Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904, pp 569-571 [McCracken] JOHN D. SMITH, M. D., of Paducah, is one of the oldest and most skillful physicians of western Kentucky, and is known throughout all Kentucky and other states for the active part he has taken in recent years in connection with and in behalf of the Prohibition movement. He is a native of North Carolina. In Anson county of that state he was born, March 18, 1829, of excellent parentage and ancestry. His parents were John A. and Lucy (Williams) Smith, both natives of the county in which their son was born, as one of thirteen children. When John D. Smith was a lad of nine years his parents emigrated westward and settled in Henderson county, Tennessee. He was reared on the farm amidst pioneer scenes, and was given a common school education. He began the study of medicine under the instructions of a practicing physician, and, becoming fitted in this way for the practice of medicine, began his professional career in Benton county, Tennessee. After a practice of four years, Dr. Smith entered the Memphis Medical College, and in 1854 was graduated therefrom. Then locating at Friendship, Tennessee, he continued there for a few year, and then removed to Dyersburg, Tennessee, where he resided and practiced medicine up to 1886, in which year he located in Paducah, Kentucky, which city has since been his place of residence, and here he has continued in an active practice, interrupted only by his services in behalf of prohibition. In 1861 Dr. Smith enlisted in the Confederate army, as a private, but soon after the enlistment was made assistant surgeon, and not much later promoted to rank of surgeon of, first, the Forty-seventh Tennessee Regiment, and later of the Twenty-ninth Tennessee Regiment. Subsequently he was transferred to the hospital department, and his service continued nearly to the close of the war. The Doctor is a member of the Southwestern Kentucky Medical Society, and fraternally is a Royal Arch Mason. For nearly a half century he has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, serving as steward of the church most of this time. In early life he supported the men and measures of the Whig political party, but on the close of the war between the states he acted in matters political with the Democratic party. In 1884 he cast his last vote for the men and measures of the Democratic party. Since then he has been an ardent supporter of the Prohibition party. Always a close student of public measures and questions, he became convinced of the dreadful consequences of intemperance and the liquor traffic, deeming it a menace to the welfare of the individual and consequently to society, to the state and the nation. At the Kentucky state Prohibition convention, held in August of 1900, he was honored by an election to the chairmanship of the Kentucky state Prohibition executive committee. He has since continued as chairman of the committee, and under his administration much effectual work has resulted, and gratifying progress of the cause has followed, the vote of the party having increased steadily, and the support of hundreds of the very best men of the state has been enlisted. To Dr. Smith's wise, consistent and well directed efforts is due the splendid organization of the party as it now exists in Kentucky. The party is being rapidly organized in every county and community of the state, and in the fall of 1902 the party had a ticket in every congressional district in Kentucky. As an organizer and campaigner Dr. Smith possesses rare accomplishments. As a thinker and writer he has contributed much to Prohibition literature which has already given fruitage of much good in way of educating the people and creating a sentiment favorable to the cause of prohibition. In his personal relations Dr. Smith is of a deportment calculated to win admiration and friendship. His home life is equally praiseworthy. Fifty years ago he was united in marriage with Miss Vetury White, a native of Tennessee. To him his wife has been an invaluable and devoted helpmeet [sic]. To their marriage were born eleven children, four of whom have passed away in death. Their children were given good educational advantages, and taught lessons of useful industry and moral and religious truths. Certainly the life of Dr. Smith is well worthy of emulation, and in the realm of biography a sketch of his consistent life deserves recognition. Smith Williams White = Anson-TN Henderson-TN Benton-TN http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/mccracken/smith.jd.txt