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Jefferson County

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Smylie Family

   Jefferson County, Mississippi

In Memory of my grandmother, Mary Campbell Smylie Wilkinson 1810-1903


PAGES FROM AND OLD SCRAP BOOK
by Anabel Power

"THE SMYLIE FAMILY IN AMERICA"
"1778.....1935"
by Kate Markham Power
In Memory of my grandmother, Mary Campbell Smylie Wilkinson 1810-1903

Mary Smylie married Matthew Bolls, "a man of substance. He was likewise a man of brains and high social culture and possessed a keen sense of humor. Their home was near Rodney. In ante bellum days a section of great wealth and culture and very gracious living. The Bolls were greatly interested in the building and support of Oakland College, about midway between Rodney and Port Gibson, in that day an institution of learning famed throughout the South, especially by the Presbyterians in the South. In addition to generous money gifts to the building of Oakland College Matthew Bolls sent many of his slaves to make and burn the brick for the buildings. That they did excellent work we are assured when we look upon the three stately buildings of Alcorn College, a State-owned and controlled institution for the education of the Negro youth of Mississippi. How strange a quirk of fate it was that this beautiful establishment built as it was by slave holders, as a fitting place for the training of gentlemen's sons, should, after the wreckage of the War, come to be a place for the training of the children of these former slaves.

Mary Smylie's husband, Matthew Bolls, was a man of high ideals and great courage and he was one of the few who dared to express disapproval of any position taken by the acknowledged Chief of the Clan, his beloved friend and brother-in-law, the Reverend James Smylie.

I have before me a letter from him to Reverend James, regarding a pamphlet which had just been issued; "Brief History of the Trial of Dr. Scott." - by James Smylie. The writer believed that the action of the General Assembly had not been sufficiently decisive or prompt in the matter of Dr. Scott's trial. Dr. Scott was a pastor of a church in New Orleans, when in 1844, he and Dr. Lyon of Columbus, were passengers on a Mississippi River steamboat on which Henry Clay, then a candidate for the Presidency, was traveling. Soon after the river trip was ended it began to be bruised about that the Presidential candidate had spent the Sabbath day gambling with friends. Clay's supporters claimed to have traced the gossip to the Reverend. Fellow passengers of Mr. Clay demanded a retraction. Eventually Dr. Scott retracted - but not Dr. Lyon and the former's church desiring that he be cleared of the charge, if possible, demanded a trial of Dr. Scott. This dragged it's unpleasant way up to the Assembly and it was because the rigid old disciplinarian James Smylie, felt that all had not been done that might have been done that he wrote the "brief history" referred to. After having read it, Matthew Bolls wrote the Author, "You have what David said in his haste. viz: That ALL men are liars". Further he said to the stern old man and preacher, who did not know how to compromise. "With so many traits of an Ishmael, if you are permitted to dwell in peace among the brethren, it will be rather from fear than from love. You certainly bear hard on many...You will have to account for tearing the scab from this old sore which was so nearly healed...your reasons, like Polk's War get beyond the defensive. You are fairly across the Rio Grande and have fired your shot into the Capitol...Watch out for guerrillas!!"

The letters of this gentleman of an ancient day are clever as well as informative chronicles of his day and this writer was greatly entertained to find him, now and then, resorting to slang and getting a kick from its use.

The Bolls had four children, James Smylie, who died in his youth; Jane who married James Watson; and died at the birth of her first child; Mary, who married a Scotchman, Andrew Allison, whose descendants are numerous and Emmaline, who was thrice married before she was twenty one. (1) to a Mr. Shaw (2) to a Mr. Fisher (3) to Benjamin Shaw. Reverend Matthew Bolls Shaw of blessed memory, was her only child to reach maturity. His wife was Jane McDermott, Arkansas and the mother of another, Reverend Theodore Smylie of St. Louis, Missouri. Other children of the M. B. Shaws are living in the Mississippi delta and in Baton Rouge, Louisiana - the Kibbingers, in Baton Rouge, the James Shaws in Shelby, and the Charles Shaw's family in the delta.

The Andrew Allisons (Mary Bolls) lived for a number of years in Louisiana and held high place in New Orleans and other cities in that state. After her husband's death, Mary Bolls Allison made her home at Way, Mississippi, where she owned the valuable property now known as Allison's Wells, a popular health resort. It was a great joy to my grandmother to have this favorite cousin - near her in their latter days and they were often together. In fact, the Allison home was the only one left in this section in which the post war generation of young relatives could find gay hospitality, as most of the families had been completely wrecked by the war. At many a happy house party did the youngest daughter, May play hostess then.

