Selected Families and Individuals


Jesse LOWTHER [Parents] was born 31 Jul 1773 in Augusta Co., VA. He died Oct 1854 in Harrison Co., VA. Jesse married Mary RAGAN on 18 Aug 1791 in Harrison Co., VA.

Mary RAGAN married Jesse LOWTHER on 18 Aug 1791 in Harrison Co., VA.


Elias LOWTHER [Parents] was born 16 Sep 1776 in Augusta Co., VA. He married Rebecca COBURN.

Rebecca COBURN married Elias LOWTHER.


Jacob JACKSON married Sudna LOWTHER on 15 Dec 1796.

Sudna LOWTHER [Parents] married Jacob JACKSON on 15 Dec 1796.


Barnes SMITH was born 18 May 1782 in Harrison Co., VA. He died 3 Sep 1857 in Ritchie Co., VA. Barnes married Mary Ann EARLE.

Barnes Smith (see: Descendant Chart )
Born: 05-18-1782 in: Shinnston, Harrison Co., VA ref 1 & 2
Died: 03-09-1857 in: Ritchie Co., W.Va.
Buried: in: Ayers Cem., Smithville, Ritchie Co, W.VA (go to Ritchie County, WV Genweb page with photo of Smithville )
Age: 74 yrs/9 mos
Father: Aaron Smith
Mother: Sarah Allen
Several sources say that Smithville, WV was named for this Barnes Smith, the first settler. References include Minnie Kendall Lowther and the 1850 census of Ritchie Co.
Source: http://members.aol.com/family2411/barnesmith.htm

Mary Ann EARLE married Barnes SMITH.

They had the following children:

  M i Joshua SMITH was born 27 Oct 1818 in Harrison Co., VA. He died 4 Jun 1865 in Ft. Monroe, VA.

Joshua's Military story ( see also: Military Papers )
Joshua enlisted with the Union Army on August 18, 1862 at Arnoldburg, Va. An acquaintance, Jasper Bull, received $3.00 bonus "for presenting this recruit". A description of Joshua on his military papers is as follows...Age 43 years, 5 feet 6 inches tall, fair complexion, black hair, brown eyes, and by occupation a farmer. He was mustered into the 11th Regiment, Virginia (West) Infantry Volunteers, and was moved back and forth between Company C and Company F during his service due to "his being erroneously mustered" on the paperwork. He is present on muster rolls from August 1862 until April 1864, at which time he was admitted to the hospital in Weston, West Virginia with Rubeola [German Measles]. He is absent from the rolls from April 1864 through January 1865 when he again appears as present. On April 9, 1965 Lee surrendered to Grant and this marked the ending of the Civil War, but on April 15, 1865, Joshua was admitted to the U.S. General Hospital at Fort Monroe, Va. with a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. He died there on June 4, 1865.
source with picture:http://members.aol.com/family2412/joshuasmith.htm
  M ii Mary Elizabeth SMITH was born 1841.
  M iii Henry Beall SMITH was born 1843.

M Child 2 Henry Beall Smith
Born: abt 1843 in: Lewis Co., Va.
Spouse: Elizabeth Barr
b. 08-31-1842 d. 02-05-1913
Smith, Henry B., Private, Co. B, 19th Virginia Cavalry. Born Lewis Co. abt. 1843. Age 17 on Calhoun Co. 1860 census. Enlisted Frankfort, Greenbriar Co., W.Va. 7 March 1863. Not stated if present or absent on muster-in-roll dated March 1863. Brother of Barnes N. Smith, C.S.A. (Civil War Soldiers of Calhoun County, pub. June 7, 1998, by Sandra Jarrett, Norma Knotts Shaffer)
In the Calhoun County Will Book I, pg 29, "Barr, William, Appointed Guardian of minor children of Henry B. Smith".
Source: http://members.aol.com/family2411/joshuafamily.htm
  M iv Barnes Newton SMITH was born 1847.

