. (Alexander) Smith, the former of Scotch-Irish stock, and the latter of German, and both natives of this county. they lived to past middle age. Our subject, the youngest of five children, secured an ordinary education and worked on his grandfather’s farm until he entered the Confederate service in 1861, joining Company E, Second Tennessee Cavalry, operating in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. He participated in the actions at Fishing Creek, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and others in Georgia. In 1865, after an absence of four years, he returned to the farm. He lived on the farm until he fall of 1866, then clerked in a store until the summer of 1867, then traded in grain and stock until 1868, after which he farmed in Mecklenburg County, N.C., until 1870, then again traded in stock until 1875, when he bought the farm where he now lives and has farmed and traded in stock ever since. He has acquired about 1,000 acres of land, 700 of which is on the Holston River. Besides this he owns over 500 acres of Bay’s Mountain land. October 19, 1871, Ollie M. Hamilton became his wife. She was born January 24, 1851 in Hawkins County. they have five sons and two daughters. Our subject is a Democrat, and favors prohibition. His wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Transcribed by Betty Mize from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.