The Allison children were; Matthew Bolls, who married Martin Griffin; Alexander, who married Elizabeth Bartlett; Andrew, who was twice married, (1) Mattie Perrin, (2) Hallie Watts; Emma Jane, who married Edward Hunt of Chicago, and May, who married Dr. T. J. Ray and lives in Kentucky. The next generation of Allisons counts two Presbyterian preachers among them; Alexander's son, Andrew, a Missionary to China and May's son T. J. Jr., a P. G. student in Theology. May's other son Dr. E. H. Ray, is rapidly achieving distinction as a physician.

John Smylie, was born 17__ in North Carolina and died in Mississippi in 18__. His first wife was Susan Sellers, and his second was a "widow Montgomery." He was one of the Original Elders of Bethany Church, as was his father, James Smylie and his brother Nathaniel. His brother James was Pastor of Bethany at the time. John Smylie was a Godly man and rejoiced that in his father's house even unto the end, Family worship was always held and was conducted by his father in his native tongue, the Gaelic. John Smylie's children were: Reverend John A., who married Isadora Jackson. She was a daughter of one of Andrew Jackson's gallant Captains, James, who died a bachelor and Ella, who married _____ Anderson. The Andersons had no children.

The son, Rev. John A. Smylie, was born in 1812 and lived until 1878, thus being privileged to share in the South's great era of change and to live during Andrew Jackson's campaign, through the War with Mexico and the War between the States, in all of which his kinsmen fought. He knew, too, the tragedy of Reconstruction and died in Texas, September 26, 1878. When his native state was crushed under the heavy hand of disease - yellow fever having then been epidemic and many of his relatives having died of it.

John Smylie was a man of great learning. As a youth he was one of the most brilliant students at Oakland College, which he entered at 18, intending to study law. Under the influence of Rev. Zebulon Butler, however, he changed his plan of life and studied for the ministry in Oakland's Theological department and under his uncle, James Smylie, having been graduated in the class of 1834 with such men as J. W. Buell, S. M. Montgomery, Henry McDonald, David McNair, B. P. Magee, and Richmond McInnis. During his busy life he preached at Bethany, Brandon, Madison and other points in Mississippi, taught in Louisiana and after the death of his wife, in 1866, he moved to Meridian, Mississippi, and opened a Classical School For Boys, where his own sons were students.

In 1861, Reverend John Smylie, With Reverend Dr. B. M. Palmer, was delegated to attend the General Assembly at Augusta, Georgia, and their names appear upon the list voting to form a separate organization of the Southern Presbyterian church upon that momentous occasion. After the war he moved to Texas and became a powerful influence for good in that State, organizing many of the churches which are today flourishing in Texas cities. He and his wife, Isadora Jackson, had a large family and Reverend James A. Smylie had a privilege enjoyed by a few, that of receiving all of his children into church membership. His children were; Mary Archibald, J. W., Louis H., Louisa P., Alice, Robert J., James, Calvin and Nathaniel. Archibald died in Texas in 1882, leaving two daughters. Mary married - Means and still lives in San Antonio, Texas; Louis died in Fort Worth in 1930; Louisa P. married Frank Wilson and has children living in Oregon, New Mexico, and Texas. J. W. died in Texas and left children who live in Houston, Plainview, Salina and Silvertown. Robert J. was killed at Buffalo Gap in 1879; John Calvin died in Louisiana in 1898 and Reverend Nathaniel, the youngest, was for a long time a preacher and a teacher in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas; residing now at Dermott, Arkansas. His son, Theodore is the pastor of the new Central Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Missouri.

Any sketch of Reverend James Smylie's life must necessarily be something of a sketch of early Presbyterianism in Mississippi, so closely are they connected. We shall strive, however, to gather his religious work under the subject, "Early Presbyterianism and the Smylies," which will follow this record of the Smylie family.

