Van Buren Smith (1835 - 1914)

Born 29 Nov 1835 in Smith, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Martha Jane (Byrn) Smith — married 21 Dec 1859 in Benton, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Mary Jane Elizabeth (Gray) Smith — married 23 Sep 1879 in Union, Mississippi, United States

Descendants

Died 29 Sep 1914 at age 78 in Lafayette, Mississippi

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Biography

Van was born in 1835. He was the son of Nevels Smith and Rebecca Harper. Van Buren Smith served briefly in 1864 for the CSA in the 20th Tennessee Cavalry under General Nathan Bedford Forrest and Captain William Boles. He apparenly suffered from rheumatism and was discharged from duty late in 1864. His cemetery marker states that he served for the CSA in Company C of the 50th Tennessee Infantry.

The earliest reference to Van Buren Smith in Lafayette County is the 1874 Tax Roll, where he is listed on page 89 as having 1 horse ($50), 2 mules ($150), and 1 carriage ($35). He paid one poll tax. On his Confederate Pension Application, he stated in 1913 that he had been in Mississippi for 38 years, so he must have just arrived in 1874.

Van Buren and Mary Jane Smith are buried at Kingdom Presbyterian Cemetery along with two of their sons, William Oscar Smith and Richard Walton Smith. He passed away in 1914.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch, Vanburen Smith in household of Neuels H Smith, Benton county, Benton, Tennessee, United States; citing family 553, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch, Vanburen Smith, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 22, family 158, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,969.

• "Mississippi Marriages, 1800-1911," database, FamilySearch, V. B. Smith and Mollie Gray, 23 Sep 1879; citing Union,Mississippi; FHL microfilm 897,777.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch, Van B Smith, Beat 1, Union, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district ED 200, sheet 207A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0666; FHL microfilm 1,254,666.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch, Van B Smith, Beat 5 (part of) Lafayette Springs town, Lafayette, Mississippi, United States; citing sheet 11A, family 187, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,240,814.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch, Van B Smith, Beat 4, Lafayette, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 32, sheet 11A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,758.