Individual Details
John Henry Smith
(31 Aug 1855 - 19 Aug 1942)
News Paper 1850 Farmer's Almanac:
Remembers The Day His Father Was Shot During War:
One of the most familiar and fascinating Characters of North West North Carolina is a traveling Preacher, John Henry Smith, now in his eightie-sixth year. He make his home at Reidsville, Rockingham County and in spite his advanced years finds traveling helps his living. He is a member of the Primitive Baptist Little Vine Church near Hillsville, Va., and has been traveling over the Eastern part of the United States as a Preacher for the past 46 years. Above all his adventures and travels he talks freely of the day during the Civil War when his Father, a Union sympathizer, was shot and killed by his neighbors. The Smith Family lived on a 600-acre plantation in Virginia. It was there that Jack Smith the traveling preacher's Father, fed deserters from the army. He didn't believe in slavery and as the Civil War neared it's close his activities became known to members of the Virginia Home Guard. Then the fateful day came. The Home Guard, All Neighbors of the Smith Family, advanced on the plantation. They fired and the preacher's Father slumped to the ground, dying an hour later. The Union Sympathizer's cousin Dr. Bart Smith, was shot and instantly killed. Joe, a brother of the traveling preacher was shot through the knee but recovered. Smith recalled that seen as his mother was on her knees in the field over her husband who passed away only an hour later. The hatreds of the Civil War have longed disappeared. The 85 year old man recalls, but he still remembers vividly that day in 1864. He now travels "Preaching where ever God sends him" As he puts it. He has recently taken a trip to Florida. Smith had another unusual experience in his youth. He was just 13 years old when he made a chance visit to the house of a friend named White. There he saw a 2 week old baby girl in her cradle. The baby he later made his Wife-Mrs. Rhoda White Smith.
Post Civil War: Noah Shockley, who shot John's father, called him to his death bed to ask forgiveness. When John was ask, Did you forgive him? John replied, That's between Me, Him and the Lord.
Remembers The Day His Father Was Shot During War:
One of the most familiar and fascinating Characters of North West North Carolina is a traveling Preacher, John Henry Smith, now in his eightie-sixth year. He make his home at Reidsville, Rockingham County and in spite his advanced years finds traveling helps his living. He is a member of the Primitive Baptist Little Vine Church near Hillsville, Va., and has been traveling over the Eastern part of the United States as a Preacher for the past 46 years. Above all his adventures and travels he talks freely of the day during the Civil War when his Father, a Union sympathizer, was shot and killed by his neighbors. The Smith Family lived on a 600-acre plantation in Virginia. It was there that Jack Smith the traveling preacher's Father, fed deserters from the army. He didn't believe in slavery and as the Civil War neared it's close his activities became known to members of the Virginia Home Guard. Then the fateful day came. The Home Guard, All Neighbors of the Smith Family, advanced on the plantation. They fired and the preacher's Father slumped to the ground, dying an hour later. The Union Sympathizer's cousin Dr. Bart Smith, was shot and instantly killed. Joe, a brother of the traveling preacher was shot through the knee but recovered. Smith recalled that seen as his mother was on her knees in the field over her husband who passed away only an hour later. The hatreds of the Civil War have longed disappeared. The 85 year old man recalls, but he still remembers vividly that day in 1864. He now travels "Preaching where ever God sends him" As he puts it. He has recently taken a trip to Florida. Smith had another unusual experience in his youth. He was just 13 years old when he made a chance visit to the house of a friend named White. There he saw a 2 week old baby girl in her cradle. The baby he later made his Wife-Mrs. Rhoda White Smith.
Post Civil War: Noah Shockley, who shot John's father, called him to his death bed to ask forgiveness. When John was ask, Did you forgive him? John replied, That's between Me, Him and the Lord.
Events
| Birth | 31 Aug 1855 | Carroll County, Virginia | |||
| Marriage | 30 Mar 1886 | Sylvatus, Virginia - Rhoda Ann White | |||
| Death | 19 Aug 1942 | Reidsville, North Carolinia | |||
| News Paper | 1950 | North Carolinia, Farmers Almanac | |||
| Ordination | Traveling Primative Baptist Preacher. |
Families
| Spouse | Rhoda Ann White (1865 - 1954) |
| Child | Halafair Smith (1887 - 1900) |
| Child | Rebecca Armilla Smith (1889 - 1975) |
| Child | Mary Lee Smith (1889 - 1926) |
| Child | William Early Smith (1894 - 1983) |
| Child | Herman Clouade Smith (1897 - 1905) |
| Child | Chesterfield Smith (1902 - 1902) |
| Child | Elsie Marie Smith (1904 - 1997) |
| Father | John "Jack" P. Smith (1804 - 1863) |
| Mother | Rebecca Arminta Askeres (1824 - 1865) |
| Sibling | James Chesterfield "Chet" Smith (1843 - 1919) |
| Sibling | Ellen Smith (1859 - ) |
| Sibling | Steve Smith (1864 - ) |
| Sibling | Joe Smith ( - ) |
| Sibling | Mat Smith ( - ) |
| Sibling | Minty Smith ( - ) |
| Sibling | Lizz (Elizabeth) Smith ( - ) |
| Sibling | Sonny (Sainia) Smith ( - ) |