Moccasin Rangers

M Child 3 Barnes Newton Smith
Born: 1847 in: Lewis or Ritchie Co., Va.
Occupation: Farmer/CW veteran
Spouse: Elizabeth Jane Reip
b. 1848
Married: 08-02-1867 in: Calhoun Co., WV
In the Calhoun Co., Va. Will Book I, pg. 9, entry reads "Barr, Henry, appointed guardian for Barnes N. Smith".
Barnes name is listed in Minnie Kendall Lowther's book "History of Ritchie County" as follows: Smith, Barnes N., Capt. Clammer's Co. C of the 11th Regt., WV Infantry Volunteers.
In the book "Civil War Soldiers of Calhoun County", pub. June 7, 1998, by Sandra Jarrett & Norma Knotts Shaffer...Smith, Barnes N., Co. A, Virginia State Line (Moccasin Rangers). Enlisted on 15 Nov. 1861 in Calhoun Co., Va. Wounded in action in Webster Co., Va. on 11 June 1862. Absent with leave on 28 Feb. 1863. Private, Co. A, 19th Virginia Cavalry. Born Ritchie Co., Va. about 1848. Age 12, Calhoun Co., Va. 1860 census. Post war rosters only, which show he was wounded in Webster Co., Va. 11 June 1863. Post war resident of Calhoun Co., WV Age 23, farmer, Washington Twp., Calhoun Co., WV 1870 Census. Brother of Henry B. Smith, C.S.A. Private, in Capt. Hodard's Co. F, 11th Regt., Va. Infantry Volunteers. Enrolled 20 August 1863 for three years, discharged 1 June 1865 at Grafton, WV, by reason of wounds received in action at Cedar Creek 19 Oct. 1864. Born Ritchie Co., age eighteen when discharged, 5'10" tall, fair complexion, hazel eyes, light hair, farmer, dishcarged at U.S.A. General Hospital, Grafton, WV. Discharge on file in Miscellaneous Record Book, Calhoun County Clerk's Office, Grantsville, Calhoun Co., WV. Receiving $4.00 per month for gunshot wound to head and loss of right eye on 1883 Pension Roll; address, Grantsville. Union.
1870 Calhoun Co., WV census, entry #425-426, Barnes N. Smith, 23, b. Va., Farmer; (wife) Elizabeth, 21, b. Va., Keeping House; (son) Alonzo, 2, WV; (son) Joshua, 7/12 (7 months old).
Calhoun County, West Virginia Births, Deaths, Marriages 1856-1875 says b. 1847 Gilmer Co., Va.
Source:http://members.aol.com/family2411/joshuafamily.htm
  F v Sarah Catherine SMITH was born 1849.
  M vi Mathew J. SMITH was born 1852.
  M vii Solomon Kelly SMITH was born 1851.
  M viii Jerome H. SMITH was born 1856.
  M ix Alpheus Beall SMITH was born 1858. He died 1905.

M Child 8 Alpheus Beall Smith
Born: 05-05-1858 in: Calhoun Co., W.Va.
Died: 03-24-1949 in: Seymour, Webster Co., Missouri
Age: 90 yrs/10 mos Occupation: Baptist Minister
Spouse: Sara Jane Ayers
b. 02-18-1854 d. 07-01-1905
Married: 10-17-1875 in: Calhoun Co., WV
Alpheus & Sarah's children were all born in Calhoun Co. near White Pine, then they moved to Gilmer Co. for a time, and then on to Seymour, MO around 1904. They are buried in the Day Cemetery on Hwy K, about 5 miles south of Seymour, Webster Co., MO. 'Alf' became an ordained Baptist minister on 8-29-1909. He married twice after Sarah's death." Note: Numerous times in this research, Alpheus has been called Adolphus. Buried in Day Cemetery in Seymour, Webster Co., Missouri
Source: http://members.aol.com/family2411/joshuafamily.htm
Picture at: http://members.aol.com/family2411/asmith.htm
  M x Levi Joshua SMITH was born 1860. He died 1954.
  F xi Sabra Jane SMITH was born 1862.

William PRICE married Mary HART.

Mary HART [Parents] married William PRICE.


Joshua DOUGLAS married Nancy HART.

Nancy HART [Parents] was born 1845 in Logan Co.., VA. She married Joshua DOUGLAS.

She was married to Joseph Lloyd on 24 Nov 1867 in Jackson Co, WV.(7)
1870 JC Gilmore Dist # 283
Joseph 68
Joseph 25
Nancy 25
Elmer E 2
James J 3/12
Benjamin F 22 Children were: Elmer Lloyd, James J Lloyd.

born 1846 Releigh, North Carlolina by one account and her mother was a first cousin to Andrew Johnson.
Source http://membres.lycos.fr/confederatestatearmy/repertoire/h/hart-nancy.html

