Xenephon was born in Maine, the son of John T. Smith and Mary A. Bates. He had six brothers and seven sisters. He came to Minneapolis in 1854 He served as a private in the Civil War in the Minnesota 11th Regiment Infantry, Company F. He married Annie Oakes. He was a landscape gardener.
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Alexandria Post News,
Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota
Thursday, June 22, 1899, Supplement, page 1, col. 3.

Xenophen A. Smith.

Another of Minneapolis’ oldest settlers is gone to eternal rest in the person of Xenophen A. Smith, who died at 6 o’clock last evening Mr. Smith came of a family of 14 children, 7 sons and 7 daughters. All of the brothers were in the civil war and two of them laid down their lives in that struggle. Of the brothers only two are now living. Dr. A. T. Smith, Minneapolis, Daniel F. Smith, Monarch, Mont., Mrs. L. T. Clark, Hendly, Texas, Mrs. L. M. Lane, Phoenix, Ariz., Mrs. G. W. Avery, Alexandria, Minn., Mrs. L. A. Dunn, Mrs. W. A. Fisher, Minneapolis, are the sisters living. The deceased was born in Maine, Sept. 13, 1830, and came to Minneapolis in 1854. In the Indian wars of 1862-3, he acted as a volunteer scout, and afterwards joined Co.F., 11th Minn. Vols., serving during 1864 5. Among the old settlers of the city, he was well known and universally esteemed.—Minneapolis Tribune, May 6.

As commander of Co. F, 11th Minn. Vol. Inf. During its service in the south in 1864-5, I cheerfully add my testimony to the foregoing from the Tribune. Mr. Smith was a model soldier, always correct, clean, and tidy. Realizing the first duty of a soldier to be obedience, he was cheerful in the performance of all duties devolving upon him. Firm in his friendship and kind to all, he commanded the respect of all who knew him. If any hazardous or difficult duty was required, he was always among the first to volunteer for such service. He knew his duty and he did it well.
CAPT. JAMES SHAVER.