HISTORY OF KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS, E. Polk Johnson, three volumes, Lewis
Publishing Co., New York & Chicago, 1912. Common version, 
Vol. III, pp. 1238-39.   [Bourbon County]

JUDGE HENRY CLAY SMITH--One of the foremost of American poets and authors,
Oliver Wendell Holmes, many years ago penned the lines,
     "There was a young fellow of excellent pith,
     Fate tried to obscure him by naming him Smith."
And in the case of Judge Henry Clay Smith, as in that of the subject of the
ode, Fate has been worsted in her nefarious designs.  In every walk of
life, in law and in agricultural operations of the most enlightened
character as a worthy and representative citizen of Bourbon county, his is
well-known and honored.
     Judge Henry Clay Smith was born in North Middletown Precinct, Bourbon
county, June 16, 1848.  His parents, Algernon S. and Amanda F. (Thomas)
Smith, were both of them not only natives of the Blue Grass state, but the
father was also a native of Bourbon county where his eyes first opened to
the light of day, May 16, 1809, the year which gave to America a bevy of
her greatest men.  The birth of the mother occurred in Montgomery county,
December 27, 1828.  Her grandfather, William Thomas, came from Culpeper
county, Virginia, and a more extended account of the family is given in
the sketch of Hon. Claude M. Thomas on other pages of this work.  Algernon
S. Smith was a son of Weathers Smith, who was a native of Fairfax county,
Virginia, and when a young man (in 1785) he immigrated to Bourbon county
where he made his home until his demise.  He married a young woman of the
same name, Miss Lydia Smith, a daughter of Withers Smith, who was an early
settler of Bourbon county.  To Weathers Smith and Lydia Smith one child
was born, namely Algernon S., who was the father of Judge Smith, the
subject of this review.
     Algernon S. Smith and Amanda F. Thomas were married in Montgomery
county, Kentucky, October 1, 1846, after which they settled on Strodes
Creek, about three miles west of North Middletown, and there made their
home until their death, both dying with Asiatic cholera, he on September
18, 1852, and his wife October 2, of the same year.  They were the parents
of of two children--Henry Clay, the eldest; and Algernon S., who was born
March 20, 1850, and died September 10, 1872.
     Judge Henry Clay Smith received his literary education at the Stony
Point Academy under Professor John W. Fox and later matriculated in the
Kentucky University at Lexington, now known as Transylvania University.
After finishing his education he returned to farming and has ever since
continued in that vocation.  He was married in Clark county, Kentucky,
October 21, 1869, to Miss Nannie C. Rice, who was born in Bourbon county,
March 24, 1850, daughter of Harvey W. and Lodusca (Wright) Rice, early
settlers and among the prominent people of their county.  To the union of
Judge Smith and his wife were born two children, Allie, born January 26,
1873, widow of R. H. Dickson, makes her home with her father.  She has
one child, Stanley Smith Dickson, born July 30, 1897.  Judge Smith's son,
Henry S., born September 14, 1878, died February 23, 1895.
     In August 1882, Judge Smith was elected justice of the peace of North
Middletown precinct and served until he was elected county judge in May,
1899, to fill the unexpired term of Judge William Purnell and in the
regular election in November, 1901, he was elected to the same office and
served until January 1, 1906.  During the time he was in office the new
court house was built at a cost of $165,000.  Since his retirement he has
devoted his time and capabilities to farming and stock-raising. He owns a
fine farm of six hundred acres with a beautiful modern home, located on the
North Middletown and Thatcher's Mills turnpike, and about two and one-half
miles south of North Middletown.  His homestead is known as "Oakland" and
is considered the best farm in the precinct and of the best in the county.
In connection with general farming and the feeding of export cattle, Judge
Smith breeds to some extent thoroughbred saddle horses.
     Judge Smith and his wife are members of the Christian church and he is
a member of the Masonic fraternity, Washington Lodge, No. 79, of North
Middletown and of North Middletown Chapter, No. 26, while he likewise holds
membership in the Coeur de Lion Commandery, No. 26, of Paris, Kentucky. He
is affiliated also with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Paris
Lodge, No. 373.
     Judge Smith and his household are to be numbered among the best and
most highly respected citizens of the county.  They are public spirited
and altruistic, ever ready to give their support to any measure likely to
result in the greatest good to the greatest number.

Smith Thomas Rice Wright Dickson Purnell
=
Lexington-Fayette-KY Culpeper-VA Fairfax-VA Montgomery-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/bourbon/smith.hc.txt