Nancy Hart was born in 1846, in Raleigh, North Carolina. When
she was an infant, she moved to Tazewell, Virginia. Her mother
was first cousin to Andrew Johnson. Her mother lived in the home
with him as a child. Nancy had an older sister, Mary who married
William Price. Nancy never learned to read or write. Nancy was of
Scotch-Irish descent. Nancy was an expert rider. In 1853, Nancy and
her family moved in with Nancy's sister Mary and her husband William.
In the next six years Nancy virtually lived in the wilderness in Roane County. During these years she became a "dead eye" shot with a rifle.
On October 16, 1861, Nancy was to move in with her sister and
brother-in-law. It was getting time for Nancy to come, when about
dusk a part of Union Soldiers rode into the yard. They told William
that he had to make a speech in the town of Spencer, then next day
in favor of the Union and they had come to escort him into town that
night. While William was getting ready, the Union Soldier's poked
about as if searching for someone. They found Mary propped up in
bed with several pillows and a large bolster behind her back.
They apologized profusely for invading the bedroom and left. Nancy

breathed easier from inside the bolster-cover where she had taken refuge.

William Price never got to Spencer, he was found three days later, shot in the back near another farm on the road to Spencer. The hatred Nancy had for the Union Soldiers blazed anew. Nancy's next door neighbor's the Kelly's had two son's join the Confederate Army. The Kelly's threw a big going away party, which Nancy attended. While the party was going on, Union Soldiers marched past the house in the moonlight. The music stopped, she threw her hands over her head and shouted "HURRAH FOR JEFF DAVIS" . Four rifles flashed and four minie balls struck the front stoop, one of then lodged in the door facing Nancy.

Three nights later she saddled up and rode away and her career as a
Confederate Spy began. Nancy, joined the Moccasin Rangers-they
were pro-southern guerrillas until 1862. Nancy served as a Confederate scout, guide and spy. She carried messages between the Southern Armies traveling alone by night and slept during the day. Nancy also was an "underground" worker. She saved the lives of many wounded Confederate Soldiers hiding them with sympathizers and often nursing them to health again. Nancy served as a guide for "REBEL" detachments.

She peddled eggs and veggies to Yankee's - to spy on them. She
hung around isolated Federal outposts in the mountains, to report their strength, population and vulnerability to General Jackson. Nancy led Jackson's Cavalry on several raids against Union Troops. In the summer of 1862, the wrathful Federals offered a large reward for Nancy with the order of her arrest. Nancy was twenty years old when she was captured by the Yankees. Lt. Col. Starr of the 9th West Virginia captured Nancy at a log cabin, while she was crushing corn. A young female friend was also captured with her. Nancy was jailed in the upstairs portion of a dilapidated house with soldiers quartered down stairs and a sentry guarding her in the room, at all times. Guards constantly patrolled the building on every side.

Nancy gained the trust of one of her guards. She was able to get his
weapon from him and she shot him dead. Nancy then dived headlong
out the open window into a clump of tall jimson weeds. She took Lt. Col.
Starr's horse, and rode bare back. She was clinging low to the horse's
neck, Indian fashion. About a week later at 4:00 o'clock in the morning,
July 25, 1862, Nancy returned to Summersville with 200 of Jackson's
Cavalry led by Major R. Augustus or Col. George Patton's 22nd Virginia
Infantry. Nancy was still riding Lt. Col. Starr's horse. They raided the
town, setting fire to three houses, including the commissary store house,
destroyed two wagons, and took eight mules and twelve horses, as well
as several prisoners, including Lt. Co. Starr. Nancy and Joshua
Nancy married Joshua Douglas, former Ranger, he enlisted in the
CSA. Josh Douglas, was dying of his wounds, and Nancy nursed
him back to health.


John SMITH was born 1778 in PA. He died 1858 in Wiseburg, VA. John married Phoebe BROWN on 1823 in Wood Co., WV.

Phoebe BROWN married John SMITH on 1823 in Wood Co., WV.

They had the following children:

  F i Harriet SMITH.
  F ii Rebecca SMITH.
  M iii John V. SMITH was born 1802 and died 1862.
  F iv Dianna SMITH was born 19 Nov 1805 and died 19 Dec 1868.
  M v Jonathan Sheppard SMITH was born 1811 and died 19 Feb 1848.
  M vi James E. SMITH was born 1812 and died Jun 1863.

James E. SMITH [Parents] was born 1812 in VA. He died Jun 1863. James married Sunder CONRAD on 1848.

Other marriages:
ROY, Sudner

Trimble Letter of Guerilla list: James E. Smith
Wheeling Intelligencer, 12/27/61:
West Virginia Database (Boggs captured):
West Virginia in the Civil War, Ripley Raid:
West Virginia in the Civil War, captured after Ripley Raid:
Camp Chase list of Prisoners, OR, Series II, Vol. 2. Page 263 - 266: James E. Smith

WASHINGTON [ARK.] TELEGRAPH, December 24, 1862

DIANA SMITH, THE HEROINE OF THE NORTHWEST.

