Andrew Jackson Smith and Mary Wadsworth married Sep 25 1851 in Rusk County, Texas
Andrew Jackson Smith became the first Judge of Rusk County, Texas under the present Constitution of the State of Texas. He was the Judge when his brother, Birt's will was probated in 1863. Andrew J. Smith became a merchant later.
A. J. Smith.
Judge A. J. Smith, who died at his home in Overton Dec. 30th, 1899, was born in Pike county, Tennessee, September, 1827.
He came to Texas in 1837, with his father, Gen. Smith, who with a large family, settled in Nacogdoches county, near the present county seat. After remaining there a few years the family moved to Rusk county and settled near where Sentell now lives, there being at that time no such town as Henderson and but a few white persons living north of Nacogdoches.
He grew to manhood with the barest opportunities of obtaining an education. While the new country afforded unexplored fields, boundless in extent and rich in adventure, and fascinating beyond description to the pioneer, yet the school house, the field, the orchard, the cottage, and the house of worship, existed only in the minds of the brave fathers and mothers who were busy protecting themselves and their children from savages. Under such unfavorable conditions it would not be strange for boys to grow to manhood without any knowledge of books beyond the mere ability to read and write. But it was not the case with Jack Smith.
He fitted himself for the needs of his time, and was merchant, surveyor, tavern-keeper, magistrate and sheriff before he was forty years of age. He was married early in life to Miss Mary Wadsworth, a member of another noted pioneer family. There is no doubt that this good woman was an important factor in assisting him to rise above the evil temptations that filled the pathway of the early pioneers; and she it was, by her loving kindness and tender devotion to home and duty, became instrumental in bringing out and developing his higher traits of character and which adorned his life in mature years and enabled him to master the passions that dominated the career of so many of the able and daring spirits of that day.
After the war he was for a number of years engaged in the milling business, at Bethel. Some time in the '70's' he was elected county judge and for many years thereafter he filled that place to the entire satisfaction of his constituency, and when the office passed from his hands there was no stain upon it, and the escutcheon that had always shielded Jack Smith was without blot or blemish.
Several years after the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Mayfield of Overton, and when his political career was over, he moved to Overton, where he engaged in the mercantile business and pursued it till his death. He was a devout christian, having been a member of the M. E. church since his early manhood. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and under the auspices of that honorable and ancient order, his remains were laid to rest in the Overton cemetery. Referring to his life, a few days ago, the Hon. C. J. Garrison, who was many years a partner in business with Judge Smith and who has known him intimately for many years, remarked to the writer, "Jack Smith was as honest a man as ever lived. He was truly a good man. He was charitable, never turning a deaf ear to those in want or in distress. He was a christian."-R. T. M.
Source: The Henderson Times, Henderson, Texas, Thursday, January 11, 1900; Pg. 3
Andrew Jackson Smith became the first Judge of Rusk County, Texas under the present Constitution of the State of Texas. He was the Judge when his brother, Birt's will was probated in 1863. Andrew J. Smith became a merchant later.
A. J. Smith.
Judge A. J. Smith, who died at his home in Overton Dec. 30th, 1899, was born in Pike county, Tennessee, September, 1827.
He came to Texas in 1837, with his father, Gen. Smith, who with a large family, settled in Nacogdoches county, near the present county seat. After remaining there a few years the family moved to Rusk county and settled near where Sentell now lives, there being at that time no such town as Henderson and but a few white persons living north of Nacogdoches.
He grew to manhood with the barest opportunities of obtaining an education. While the new country afforded unexplored fields, boundless in extent and rich in adventure, and fascinating beyond description to the pioneer, yet the school house, the field, the orchard, the cottage, and the house of worship, existed only in the minds of the brave fathers and mothers who were busy protecting themselves and their children from savages. Under such unfavorable conditions it would not be strange for boys to grow to manhood without any knowledge of books beyond the mere ability to read and write. But it was not the case with Jack Smith.
He fitted himself for the needs of his time, and was merchant, surveyor, tavern-keeper, magistrate and sheriff before he was forty years of age. He was married early in life to Miss Mary Wadsworth, a member of another noted pioneer family. There is no doubt that this good woman was an important factor in assisting him to rise above the evil temptations that filled the pathway of the early pioneers; and she it was, by her loving kindness and tender devotion to home and duty, became instrumental in bringing out and developing his higher traits of character and which adorned his life in mature years and enabled him to master the passions that dominated the career of so many of the able and daring spirits of that day.
After the war he was for a number of years engaged in the milling business, at Bethel. Some time in the '70's' he was elected county judge and for many years thereafter he filled that place to the entire satisfaction of his constituency, and when the office passed from his hands there was no stain upon it, and the escutcheon that had always shielded Jack Smith was without blot or blemish.
Several years after the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Mayfield of Overton, and when his political career was over, he moved to Overton, where he engaged in the mercantile business and pursued it till his death. He was a devout christian, having been a member of the M. E. church since his early manhood. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and under the auspices of that honorable and ancient order, his remains were laid to rest in the Overton cemetery. Referring to his life, a few days ago, the Hon. C. J. Garrison, who was many years a partner in business with Judge Smith and who has known him intimately for many years, remarked to the writer, "Jack Smith was as honest a man as ever lived. He was truly a good man. He was charitable, never turning a deaf ear to those in want or in distress. He was a christian."-R. T. M.
