John L Smith (1821 - 1868)

Born 1 Jul 1821 in White Rock, Marion, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1 Aug 1868 at age 47 in Reynolds, Reynolds, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Veronica Dooling [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1821. John Smith ... He passed away in 1868. ^[1]

Can you add any information on John Smith? Please help grow his WikiTree profile. Everything you see here is a collaborative work-in-progress.

"John L. Smith One of the early pioneers of Pine Valley, Reynolds County, Missouri, was John L. Smith. His birth occurred July 1, 1821, in Virginia to Isaac M. and Matilda Elliott Smith. Isaac was a circuit-riding minister, who preached the gospel from Whiterock, Virginia, to Campbell County, Tennessee, where he and Matilda finally settled around 1828. Thirteen children were the fruits of this union, seven sons and six daughters, as follows: Richard, John L. (subject), Polly, Franky, Rebecca, Rhodes, Jerry Leon, Bailey, Lucinda, Onva, Martha, Malinda and Ewel. John L. grew to manhood in Campbell County, Tennessee. On November 15, 1840, he married Nancy Ann Whitecotton. Nancy was the daughter of Aaron and Nancy Hatfield Whitecotton. A son and daughter, Bailey (born November 10, 1841) and Frances (born April 5, 1843), were born to John and Nancy before they immigrated to Missouri. They made the trip to Missouri from Tennessee in 1844 with ox team and came with quite a company of Nancy Ann's relatives, the Whitecottons, Chitwoods and Thompsons, all of whom settled in Shannon County, Missouri, which later became part of Reynolds County.

John L. settled on a farm presently known as the Staats' farm in Kelly Valley, Missouri.

The name of the valley was later changed to Pine Valley because of the virgin pine trees.

Through hard work and perseverance John L. became the owner of a good farm and was a large dealer in livestock.

After settling in Missouri, nine children were born to John and Nancy.

The 11 children of the union are Bailey, married Juveline Reed; Francis, married 1) John S. Barnes, 2) John Helvey; Daniel Carpenter, married Dicy Hampton; Isaac M., married Mary Reed; Calvin Edward, married Prissila Helvey; Tennessee, married James Baker,; Missouri, died when three years of age; Franklin, married Mary Josie Cosgrove; Vetile, married Margaret Hampton; Matilda, died when six years of age; and Nancy Ann, married Edward Wilkins.

In the late 1890s three of John L.'s children, Franklin, Tennessee and Nancy Ann, and their families moved to Johnson County, Texas.

Later Franklin and Tennessee settled around Fort Worth while Nancy Ann settled in Hale County.

All the other children remained in Reynolds County following the farming profession.

John and Nancy Smith were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and one of the most prominent couples in the county.

Politically, John L. was a Democrat but took no part in the Civil War.

However, his son Bailey served in the Confederate Army for three years. He ws taken prisoner and held three months at Pilot Knob, MIssouri.

John L. died August 1, 1868, in the prime of his life.

He is buried on the home place (Smith Cemetery) on Pine Valley, MIssouri.

Nancy lived a longer life, died March 8, 1886, age 65 and she, too, is buried in the Smith Cemetery beside her husband.

The sons of John L. and Nancy chose farming as their occupation and at one time owned the farms on Pine Valley from present-day Fairchild farm to the Reynolds County/Carter County line.

_UID: 4ED24419B45540308AED24AAC9E3B59A3638

Change Date: 25 Apr 2014 at 06:34

Sources

No sources. The events of John's life were either witnessed by Veronica Dooling or Veronica plans to add sources here later.

Find A Grave Memorial# 27469532

Footnotes

Burial: Smith Pine Valley Cemetery Reynolds County Missouri, USA

Created by: Olivia Dalessandro Record added: Jun 10, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 27469532

1. ↑ Entered by Veronica Dooling, Sunday, December 22, 2013.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Veronica Dooling for creating Smith-55884 on 22 Dec 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Veronica and others.

Articles submitted by: Barbara West Smith, and Paul g Smith ,Charles e Smith: Change Date: 16 June 2015 at 04:20:am