Alexander Campbell Smith (1833 - 1913)

Born 10 Dec 1833 in Lincoln County, Kentucky, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (McCarty) Smith — married 27 Aug 1857 in Marion, Illinois, United States

Husband of Martha M (Gibson) Smith — married 7 Aug 1866 in Marion, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 5 Sep 1913 at age 79 in Centralia, Marion Co., Illinois

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Biography

Self-reliance and honorable business methods have been the salient features in the career of the subject of this sketch and his life record contains many standard elements. He is one of the old and highly respected citizens of Carrigan township. Alexander C. Smith was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, December 10, 1833, the son of Robert Smith, who came to Kentucky in 1796, and to Marion county in 1840, when the subject was seven years old. He entered government land upon his arrival for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, settling east of Omega, near the Clay county line. He was a great stock raiser and became one of the substantial citizens of that community, but he took no part in public life, although one of the influential pioneers of the county. When he located here the nearest trading point was Salem, which consisted of but a few houses; most of the trading by the residents here was done in St. Louis. The father of the subject died in 1882 in this county. Our subject drove a yoke of oxen to the plow. The subject's mother, Catherine Eastham, was born in Virginia and died when the subject was a small boy, he being one of fourteen children and the eighth in order of birth. Alexander C. Smith started life for himself when eighteen years old, having received a limited education enjoying few ad- vantages to attend school in those early days. He learned carpentry and worked at his trade until the commencement of the Civil war when he gave way to his patriotic fervor and enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, under command of Doctor Rainey, of Salem, who was captain of that company, later serving under Captain Clark and Colonel Martin. He was in the ranks until the close of the war and saw hard service. He lost an arm at the battle of Atlanta, Georgia and was also shot in the breast at the same time. Being captured at that time he was taken as a prisoner to Andersonville, where he remained four months and was then paroled and sent home on account of the loss of his arm. He was in the battles of Resaca, New Hope Church, Dallas and Kenesaw Mountain. He says he did nothing but fight for four months. He receives a pension. After returning from the war he engaged in the mercantile business in Odin, this county, for about three years. From there he came to Carrigan township and has made his home here for over forty years in the corner of the township. When he moved here the township was laid out and named. His land lies in sections n and 14. Mr. Smith was united in marriage in Marion county, in 1857, with Martha McCarty. His wife was a native of Indiana, and came to Marion county with her parents when ten years old, settling in the northeast corner of the county. Eight children were born to the subject and wife as follows: Alice, born in 1858, married Louis Cline. They are the parents of six children and live in Tonti township; Margaret, the second child, was born in 1860, and married Samuel Galiant. They have four children living and one daughter dead. Ellen, the third child, was born in 1862, married John Warren. They live in Marion county; four children, all deceased, were born to them. Eddie, the subject's fourth child, was bornin 1867. He married Dora Westfall; they have four children living and three deceased. They live in Oklahoma. Isaac, the fifth child, was born in 1870. He married Lillie Summers. They live in the state of Washington, and are the parents of six children living and two children deceased. Mary, the sixth child, was born in 1873. She married Charles I. Harris. They live with the subject and are the parents of three children. The seventh child of the subject is Levi H., who was born in 1877. He married Viola Chitister. They live in Arkansas and have one child. Martha E., the youngest child, was born in 1884. She married Edgar Sparling. They live in Carrigan township, and are the parents of four children. Charles I. Harris, the husband of Mary Smith, is a native of West Virginia, where he lived for many years. He has lived in this township for the past seventeen years. Their children are named: Clara, who was born in 1894; Robert L., who was born in 1896, and Samuel L., who was born in 1900. They keep house for the subject, and Mr. and Mrs. Harris delight in taking care of the subject. Mr. Smith took the census of Carrigan township in 1880. He was a committeeman of the township for fifteen years. He is a well-known man in the county, where his life has been honorably spent.

Sources

• Brinkerhoff, J. H. G. “BRINKERHOFF’S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY ILLINOIS”, Indianapolis, Indiana: 1909.

• 1850 United States Federal Census

1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Residence

1860 United States Federal Census 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Residence

1870 United States Federal Census 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Residence

1880 United States Federal Census 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Residence

1900 United States Federal Census 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Marriage, Residence

1910 United States Federal Census 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Residence

Ancestry Family Trees This citation provides evidence for Alexander Campbell Smith

Illinois, Public Land Purchase Records, 1813-1909 1 citation provides evidence for Name

U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Military

U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Military, Residence

U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Death, Burial

Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012 1 citation provides evidence for Name, Birth, Death, Burial