Born in Richmond County, North Carolina, in 1780, James Smylie came first to the Mississippi Territory in 1800 and from the time of that first visit he never considered living anywhere else. He died at his Myrtle Heath Plantation in Amite county, in 1853, honored by family, church and state. James Smylie was an Accurate Greek and Latin scholar, a lover of the classics, a profound theologian, endowed with social graces a man of such remarkable foresight as to be credited by many with prophetic vision. His youth was a busy one and he was thirty years old before he married. His first wife was the young widow of Thomas Smith of Jefferson County, who died a few years after their marriage. Mary (Polly) Cottonwood Smith married the gifted young preacher in 1810 and to them one child, Amelia Farrar (Montgomery) was born., When this child was five months old, the young mother, Polly, died. On the tomb above her in the James Smylie graveyard near Liberty, are figures showing that she was born in 1792, married to James Smylie in 1810, died in 1812, aged 18 years, 8 months and 5 days. In the brief span between her birth and death, the beloved Polly had been maiden, mother, widow and twice a wife. Her daughter, Amelia Farrar was educated at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at The Young Ladies Seminary and in social circles in Philadelphia and in Princeton, where she often visited her father's friends, she was greatly admired because of her grace of manner and her warm southern beauty. In her young girlhood she enjoyed a brilliant social experience and when only seventeen came home to visit her relatives and promptly fell in love with Joseph Addison Montgomery, the handsome son of her father's dear friend, Reverend William Montgomery. They were married January 28, 1829, by Reverend John Patterson at her father's plantation, Myrtle-Heath. Eleven Children were born of this marriage, most of whom lived to adult age and whose baptismal records reads like a roster of the old Louisiana Presbytery, Reverends Palmer, Mallard. Chamberlain, Planck, Price, etc., having been the officiates. Amelia Montgomery's life was rather a tragic one,. She and her beloved husband had, by sacrificial care and love, reared their large family to early youth, and just before the War Between the States began, all financial problems seemed lifted when an uncle of Amelia's left her a handsome estate consisting of beautiful Belmont Plantation- 1500 acres, 200 (two hundred) slaves, money, stock, equipment and a "strong box" of treasures, a part of which consisted of $30,000 (thirty thousand dollars) in gold. The uncle left instructions also for her to pay a certain young man kinsman, upon her coming of age. Her lands were devastate, her houses burned, her Negroes freed, her treasures stolen, her horses and cattle driven away. It was a time of bitter suffering for Joseph and Amelia Montgomery, and with their large family they were, at the close of the War, facing ????. Their own children were old enough to be making homes for themselves; the young kinswoman had attained her majority and her guardian demanded settlement according to the terms of the Cotton will and everything was swept away except responsibility, taxes and returning free Negroes who had been disillusioned about their new made friends and freedom and were coming "back home" in great numbers, begging for food and shelter where there was none. Amelia Farrar Smylie Montgomery died at Belmont at sunset May 22, 1877, aged 65 years, 3 months and 9 days. Her husband, Joseph Addison Montgomery died at the same place, December 6, 1888, aged 79 years, 1 month and 7 days. Their children were; James Smylie, who married Olive Scott; Anna Jane Victoria, who married William E. Hall; Samuel Cotton, who married Jane Jeffries; Matthew Bolls (Fink), who married Elizabeth Gossitt of La grange, Tennessee; Alexander Thomas, who married (1) a Natchez girl; (2) Linda Watson, now living in Cuba; Walter Lowrie who died in 1926, Julia, Emma Abial Mills Bingham of New York. Alice Cornelia, Eliza Amelia and Mary Emmaline Elizabeth, died in their youth.

It is beautiful to read between the lines in the records of this family, their devotion to the old home and their devotion to their own people which brought so many of them back to have the baptismal water sprinkled on their children's brows by the same hands which had been laid in blessing on their parents at their marriage. Particularly is this true of the children of Anna Hall who married "a Northern man" and whose children married wealth and position in the East and North. Both she and her children "came home" at times of this importance that the little Halls and Schuylers and Duychenks, Steuecks, be baptized and the plantation at which these various Smylie-Montgomery children and grandchildren were married or born--Edge Hill, Argyll, Scroggy, Belmont, Myrtle-Heath, Bannoekburn and others.

The children of Anna Jane Victoria Montgomery and William Hall were; Mary Amelia, Charles Montgomery, William Luther, Harry Merriam, Ellen Louisa, James Allen, Anna Jane and Alfred Moulton. Of these Charles Montgomery died in childhood. James Allen at the age of 29; William Luther in 1902, aged 41; Alice Ann in 1899. Henry Merriam still lives, a bachelor, of Hermanville, in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Anna Jane is the wife of Fred Nott of Byron, Illinois. Alfred Moulton married Mary Clarke and died in Vicksburg, Mississippi leaving a son, Alfred Moulton, Jr., who married Roy Dualey Duyckinck and had a son, Roy Chamberlin Duyckinck; Rutsen Van Renssaelaer Schyuler. Their daughter, Margaret Olive, married George Steedman; Janet Smylie who married Alfred Semen.