Source: The Henderson Times, Henderson, Texas, Thursday, January 11, 1900; Pg. 3
Andrew Jackson Smith and Mary Wadsworth married Sep 25 1851 in Rusk County, Texas
Andrew Jackson Smith became the first Judge of Rusk County, Texas under the present Constitution of the State of Texas. He was the Judge when his brother, Birt's will was probated in 1863. Andrew J. Smith became a merchant later.
A. J. Smith.
Judge A. J. Smith, who died at his home in Overton Dec. 30th, 1899, was born in Pike county, Tennessee, September, 1827.
He came to Texas in 1837, with his father, Gen. Smith, who with a large family, settled in Nacogdoches county, near the present county seat. After remaining there a few years the family moved to Rusk county and settled near where Sentell now lives, there being at that time no such town as Henderson and but a few white persons living north of Nacogdoches.
He grew to manhood with the barest opportunities of obtaining an education. While the new country afforded unexplored fields, boundless in extent and rich in adventure, and fascinating beyond description to the pioneer, yet the school house, the field, the orchard, the cottage, and the house of worship, existed only in the minds of the brave fathers and mothers who were busy protecting themselves and their children from savages. Under such unfavorable conditions it would not be strange for boys to grow to manhood without any knowledge of books beyond the mere ability to read and write. But it was not the case with Jack Smith.
He fitted himself for the needs of his time, and was merchant, surveyor, tavern-keeper, magistrate and sheriff before he was forty years of age. He was married early in life to Miss Mary Wadsworth, a member of another noted pioneer family. There is no doubt that this good woman was an important factor in assisting him to rise above the evil temptations that filled the pathway of the early pioneers; and she it was, by her loving kindness and tender devotion to home and duty, became instrumental in bringing out and developing his higher traits of character and which adorned his life in mature years and enabled him to master the passions that dominated the career of so many of the able and daring spirits of that day.
After the war he was for a number of years engaged in the milling business, at Bethel. Some time in the '70's' he was elected county judge and for many years thereafter he filled that place to the entire satisfaction of his constituency, and when the office passed from his hands there was no stain upon it, and the escutcheon that had always shielded Jack Smith was without blot or blemish.
Several years after the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Mayfield of Overton, and when his political career was over, he moved to Overton, where he engaged in the mercantile business and pursued it till his death. He was a devout christian, having been a member of the M. E. church since his early manhood. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and under the auspices of that honorable and ancient order, his remains were laid to rest in the Overton cemetery. Referring to his life, a few days ago, the Hon. C. J. Garrison, who was many years a partner in business with Judge Smith and who has known him intimately for many years, remarked to the writer, "Jack Smith was as honest a man as ever lived. He was truly a good man. He was charitable, never turning a deaf ear to those in want or in distress. He was a christian."-R. T. M.
Source: The Henderson Times, Henderson, Texas, Thursday, January 11, 1900; Pg. 3
Andrew Jackson Smith became the first Judge of Rusk County, Texas under the present Constitution of the State of Texas. He was the Judge when his brother, Birt's will was probated in 1863. Andrew J. Smith became a merchant later.
A. J. Smith.
Judge A. J. Smith, who died at his home in Overton Dec. 30th, 1899, was born in Pike county, Tennessee, September, 1827.
He came to Texas in 1837, with his father, Gen. Smith, who with a large family, settled in Nacogdoches county, near the present county seat. After remaining there a few years the family moved to Rusk county and settled near where Sentell now lives, there being at that time no such town as Henderson and but a few white persons living north of Nacogdoches.
He grew to manhood with the barest opportunities of obtaining an education. While the new country afforded unexplored fields, boundless in extent and rich in adventure, and fascinating beyond description to the pioneer, yet the school house, the field, the orchard, the cottage, and the house of worship, existed only in the minds of the brave fathers and mothers who were busy protecting themselves and their children from savages. Under such unfavorable conditions it would not be strange for boys to grow to manhood without any knowledge of books beyond the mere ability to read and write. But it was not the case with Jack Smith.
He fitted himself for the needs of his time, and was merchant, surveyor, tavern-keeper, magistrate and sheriff before he was forty years of age. He was married early in life to Miss Mary Wadsworth, a member of another noted pioneer family. There is no doubt that this good woman was an important factor in assisting him to rise above the evil temptations that filled the pathway of the early pioneers; and she it was, by her loving kindness and tender devotion to home and duty, became instrumental in bringing out and developing his higher traits of character and which adorned his life in mature years and enabled him to master the passions that dominated the career of so many of the able and daring spirits of that day.
After the war he was for a number of years engaged in the milling business, at Bethel. Some time in the '70's' he was elected county judge and for many years thereafter he filled that place to the entire satisfaction of his constituency, and when the office passed from his hands there was no stain upon it, and the escutcheon that had always shielded Jack Smith was without blot or blemish.
Several years after the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Mayfield of Overton, and when his political career was over, he moved to Overton, where he engaged in the mercantile business and pursued it till his death. He was a devout christian, having been a member of the M. E. church since his early manhood. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and under the auspices of that honorable and ancient order, his remains were laid to rest in the Overton cemetery. Referring to his life, a few days ago, the Hon. C. J. Garrison, who was many years a partner in business with Judge Smith and who has known him intimately for many years, remarked to the writer, "Jack Smith was as honest a man as ever lived. He was truly a good man. He was charitable, never turning a deaf ear to those in want or in distress. He was a christian."-R. T. M.
Source: The Henderson Times, Henderson, Texas, Thursday, January 11, 1900; Pg. 3
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