JESSE IRVIN SMTIH, son of Henry L Smith and Permelia Jane McAllister, was born 2 March 1894 in Van Buren County, Arkansas and died 1980 in Van Buren County, Arkansas. He married to MARGARET HARGIS, daughter of John Joseph Hargis and Mary Ann Peel. They are both buried in Bradley Cemetery, 3 miles west of Clinton on Hwy 95 in Van Buren County. Jess married 2)EMMA MORRISON.
Issue Fist Marriage:
WINNIE GENE SMITH. Born 1 September 1915 and died 7 July 1917.
MAXINE SMITH. She married Mr. Deason.
RAYE SMITH. She married Mr. Williams.
MARY JO SMITH. She married Mr. Taylor.
FAYE SMTIH. She married Mr. Johnson.
Jess, an Ordinary Smith
During the 1950's and 1960's, "Hi's" Recreation Parlor was the center for many of Clinton's elders to gather for a friendly game of dominoes or pool. Many others enjoyed dropping by for a cold drink or a quick hanburger. "PaPa", as some of Jess (Hi) Smith's grandchildren called him, made the best hamburgers in the world. And, it was always mystifying to watch the intensity with which the "old men" pondered their next domino moves. There was never much talk because of the high levels of concentration. It wasn't good form for kids to hang around and make a lot of noise. Hi's place changed locations a couple of times, but it was always on or around the square in town.
Jess Smith was not a complicated man. He had some basic beliefs which carried him and his family through some hard times. Those beliefs were founded in God, the sancitity of the family unit, the democratic party, and doing business with his friends and neighbors. He never would buy his "chevies" from anyone but Roy Lefler in Clinton, and in the depression years he would transport democrats to the polls to vote. Most of all, Jess kept together, as a young widower, a family of four little girls. As we understand now, he was the product of a long heritage of fighters and survivors. His values were handed down and he did what he thought was right and what he believed must be done.
Jesse Irvin Smith was born in Van Buren County, Arkansas (probably in Walnut Grove Community) on March 2, 1894 to Henry L. Smith and Permelia Jane McAllister. He was the youngest of their seven children. His mother would die while Jess was still a toddler. He was raised by his step-mother, Cora Tumbleston, and his two older sisters, Betty Griggs (married "Bud") and Sarah Griggs (married John). This may have been the reason Jess was so intent on keeping his own girls together after their mother's death; he was encouraged by some well-intentioned folks to give up the youngest to sympathetic families.
Jess Smith had grown up in a family that revered the Lord. His father, Henry, was a sometimes Methodist circuit rider and a member of the Methodist Church South. Jess' half brother, Chuck, became a Baptist minister and Jess, at the age of 70, attended the Baptist theological school in Little Rock where he was ordained to preach. It was at the old-time church socials and picnics that Jess courted his future wife, Margaret (Maggie) Hargis. She was to become the mother of his five daughters.
Maggie lived in town and was the daughter of Dr. John Joseph Hargis and Mary Ann Peel. The old Hargis home still stands at the end of Main at Pine. "Mag" was small and dark and was quite a contrast to Jess' tall and lanky appearance. She wore a size 4 and 1/2 shoe. Maggie had one sister, Kate, who married Dave Bradley. The first daughter of the Smiths was Winnie Jean who only lived to age two. Shortly after, Maxine was born, then Raye, Mary Jo, and Faye. Maggie herself died from a miscarriage at the beginning of the depression. She left behind a grieving husband and four little daughters, ages 4 to 11. The struggle over the next several years was difficult for both father and daughters. The girls did their own cooking and cleaning; one of their favorite things to make was chocolate gravy. Jess worked for the highway department. He would provide produce for neighbor women who would do the canning and share food with his family "on the halves". Many families and mothers in the neighborhood kept and eye on the children. But, the girls had a good and kind father and they grew up in a community where they know everyone, and they were somehow related to many of the friends. On Sunday afternoons Jess would often take the girls to visit with friends and relatives. He loved to call square dances and the children would sit on piles of quilts or on benches and be entertained for hours. There is a lot to be said for small towns and extended families.
About 15 years later, Jess married Emma Morrison of Leslie and they lived together in Clinton for about 20 years until her death. During this time Jess ran the recreation parlor and enjoyed a peaceful life among many life-long friends. Many of these friends were from families that dated back with many of Jess' own family lines. They came from the same far off counties and townships in the same states, mainly Tennessee and North Carolina. Many of their ancestors had served together in the Civil and Revolutionary wars. As unique as this seems in today's world, it is fairly commonplace in Southern towns and cities that lie along the old westward migration trails.
In his later years, Jess moved to Little Rock then Borger, Texas where three of his four daughters were living. Jess died in 1980 at the age of 86. He lies at rest in Bradley Cemetary next to Maggie.
Jess and Maggie have six surviving granddaughters, 16 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren who all live in Missouri, Oregon, Colorado and Texas. These descendants include teachers, students, corporate executives, airline pilots and many more. We hope Maggie and Jess are proud, and that the family can live up to the traditions handed down over the many generations. We know the old values can sustain us through the good times and the hard times yet to come.
Bonnie Williams Studebaker
Eldest Granddaughter
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