A friend has kindly furnished us with some interesting particulars in the history of this young heroine.
She was born and raised in the county of Jackson. Her father is a consistent and pious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was leading a quiet, peaceful, and useful life, until his country was invaded, when he called his country-men to arms, and raised the first company of guerrillas, which he commanded until his fall, when, by fraud and treachery he was captured, and ever since has been confined in a loathsome dungeon at Camp Chase, Ohio, without hope of delivery, unless our Government should interpose and procure his release.
Diana, his only daughter, is a beautiful girl, and has been tenderly raised, and well educated. She is also a member of the M. E. Church, and has always been regarded as very pious and exemplary. She is descended from a race of unflinching nerve, and satisfied with nothing less than freedom as unrestrained as the pure air of their mountain home.
Her devotion to the cause of Southern rights, in which her father had nobly engaged, has caused her, too, to feel the oppressor's power. Although a tender and delicate flower, upon whose cheek the bloom of sixteen summers yet lingers, she has been five times captured by the Yankees, and marched sometimes on foot, in manacles, a prisoner; once a considerable distance to Ohio, at which time she made her escape. She was never released, but in each instance managed to escape from her guard. She, too, has been in service; she was in several battles in which her father engaged the enemy. She has seen blood flow like water. Her trusty rifle has made more than one of the vile Yankees bite the dust. She left her home in company with the Moccasin Rangers, (Captain Kelser,) and came through the enemy's line in safety, and is now at the Blue Sulphur Springs.
She was accompanied by Miss Duskie, who has earned the proud distinction of a heroine. On one occasion this fearless girl was surrounded by fifty Yankees and Union men, when she went rushing through their ranks with a daring that struck terror to their craven hearts. With her rifle lashed across her shoulders, she swam the west fork of the Kanhawa river, and made her way to the Mountain Rangers; preferring to trust her safety to those brave spirits, well knowing that her sex would entitle her to protection from those brave mountaineers. These young ladies have lain in the mountains for months, with no bed but the earth, and no covering but the canopy of heaven. They have shared the soldier's rough fare, and his dangers, his hopes, and his joys.

WASHINGTON [ARK.] TELEGRAPH, December 31, 1862
Source: http://by101fd.bay101.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/getmsg?msg=2CE6ED25-6FFD-4AE2-B044-FD90E1FBAFA6&start=0&len=30422&imgsafe=y&curmbox=00000000%2d0000%2d0000%2d0000%2d000000000001&a=1a24aae3cca4d1bc87ae7dbb274b0852

Jim was Captain in the Moccasin Rangers and was killed June 1863 at Nesselrode's on Little Sandy, West Virginia.
source: familytreemaker.genealogy.com/ users/s/m/i/Dixon-B-Smith/PDFGENE11.pdf

Sunder CONRAD was born 13 Feb 1830 in VA. She died 1908. Sunder married James E. SMITH on 1848.

They had the following children:

  M i James M SMITH was born 1852.
  M ii Kelly Peter SMITH was born 1855 in LeRoy, VW. He died 1931.

John V. SMITH [Parents] was born 1802 in PA. He died 1862 in Leroy, WV. John married HARDMAN.

Other marriages:
HARTLEY, Elizabeth
CARDER, Elizabeth

SMITH FAMILY

John V. Smith lived up on the left branch of Big Run, about 1844, and was the pioneer of that section.

His house was on the site of the present residence of Mr. E.L.
Waybright. The head of the creek was in woods many years later. The cabin he first lived in was known as the Corbett house.

He was living with his third wife, who was a daughter of John W.
Carder, one of the first pioneers of Upper Sandy.

His first wife was a Hardman, and the second a Hartley.


Source: Pioneers of Jackson County, West Virginia; History of Mill Creek and Sandy Valley and Its Early Settlement, by John A. House
Published: WebRoots, Inc., 2001; (c) 2001 Betty Briggs. Written in 1906
Online: http://www.webroots.org/library/usahist/pojc0000.html

HARDMAN married John V. SMITH.

They had the following children:

  M i William SMITH was born 1824 and died 1862.

William SMITH [Parents] was born 1824. He died 1862 in Lexington, Kentucky. William married Elizabeth CARDER on 31 Jul 1845 in Jackson Co., VA.

Moved to Illinouis and joined the Union army. Died at Lexington in the CW.

Elizabeth CARDER was born 1816. She married William SMITH on 31 Jul 1845 in Jackson Co., VA.

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