Person Page 2,383

John Wesley Smith

Parents

Father	Benjamin Franklin Smith (b. 2 December 1787, d. 1 October 1848)
Mother	Margaret C. ("Unity") Dunn (b. 1800, d. after 1870)

Children with Lucinda Maynard (b. 1826)

Son	W Scott Smith (b. 1847)
Son	Meady Mays Smith (b. September 1849, d. 24 September 1933)
Son	John Wesley Smith (b. 1851, d. before 1880)
Daughter	Nancy Caroline Smith (b. 23 April 1858, d. 4 September 1932)
Daughter	Frances Catherine ("Cattie") Smith+ (b. June 1862, d. 12 October 1938)

Biography

Anecdote		John Wesley Smith is the son of Benjamin F. and Unity Smith. John Wesley Smith was born 1823 in Edgefield County, SC and Lucinda was born about 1826/1828. John and Lucinda’s children are BW or W Scott, Meady T, RWB, John Wesley,BB, Nancy Caroline, FC, SB and DB Smith. All were born at Fruit Hill, Edgefield County, South Carolina. According to the censuses John Wesley Smith was a farmer and an engineer. Family lore relates that he was a distiller whose whiskey was so good that during the Civil War the Union Army requested he make whiskey for them - an invitation he not so politely refused. (Family members had been killed during the Civil War.) Fearing reprisals he left South Carolina for Alabama arriving in Lee County in 1868. He and his family established themselves in Lee County as hardworking, honest people who have contributed to the growth, development and history of the county and state. Many of their descendants still reside in Alabama today. Census comparisons and children’s birth dates indicate they resided in Edgefield through 1866 and arrived in Alabama about 1868. Remember that David Loveless Rotten married Nancy Caroline Smith, sister of John Wesley Smith. David’s father, William Rotten/Roten/Roton died 1845 in Edgefield County. He married Catherine Cochroft and had a daughter, Lucinda, born 1826 to 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina. Both David and Lucinda are named in William’s 1845 will and I had thought it proof of John W. Smith’s wife, Lucinda’s, identity as his daughter. But Lucinda Smith is not the daughter of William Rotten or sister of David Rotten. This raises the question,“Who Is Lucinda, wife of John Wesley Smith?” This question is answered in detail in my book about the Smiths of Edgefield County The short answer is that Lucinda was born 1826 to 1828 in Edgefield County, South Carolina and is the daughter of John Maynard of Edgefield County, South Carolina and Jones County, Georgia. John Maynard died 1829 in Jones County, Georgia. John Minyard's will was written 28 August 1829 and names all his children including “my little Lucinda”, who was born 1826 to 1828. His will was proved 19 October 1829 in Jones County, Georgia and recorded there 4 January 1829. It is also recorded in Edgefield County South Carolina, Wills, p 204, 28 Aug 1829. John Minyard's will written 28 August 1829, proved 19 October 1829 in Jones County, Georgia (Will Book B, p 187-189) JOHN MINYARD Wife: not named Children: Elizabeth Minyard, Martha Ann Minyard, Tabitha Catherine Minyard, Lucinda Minyard,Jonathan O. Minyard, James Madina Minyard, George Washington Minyard Others mentioned: Brothers, James Minyard, Edwin Culbreath of SC, guardians; William S. Middlebrooks; Simpson Taylor Edgefield County, SC Wills, p 204, 28 Aug 1829 John Miniard (MAYNARD) 3 sons, Jonathan D. Miniard, James Madison Miniard, George Washington Miniard daughters: Elizabeth Miniard, Martha Ann L. Miniard, Tabetha Catharien Miniard, and “my little daughter”, Lucinda Miniard their mother:(unnamed) brother, James Miniard Brother-in-law, Edward Culbreath has lands in Jones co, Ga & several slaves ( will recorded there 4 Jan 1829) The marriage of J.W. Smith and Lucinda Maynard was performed on April 28, 1850 by Rev. A. P. Norris and was reported in The Edgefield Advertiser. (“Edgefield Marriage Records”, published by Carlee T. McClendon dated 1970 from The Edgefield Advertiser newspaper, family bibles, marriage bonds, and other published records. page 148) The will John Miniard naming Lucinda as “my little daughter” and the marriage report of J.W. Smith and Lucinda Maynard firmly establishes her identity as Lucinda Maynard, daughter of John Maynard and wife of John Wesley Smith.1
DNA Verified		13 DNA matches through John Wesley Smith
Birth	1823	He was born in 1823 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO.
Marriage	1846	He and Lucinda Maynard were married in 1846 in South Carolina, United StatesBGO.1,2
Residence	1850	He lived Age: 27 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO, in 1850.3
1850 Federal Census	24 October 1850	He appeared in the 1850 federal census on 24 October 1850 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1860	He lived Age: 33 in Saluda Regiment, Edgefield, South CarolinaBG, in 1860.4
1860 Federal Census	30 July 1860	He appeared in the 1860 federal census on 30 July 1860 in Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1870	He lived Age: 44 in Opelika, Opelika, Lee, Alabama, USABGO, in 1870.5
1870 Federal Census	8 August 1870	He appeared in the 1870 federal census on 8 August 1870 in Opelika, Lee, Alabama, United StatesBGO.
Death	between 1871 and 1880	He died between 1871 and 1880 in Lee, Alabama, United StatesBGO.

Citations

1. [S227] Information from Leila Mayberry (3411 Lee Road 166, Opelika, AL 36804). (.)
2. [S304] Griffin Family Tree, John Wesley Smith
3. [S239] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, Year: 1850; Census Place: Edgefield, Edgefield, South Carolina; Roll: M432_852; Page: 164A; Image: 332
4. [S242] Ancestry.com, 1860 United States Federal Census, Year: 1860; Census Place: Saluda Regiment, Edgefield, South Carolina; Roll: M653_1219; Page: 153; Family History Library Film: 805219
5. [S240] Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Opelika, Lee, Alabama; Roll: M593_23; Page: 274A; Image: 164924; Family History Library Film: 545522