Biography of George B. Smith

George B. Smith, born in South Carolina in 1845, became a farmer in Montgomery County, Kansas after moving there in 1896. He served in the Civil War, enduring captivity at Andersonville before rejoining his regiment for key battles. After the war, he farmed in Indiana and Kansas, contributing to his community as a school board member and active church participant. Married in 1878, he had four children and was well-respected in Montgomery County, where he planned to spend the rest of his life.

GEORGE B. SMITH—George B. Smith, a farmer of Sycamore township, and a citizen of the county since 1896, is a South Carolinian by birth and an Indianian by adoption. Born December 14th, 1845, in Anderson district, he left the “Palmetto State” with his parents at the age of five years and became a resident of Boone county, Indiana. Here he grew to manhood—the war interfering somewhat with his education, so far as book-knowledge goes—but giving him an opportunity to take lessons in that greater, and in some respects, more important school—the school of experience. Many a boy left the school-room in those days with but a smattering of “book larnin’” and graduated from Uncle Sam’s Technical School in 1865, with that broad culture which comes with travel and association with kindred minds. Mr. Smith enrolled in this school on the 22nd of December, 1863, becoming a member of Company “F,” 40th Ind. Vol. Inft., Col. John W. Blake commanding.

This regiment mobilized with the Fourth Army Corps and reached Sherman’s army in time to participate in the battle of Resaca, and shortly after at Buzzard’s Roost. At the spectacular fight at Kenesaw Mt., Mr. Smith’s enthusiasm carried him within the enemy’s lines and he became an unwilling hostage at dreaded Andersonville. Owing to the fact that “Uncle Billy” had gathered up a few of the Confederates, which Hood thought he might need on his trip north, exchange became possible, and Mr. Smith was thus compelled to experience the horrors of that noted resort but a short time. He rejoined the army in time to help General Thomas administer the two castigations at Franklin and Nashville, and then spent the remainder of his service in the Southwest, not being mustered out until January of 1866, that event occurring at Texana, Texas.

After the war, our subject returned to Indiana, and after a period in his home county, in 1871 he moved over into Carroll Co., Ind. Here he engaged in farming until 1876, and then came to the “Sunflower State.” Up to 1896, he farmed in Jefferson, Elk and Labette counties, in which latter year he settled in Montgomery county.

Mr. Smith is a gentleman of good sense, popular in his community, and active in all that promises well for the people. He has been a member of the school board for the past five years, is a working member of the Christian church, and is, of course, a member of the Grand Army.

Mentioning the salient points in Mr. Smith’s family history we note that he is a son of Thomas G. Smith, who was born in South Carolina, and is one of twelve children. Their names as far as known being George W., Nancy, Thomas, Millie and Joseph.

Thomas G. Smith was born in Pickens district, South Carolina, January 22nd, 1811, was there reared and at maturity married Jane, daughter of George Braswell. This lady was a native of that state and was born November 11, 1817. She became the mother of fifteen children, seven living to maturity; their names being: Caron E. Franks, of Mulvane, Kansas; Nancy J. Moore, of Montgomery county; Camilla E. Decker, of Claypool, Indiana; George B., Sarah C. Thompson, of Hopeton, Ok.; Miranda A. Coppock, of Hamilton county, Indiana, and Madison S., who resides in the same county.

George B. Smith, the honored subject of this review, married in Kansas on the 30th of June, 1878, Rachel E. Wilkerson. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of J. C. and Eliza Wilkerson, all natives of Kentucky. To her husband she has borne four children—Charles L. resides in Independence, Kansas; John T. in Montgomery county, as also do Inez and Lulu, the latter at home and the former the wife of Homer L. Bretches.

Mr. Smith and his family are highly regarded in the county of their adoption, where they expect to pass the remainder of their days.