His epitaph is carved on his headstone, front and back. It reads: "In memory of Humphrey Smith, Born in 1774, Died June 1857. Like leaves on trees the race of man is found, Now green in youth, now withering on the ground; So generations in their course decay, So perish these when those have passed away. This patriot came to Missouri in 1816 from the state of New York; labored to make the territory into a Free State, for which he was mobbed by armed slaveholders, scourged, bruised, and dragged at midnight from his house. His ever faithful wife, coming to his assistance, received injuries at the hands of the mob which caused her years of affliction. He was compelled to leave the State. His wife and family fled from Howard County to Carroll County; there joining his family, he moved to Clay County, where for many years he kept up the struggle against the 'negro thieves or man stealers.' They denounced him as an Abolitionist, because he was in favor of human liberty for all men. His request was 'Never let the men stealers know where I am buried until my State is free, then write my epitaph.' Here lies Humphrey Smith, who was in favor of human rights, universal liberty, equal and exact justice, no union with slaveholders, free States, free people, union of States, and one and universal Republic."
For additional bio data, go to:
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~moclay/bio1.html
For additional bio data, go to:
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~moclay/bio1.html
His epitaph is carved on his headstone, front and back. It reads: "In memory of Humphrey Smith, Born in 1774, Died June 1857. Like leaves on trees the race of man is found, Now green in youth, now withering on the ground; So generations in their course decay, So perish these when those have passed away. This patriot came to Missouri in 1816 from the state of New York; labored to make the territory into a Free State, for which he was mobbed by armed slaveholders, scourged, bruised, and dragged at midnight from his house. His ever faithful wife, coming to his assistance, received injuries at the hands of the mob which caused her years of affliction. He was compelled to leave the State. His wife and family fled from Howard County to Carroll County; there joining his family, he moved to Clay County, where for many years he kept up the struggle against the 'negro thieves or man stealers.' They denounced him as an Abolitionist, because he was in favor of human liberty for all men. His request was 'Never let the men stealers know where I am buried until my State is free, then write my epitaph.' Here lies Humphrey Smith, who was in favor of human rights, universal liberty, equal and exact justice, no union with slaveholders, free States, free people, union of States, and one and universal Republic."
For additional bio data, go to:
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~moclay/bio1.html
For additional bio data, go to:
http://sites.rootsweb.com/~moclay/bio1.html
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