The Family of
James O. Smith

"In Loving Memory Of Those Who Came Before Us!"

James moved from Mississippi to Tennessee sometime before 1864.

He then moved on to Missouri sometime around 1871 where he lived the remainder of his life.

He was found in the 1890 and 1900 Federal Census living in Lynch Township, Texas County, Missouri.

James Smith married twice:

1. Unfortunately, his first wife's name is still unknown.

I believe that she was born in Tennessee or Mississippi.

His wife died when their daughter, Sarah,
was very young sometime between 1864-1869.

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2. James then remarried the second time to
Ellen [Surname Unknown] in 1869.

James Smith was 24 years old when the North and South took up arms against each other in the American Civil War.

The 1892 Special Census reports that James Smith was a Private in Company K in the 31st Illinois Infantry.

He enlisted in the spring of 1861 and deserted the Army in the summer of 1863. He was reinstated at Cairo, Illinois in 1863 and was a Private under Captain Reed.

He was discharged in the summer of 1865 at Cairo, Illinois.

James first wife [Name Unknown] died sometime between 1864-1869 when their daughter, Sarah, was very young.

James died sometime around 1905 in Texas County, Missouri.

It's believed that all the children except for the first one, Sarah, all lived and died in Missouri.

James Smith was a farmer.

Family tradition tells that he was called "Black Jim" because of his dark complexion.

He lived in in Lynch Township, Texas County, Missouri in a shack about one mile from the "Big Piney River." His shack was located near the mountains and canyons.

It is reported that James was a good friend to "Frank and Jessie James." He used to let them hide out at his shack once in awhile as it was "away from everything."

Updated July 10, 2000