Robert Allison Smith (abt. 1808 - abt. 1847)

Born about 1808 in Tennessee, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Louisa (Cate) Smith — married before 1831 in Washington Co, AR, USA

Descendants

Died about 1847 at about age 39 in Benton, Arkansas, United States

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Biography

Very little is known about R. A. Smith. From Troutman, below: "After marriage Allison Smith moved to Illinois, and after moving around for some time settled in Washington County, Arkansas, but moved from there to Benton County." Some of the family trees in Ancestry.com list his first name as Richard.

Preferred to be called "Allison." After coming to Arkansas, with the aid of his wife, went vigorously to work at his books and thus obtained a good education. He was afterwards appointed Justice of the Peace and held this position for two years -- holding the position at the time of his death.

Sources

• Goodspeed's Biographies for Benton County, Arkansas: 1889 (Rootsweb.com), 209 et. al.

• Margaret Ann Smith Troutman, Descendants of Mark Smith (Benton Co. Pioneer, Vol. 1, No. 1, Nov. 1955, p. 7), Benton Co. Public Library.

• Margaret Ann (Smith) Troutman, Smith-Cates Families of Northwest Arkansas, The (Fayetteville, Arkansas, Washington County Historical Society, 1963), Library of Dale & Sara Burns, 34 pages, softbound. Cate(s) family: pp 1-5; Smith family: pp 6-34.

According to a letter by Aunt Bettie Weldon, Robert Allison Smith was Cherokee, but also was descended in some way from Black Hawk of the Sac (or Sauk) and Fox tribes. Allison's daughter, Martha, made an attempt to find the line. She was not successful. With all the records available now, perhaps another search should be attempted. Martha thought that either a child or grandchild of Black Hawk married a Cherokee who was an ancestor of the Smiths, and later the Weldons. Martha mentioned a female ancestor called "Ha-lo-chee" or "Hi-lochee." Usually family tales are based on fact in some small way, but we don't 'know if this one is true. (UNABLE TO PROVE)

She stated that he was born in 1808 in her research notes. Source information Margaret A. Troutman, The Smith-Cates Families of NW AK

June Weldon Browning, research notes

1840; Census Place: Cannon, Tennessee; Roll: 519; Page: 130; Family History Library Film: 0024543 Indicates born 1810

1850: The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Bolivar, Poinsett, Arkansas; Roll: 29; Page: 212b. Indicates born 1810.

1860: The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: District 15, Franklin, Tennessee; Roll: M653_1249; Page: 191; Family History Library Film: 805249 Age 47, indicates born 1813.

Marriage to Louisa Cates: The Smith-Cates Families of NW AR, Margaret Ann Troutman

Arkansas, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1818-1998 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Administrators Bonds and Letters, 1839-1866 Guardian Bond (not a will)

Goodspeed's Biographies for Benton County, Arkansas: 1889 (Rootsweb.com), 209 et. al.