Ellen Louise Hall married John Randolph Stannic and left three children Margaret Ellen, Louise and John Randolph Stannic, Jr. These and the younger generations live around the cities of New York and Chicago.

Among the sons of Samuel Cotton Montgomery and Jeannie Jefferson, were; Joseph Addison, Samuel Cotton and Owen.

Matthew Bolls Montgomery (Fink) married Elizabeth Robinson Patti son and their only child, Jane Elizabeth Caldwell Montgomery, married Frank Fox of St. Louis, Missouri and Jackson. They left two sons, Frank and Russell, both of whom live in Claiborne County; The former is married and has one son; the latter is a bachelor.

Alexander Thomas Montgomery and Linda Watson had no children. He died Several years ago and she is living on her properties in Cuba. Linda Watson is an authority on her husband's family as well as her own. Julia Montgomery Bingham had no children. Smylie Montgomery, son of J. S. and Olive Scott Smylie Montgomery, died in Natchez in 1900.

Reverend James Smylie's second wife was Sarah Ann BISLAND of Adams County. One son, Alexander, the result of this union, lived to manhood and married Catherine Ann Smith, a Louisiana girl of wealth and social charm. To them were born numerous sons and daughters and their father "Alex" had enough of this world's goods to start them out in life comfortable equipped.

After the death of his first wife, Alex Smylie married again, a widow whose name I have not been able to learn. This large family has some interesting history; the children were; Benjamin, who married Emma Anderson; Philander Costly who married Ella Anderson; Amanda , who married Rev. John Shaw; Sarah who married Nolan Stewart Dickson and with him spent several years in Honduras; Charles McDermott who married a widow; Alex BISLAND died his senior year in college and there were several who died in early childhood. A large number of the descendants of these children of Alex Smylie lived in Adams County and across the river on the Louisiana side. Among these are the descendants of Patti Dickson who married Speaker; of Vivian Stewart, of William P., of Sarah Jeannette who married I. T. Anderson of Lafayette, of Kate who married Robert Stewart who married Florence Newman; of Maude Dickson HUD all; of Bettie Rogers who married (1) H. F. Hodge, (2) R. H. Daggers; of Lucy who married Dr. P. E. McGowan; of Benjamin D.

Reverend James Smylie married a third time; his last wife was Mary Ann Harriet Batchelor of Amite County, who lived but a year, having one son, Thomas, born in 1830. Thomas moved to Arkansas and married a Miss Montgomery; three children were born to her. James, who married Nattier Anderson, Gaines and "Scottie".

James Smylie became great not only as a minister of the Gospel, but as a man of business, upright and honest and rich beyond the average. He was a man of exceptional social graces and a ruler of his kind, whether in high church courts, in the drawing room, in busy marts or among the scholarly men of church and state with whom he delighted to mingle. His was a trenchant pen and it is a matter of great regret that his writings were not more carefully preserved. Quoting from one who married into this branch of the family, "the tribute to his wife which he wrote just after her early death was more beautiful I think, even than David's lament for his son."

NATHANIEL SMILEY. In the old graveyard near Bethany sleeps Nathaniel, youngest son of James and Jane Watson Smylie, with his beloved wife, Margaret Smith and several of their descendants. Nearby, his parents sleep, and two of his sisters, Jeannette and Jane Smylie Watson. He was born in North Carolina in 1784 and married Margaret Smith, who died September 3 1839, neither of them living to old age. Their children were James Matthew, known to the clan as "the Judge", Catherine Jennet, Sarah Jane and Robert Patterson. Judge Smylie was recognized as one of the greatest Jurists of his day. He was for many years Chancellor in this State, but later moved to New Orleans. This was during the progress of the famous MYRA CLARK GAINES case, he being counsel for Myra Clark Gaines. Judge Smylie was twice married. In 1841 he married the widowed daughter of Judge Lowry Carroll, who died of yellow fever probably in 1853. When the fever developed in New Orleans - their home - Judge Smiley sent his wife, children and slaves to Pass Christian to their summer home for safety. But the poison was already in the veins of the wife and mother, and she died a few days after reaching the Pass. She is buried there. Her children were Nanny, who married Edward Capelin, Robert, whose widow, Ella Smylie (Smiley) still lives in McComb.Edward Watt, who was thrice married (1) to Sarah Comely; (2) to Mary Elizabeth Copes; (3) to Celia Adelaide Copes. All of the younger generations hold high places in their home states - Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

