Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 5th ed., 1887,
Jessamine Co.

WILLIS B. SMITH, was born four miles west of Nicholasville September 4,
1823, and is the eldest son of Andrew and Sophia (Yost) Smith.  Andrew
Smith was born in Fayette, Ky., August 15, 1797; came to this county with
his parents when a child; was reared on a farm, and died December 20,
1877.  Sophia (Yost) Smith was born in Maryland July 19, 1799, and died
October 9, 1871.  Willis B. Smith was born, reared and still resides on
the farm.  In 1843 he commenced to teach school; taught one year in
Fayette County, Ky., also taught about three years in Jessamine County.
Tired of teaching he turned his attention to stock.  Going to the southern
part of the State he would buy up a drove of horses and mules, drive them
to the blue-grass region in Kentucky, and dispose of them; also bought and
sold cattle, sheep and hogs, in fact was a general stock man for three
years.  In 1859 he was appointed constable by the county court, and held
the office for eight years.  In 1866 he and Joseph Rutherford made the
race for sheriff of Jessamine County, with the understanding between them
that Mr. Rutherford should be sheriff and he sub-deputy, the salary to be
equally divided between them.  He was elected, and served two terms in
succession, his last term expiring in January, 1871.  In August, 1884,
he was elected sheriff, and has held the office with credit ever since.
He was married, November 8, 1864, to Elizabeth Burch, of Nicholasville,
daughter of E. and Rhoda (Davis) Burch, of Jessamine County.  One child
has blessed this union, Charlie M., born August 12, 1866.  He is the
present deputy sheriff under his father.  Mr. Smith owns 175 acres of land
in Lee District, four miles west of Nicholasville, and he and his wife are
members of the Christian Church.
     Thomas J. Smith was born four miles west of Nicholasville, May 22,
1828, and is the third son of Andrew and Sophia (Yost) Smith.  Thomas lived
on a farm until he was thirty-three years old, then sold goods fifteen
years in this county, and then farmed again.  He was married to Aggie E.
Mitchell May 22, 1861.  She was born in Bourbon County, Ky., daughter of
J. A. and Bettie (Wilson) Mitchell, of Fayette County, Ky.  Three children
were born to them, two living: Carrie L. (widow of S. B. Best) and W. A.
Mr. Smith, wife and daughter are members of the Christian Church, and he
owns 125 acres of land in Lee District.  Willis B. Smith's paternal and
maternal grandfathers, George Smith and George Yost, both came to Kentucky
from Maryland in the early settlement of Kentucky, and both were of German
descent.  Catherine Yost, his grandmother, also came from Maryland, and
bore the maiden name of Thomas.  His paternal grandmother, Eva Smith, was
a native of Fayette County, Ky., and she was the daughter of a Baptist
preacher, John Rice.

Smith Yost Mitchell Burch Davis Wilson Best Thomas Rice Rutherford
=
Bourbon-KY Fayette-KY MD

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jessamine/smith.wb.txt