Source:  Goodspeed’s History of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman, and Lewis Counties Tennessee, published 1886

William Smith was born in the Hoosier State in 1810, and is the youngest of six children of James and Martha (Gilbert) Smith, and is of English descent. His parents were born in North Carolina, where they were married, but reared their family in Tennessee. Previous to this they resided a short time in Indiana, but finally moved to Mississippi, where the mother died in 1850, and the father a few years later. Our subject received a limited early education and made his home with his parents until he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account, and now owns 860 acres of land, which are furnished with a number of fine inexhaustible springs. Mr. Smith wedded Alice Nelson in October 1833. She was born in Lawrence County in 1817, daughter of John Nelson, one of the prominent farmers of the county. Their union has been blessed with fourteen children, only eight now living: Louisa W., Martha J., James H., William R., Calvin T., Samuel J., Andrew J., and John N. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have resided on their present farm since 1844, and are yet quite hale and vigorous. Mr. Smith was too old to take part in the late war, but his sons, Robert W. and William R. both served. The former died soon after enlisting, and the latter served four years. Previous to the war our subject was an old line Whig and did all is his power to prevent his State from seceding, but after it was inevitable he espoused the cause of the Confederacy. Since that time he has voted the Democratic ticket.

FamilySearch Tree profile:  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9MVX-MS1

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This biographical sketch was transcribed by Reita Jones Burress and posted on-line by Jane N. Powell on September 10, 1998, with the following caveat:

Not having a hard copy to proof read, errors will probably occur in the following document. Reita and I will correct them to the original Goodspeed from time to time. Thank you for your patience.

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