James Smylie died a bachelor. Nanny Capelin's children live in Texas. Robert Smile's live in Mississippi, and Alabama. The children of the Smiley-Comely marriage live in Texas and Louisiana; those of the Copes sisters live in Shreveport, Abbeville and Ruston, La. Catherine Jeannette married Moses Robinson. She was the second of Nathaniel's children. Their children were James M. Moses,, Sarah Jane, Mary E. and Kate, (Mary E. and Kate coming first). Of these Mary married C. C. Germany; Sarah Jane died unmarried; James Malcolm Smiley was killed in the Battle of Shiloh. Kate Robinson married Garden Wren. And Moses married Lillian Wren.

From this branch of the family many of Amite County's citizens have come. Sarah Jane Smiley married Joseph Way Anderson and their children were Nathaniel Smiley, Sarah Eilzah and Joseph; Nathaniel married Isadore Daniels and many of their descendants are living in that section and on the Gulf Coast.

Musa married J. D. Rankin, Nathalie married D. R. Anderson, Smiley Shaw married Elizabeth Coumas, Annie Laurie married (1) T. L. Shumwell, (2) Richard Whitaker of Centreville, Joseph married Annabele McDermott and there was a large family; Joseph, Effie Bell, Hettie Jane, Benjamin Way, Smylie Scott, Charles Robert and James Gordon. Hettie Jane married Henry Hughes and lives in Memphis, where her children are prominent citizens. Dr. Smylie Scott is a physician at Hammond, Louisiana and married Lucille Maiwood Gohn.

Charles Robert (Chum) married Annie Whittaker; James Gordon married Mary McCrain; Annabele married Walter Posey James. All of these have fine families and have settled in the South. Two of the girls in this family went to France in the World War with the American Red Cross and did fine work.

Nathaniel Smiley's son Robert Patterson, married a very gracious lady, Eliza Alethea Wren who gave to her many descendants traditions of beauty and elegance.

Eliza, Sarah Jane, Matthew Bolls, Mary Bolls and Robert, none of whom married and Margaret, and Margaret, who married E. M. Carter but had no children; Catherine-Jeannet who married the beloved Reverend McAllister and was a fitting helpmate to a Godly man. The children were Mary Smylie, who married Dr. E. W. Flowers, Robert William, who married Ellie Moore, and whose interesting family lives in Jackson. One daughter Kate, died in her youth. Helen Married A. S. Tombs of Louisiana and they have a fine family in that state. Their son Dr. A. Tombs, married Mary B. Dinwaddie. Three daughters, Margaret, Fannie and Sarah Annette. Living just across the road from the old Smiley home in their beautiful place, Ariel. They lead busy, useful lives, but find time always to dispense gracious hospitality in their ideal home. James Wren Smylie married Julia Anderson and their daughter was Elizabeth (Bess) who married W. P. Field, and their son James ___ie Saix, married Clara Swearingen. Malcolm lives in North Carolina where he married. Nathaniel Frances Smiley married Martha Ann Anderson. Their children were Martha, who married Albert C. Jackson, Robert Smiley who married Lillie Wilkinson, James Malcolm Smylie who married Wilma Jackson; Joseph Johnston Smiley, who married (1) Winnie West, (2) Louella Putnam, Edward Patterson Smiley, who married Bessie Myrtle Davis, Frances Wren Smiley who married Maggie Hazlewood and Reverend George McAllister Smylie who married Isabella Stevens. Reverend George Smiley is pastor of the Durant, Presbyterian Church.

A number of Nathaniel Smiley's descendants live in or near Gloster, Vicksburg, Durant, Clarksdale, Opelousas, Louisiana, Lake Village, Arkansas, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Chicago Illinois.

(Editor's note; Next Sunday, we will follow this history of the Smylie family with a short "Story of the Earliest Presbyterian Churches in the Mississippi Territory. Bethel (1803); Bayou Pieere, (1808)." By the late Kate Markham Power, as a supplement to her History of the Smylie Family.)

A. P.



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