SMITH, JOSHUA FRANCIS, JR. (1821 ~ 1908). The following biography of Confederate veteran Joshua Francis Smith Jr. was provided by one of his descendants.
"Joshua Smith was born in 1821 or in March 1822 in Tennessee. He married ( Amanda Shuck ( 5 Febuary 1826- 5 April 1852 ) on 8 February 1843 in Hickman Co. , Kentucky. On 24 October 1844 his grandmother, " Frances Weathered formerly the widow of Asa Searcy, " died in Fulton Co. , Kentucky. Her will lists Joshua Smith, [ Sr.] as her son-in law and Joshua Smith Jr. , Asa Smith, and Bennett Smith as her grandsons. By 1850 Joshua Smith Jr. and Amanda had moved to Weakley Co. , Tennessee with their four children who had all been born in Kentucky: Lucinda J. Smith (ca 1843-? ), Missouri E. Smith (ca 1845-? ) Polk K. Smith (ca 1846-?) and Thomas Jefferson Smith (ca 1849 - died young). By 1852 they had returned to Kentucky and were living in Harris Fork, which is in Fulton County. Amanda and their four month old son, William, died there on 5 April 1852 and on June 1852 respectively. They both died of the measles. Where and when Joshua Smith Jr. Married ( 2 Sarah A.________( ca 1823 Tennessee-? ) is unknown, but by 1860 they had moved to Austin Co., Texas. There were three additional members in the family : Frances Texanna Smith ( 25 December 1855 Hockley, Harris Co. , Texas - 6 - January 1918 Harden, Liberty Co., Texas? ) , Laura L. Smith ( ca 1857 Texas -? ), and Nicholas Smith ( May 1860 Texas-?). Joshua had become a Teamster. During the Civil War he was in Company C the 21st Texas Cavalry. In September 1862 the 21st became part of Parson's Texas Brigade, which served in Arkansas and Louisiana. Joshua survived the war, but the youngest brother , Bennett Henderson Smith, and his nephew, Stephen Jett Corkran, did not. They both joined Company G the 33rd Infantry Tennessee. Bennett, a Captain, was wounded at Shiloh and died on 3 November 1862. Stephen, a 1st Lieutenant, died at Atlanta on 1 January 1864. In 1870, Joshua and Sarah were living in Limestone Co., Texas with three of their children: Frances Texanna Smith, Laura L. Smith, and Nicholas Smith. By 1880 Joshua was living in Milam Co., Texas with his third wife, Sarah M. _______ (ca 1838 Georgia-? ), and their son, Benjamin F. Smith ( March 1880 Texas-? ) Joshua was farming. His confederate Pension Application was approved in March 1900. He had been living at Milano Junction in Milam Co. for the past 20 years. His very shaky signature appears in the file. By 28 June Joshua had moved to Grimes Co., Texas. He died on 7 January 1908 at the Confederate Home Hospital in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. On the following day he was buried at the State Cemetery. Two descendants of Joshua Francis Smith Jr. and his daughter Frances Texanna Smith are Malcolm S. Schultz ( Mrs. George H. ) Louise Will (Mrs. James).
This biography courtesy of Mrs. Lynn Marks, a descendant of Joshua Smith's brother, Asa Searcy Smith Sr., who moved from Kentucky to Tazewell Co. Illinois in 1848."
Further information is available through the Texas State Cemetery research department. |
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