JOHN W. SMITH was born June 3, 1847, in Union County, Ky., and is a son of Hiram H. Smith, who was born September 12, 1807, in Lincoln County, now Boyle County, Ky. His parents moved to the neighborhood of the present site of Nebo, and bought 700 acres of land, where they engaged in farming. About 1827 the father of our subject moved to Union County, and engaged in farming, but on account of ill health gave up farming and engaged in merchandising. In 1840 he was elected to the legislature and re-elected in 1860. In January, 1861, he removed to Dixon, and was elected circuit clerk, but failed to qualify on account of military interference. He was appointed by the court master commissioner and trustee of the jury fund, and was at one time president of the Farmers Bank of Webster County. He is now living a retired life at Dixon. John W. Smith, at the age of fourteen years, hired out as a farm hand, and worked in that capacity about two years. He then lived on a rented farm about one year, after which he bought twenty acres of land and continued farming, and, as means would allow, added to his possessions, and now owns about 600 acres of improved land, with a comfortable residence and out-buildings. He enlisted, in 1861, in the Confederate army, and served about one year. Mr. Smith was married in February, 1864, to Mary Mooney, of Webster County. This union has been blessed with eight children—four sons and four daughters. Their eldest son, Charles M., is now attending a second term at the St. Louis Medical College, with a view of becoming a member of the medical profession.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 1048.