Lindsey Thomas SMITH biography
Wayne County West Virginia Biography of Lindsey Thomas SMITH


          Lindsey Thomas SMITH was a son of John Smith, who was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina, November 14, 179~, and was left an orphan at the age of 2 years. When 12 years old John Smith emigrated from the place of his birth with an aunt to what is now West Virginia, settling near the mouth of Whites creek, this county. At the age of 21 he married Elizabeth Vaughan, who was born in Russell county, Virginia, November 15, 1796. In 1825 he purchased 245 acres of land at Round Bottom for $645 and settled there. By industry and good management he became possessed of all the desirable land in the vicinity and died New Years Day 1858 on the homestead he had founded. His widow, the mother of nine children, is now living close by the homestead, which she still owns. She is 87 years of age, in the enjoyment of good health, and with unimpaired faculties. There are five generations of the family now living about her, she representing the first; her six surviving children representing the second generation; there were 45 grandchildren, 31 still living representing the third generation; 89 great-grandchildren, 71 of whom are living and representing the fourth generation; and 15 great-great-grandchildren, 13 of whom live to represent the fifth generation, giving a total offspring of 158; 131 now living. Of this great number, no one was a cripple or deformed, and no one a criminal, but all are worthy and esteemed members of the community.

         Lindsey T. Smith married Keren Chadwick, who was born in Wayne county on August 28, 1830, and his birth was at Round Bottom, this county on October 26, 1825. She was a daughter of Hiram and Leah (Richardson) Chadwick, who settled in Wayne county in 1830. Her father was born in Lawrence county, Kentucky, January 5, 1799, and died in Wayne county November 17, 1848. Her mother was born October 12, 1806, in Cecil county, Maryland. The marriage of Lindsey T. Smith was solemnized in Wayne county, June 6, 1847, and its fruit was four children: Helen Frances, born September 24, 1848, lives at Sandy City, Boyd county, Kentucky; John Erwin, August 6, 1850, died August 16, 1851; Leah M., May 19, 1852, died January 29, 1876; and Henrietta, October 7, 1853, lives at Round Bottom. Mr. Smith was commissioner of Wayne county, 1880-2, and member of the board of supervisors, 1866-8. He owns 800 acres of valuable land, 700 acres improved, his residence and farm buildings among the finest in the county. He is an extensive stock raiser and dealer, and a man of great business ability, possessing and deserving the confidence of the entire community. His address is Round Bottom, Wayne county, West Virginia.


    Submitted by Marilyn Gouge and extracted from Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia, Wayne County, WV, Biographies List, 1884.

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