THE SMITH FAMILY OF ROCKVALE AND SALEM
By Frank and Ruth Smith Yeargan

The Smith family of Rockvale and Salem were inclined toward the professions.

Major Robert Smith (1752-1822_ emigrated from Goochland Co., VA to Rutherford Co., TN in 1804. His illustrious ancestors, through five generations, all bore some military title, as did their forefathers.

The Salem Methodist Church still stands today on land which Major Robert Smith gave during June 1816.

This is the background and heritage of James Madison Smith (5 Feb 1831-12 Feb 1908), who owned and operated a farm in the Tenth District of Rutherford County. This farm is located a little more than one mile north of Rockvale opposite the entrance to the Thompson Road. It is known today as the Smith Farm, the Henry Turner Farm, or the Woodson Place.

James Madison Smith was a farmer who served for three years in the 11th Tenn. Cavalry of the Confederate Army. He was married Twice: first to Fannie Becton, who died in 1858, leaving one child; second, to Margaret Hutton, who became the mother of seven children, two of whom lived in the Tenth District, at least for a time.

William Sims Smith married Mary Farris of Concord and lived directly across the road from his father's farm.

Sidney Bertrand Smith (27 May 1871-23 March 1953) married Lucy Carolyn Currey, graduated from the School of Medicine and from the Liberal Arts College of the University of the South, and taught school at Rockvale and became a prominent farmer and physician. Later in life he moved to Salem Community near the Methodist Church, also near his ancestor, Major Robert Smith.

The daughter of Dr and Mrs Sidney Bertrand Smith, Ruth Riggs Smith, became the wire of Frank Carlton Yeargan of Rockvale on 30 May 1941 and now make their home in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. (See Francis Marion Carlton family.)