History of Daviess County, Kentucky, Inter-State Publishing Co., 
Chicago, 1883.  Reprinted by McDowell Publications, Utica, KY, 1980.  p. 
653.

WILLIS SMITH, son of E. F. and Nancy V. Smith, was born in Muhlenburg 
County, Ky., Feb. 6, 1853; entered the public school at five years of 
age, and attended school constantly for some seven years.  After that 
time for several years he worked on the farm in the summer and went to 
school during the winter.  In September, 1869, he entered the high 
school at Greenville, Ky., and continued going to school there through 
the winter, working on the farm through the summer, till 1873.  He 
professed faith in Christ about 1867, and in April, 1872, became a 
candidate for the ministry, under the care of Anderson Presbytery, of 
Cumberland Presbyterian church.  In October, 1872, he was licensed to 
preach the gospel.  In September, 1873, he entered McGee College, 
College Mound, Mo., returning to Muhlenburg County, Ky., July, 1874; was 
married to Miss Mollie Benton, of Paradise, Ky., Aug. 18, 1874.  Neither 
he nor his wife had a dollar when married, and he was in debt $150 on 
his last years' schooling.  He was ordained to the full work of the 
ministry in 1874, and since that time has been actively and constantly 
engaged in the work of the ministry in the bounds of Anderson and Ohio, 
but most of the time in Ohio Presbytery.  He is living at present a mile 
and a half south of Owensboro, Ky., and preaching to six congregations 
in the Ohio Presbytery; has always found plenty of work in the Master's 
Vineyard.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five children, three sons and two 
daughters.

Smith Benton 
=
Muhlenburg-KY MO

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/smith.w.txt