Person:George Smith (349)

Excerpt from Goodspeed's History of Tennessee County Histories:

Reuben Smith, merchant, is a native of Decatur County, born February 10, 1847, and the son of George W. and Jane (White) Smith, both natives of Decatur County. The father resided on the old home place settled by his father, until about 1850, when he removed to Lexington and began merchandising. In 1860 he returned to the old farm and lived there three years. He removed to Decaturville in 1865, and entered into a partnership with Young & Storm, in the general merchandise business. He remained with this firm until 1874,when he began business with his son Reuben under the firm name of G.. W. Smith & Son. He remained in business until his death in December, 1883. The mother yet resides on the old home place. Her family consisted of twelve children, six of whom are now living. John Smith, our subjects' grandfather, came from South Carolina at an early day, and settled on Panther Creek, six miles southwest of Decaturville, where he reared a large family. Reuben White, the maternal grandfather of our subject, came from North Carolina about the time of the settlement of John Smith, and located on Rushing Creek, four miles south of Decaturville. Our subject is the eldest child born to his parenots. He was reared on the farm, and at the time of the breaking out of the war was attending the Decaturville Academy; but at this time all the schools were closed, consequently his education was not completed. Soon after the conclusion of the war he began clerking in the dry good store of Young, Storm & Smith, and in 1874 became a partner, with his father in a general mercantile business, which he has continued up to the present. In 1887 he wedded Miss Penelope Yarbro, daughter of Dr. A. M. Yarbro. She died May 8, 1883, leaving, a family of six children: Emma (Mrs. William Brasher), Ernest, May and Charlie; Ella and Reuben are deceased. February, 1884, Mr. Smith married Miss Flora Jones, daughter of Dr. T. W. Jones of Decaturville. For a number of years our subject has been one of the leading merchants of Decaturville. He is a Democrat, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for the past twenty-one years. He is a prominent Mason [a Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason of the York Rite], Lodge No. 218, and also a K of H [Knights of Honor, a fraternal order and secret society in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century].

See Reuben Smith's grave marker at FindAGrave

George Reuben Smith Will 1 of 2

George Reuben Smith Will 2 of 2

Love Letter to Flora Jones (1 of 3)

Love Letter to Flora Jones (2 of 3)

Love Letter to Flora Jones (3 of 3)