Anderson (Lant) Smith was born 17 Dec 1781, Sullivan co., Tenn., died 18 Jun 1858, Cameron, Dekalb, Misso. and is buried in the Wamsley Cem., DeKalb, Misso. He married Rebecca Thompson, daughter of John Thompson and Mary Clark. Rebecca was born 12 Sep 1786, Virginia, died 11 July 1852 in Cameron and is also buried in the Wamsley Cemetery.

The Smith family had a long and much interrupted journey from North Carolina, back through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and to Missouri. They traveled in covered wagons across mountains, rivers and plains. The roads were only trails so they had to ford the rivers and streams. The household goods were securely packed in the wagons.
Anderson Smith Jr. appears in the tax lists in 1801 (likely 21 years old). In 1802 and 1803 he is taxed on 100 acres. In Order Book vol 2, p.13: 7 April 1804 listed: Ky vs Anderson Smith, Anderson is described as 6 ft tall, fair, has had a broken arm, lost the sight of the right eye, is about 24 years old. He was charged of the murder of Ephraim Edams (Adams or Evans).
Anderson and Rebecca Smith moved to Georgia in 1804, to Tennessee in 1809, to Gallatin County, Illinois in 1820 and to Morgan County, Illinois. Together with his brother, Vincent T Smith, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Mollie reached western Missouri about 1827. Vincent T and Elizabeth (Eliza), went to Kansas before the Civil war. The other sister, Mollie, married a Poteet and moved to Buchanan Co, Missouri.

Anderson Smith was listed in the 5th Federal Census (1830) as a resident of Clay Co, Missouri with his wife and nine children. In 1833 he and his son's homesteaded over 1000 acres of land between what later became the the Harris School and Grindstone Creek in Grand river Twp, Clinton county (now DeKalb county). The Smith's were the third family to settle north of Cameron, Missouri.

They were the parents of 15 children and held school and worship services in their homes until schools and churches could be built. It seems that the three most important things to the Smith family were - family, church and school. The old Wamsley (Presbyterian) Church, next to the Wamsley Cemetery, in DeKalb Co, Missouri was built by the Smiths and their neighbors.

Anderson and Rebecca had 126 known grandchildren, 105 born while Anderson was still alive.

At that time, friendly indians often camped during the winter in the area north of Cameron. The nearest trading post was Weston, Missouri on the Missouri River. A wagon train would be made up about twice a year to go to Weston to purchase such things as coffee, sugar, flour, salt, and a few other things that could not be produced on the farm. Trappers came down river to trade at Weston. The Smith's butchered a large number of hogs and cured the meat. They kept the hams, shoulders and sausage for the family to use, and loaded the wagons to the top with huge slabs of salt bacon, which they traded to the trappers at Weston, Missouri.

DEKALB COUNTY, MISSOURI - 1850 AGRICULTURE CENSUS - Anderson Smith

Item - Cash Value
50 acres improved land; 150 acres unimproved land - $800.00
Farm Implements - $100.00
4 horses, 4 milch cows, 4 oxen, 6 other cattle, 16 sheep, and 30 swine - $430.00
10 bushel wheat, 100 bu. Indian corn, 300 bu. Oats, 30 lb. wool, 100 lb. butter, 6 ton hay, and 650 lbs. beeswax & honey.
home manufactured - $200.00
animals slaughtered - $100.00

Know all men by these presents that I Anderson Smith (Sr) of the County of Dekalb and state of Missouri have this day for and in consideration of the sum of five Dollars, to the said Andrew in hand paid by Andrew J Smith of the County of and State aforesaid granted and hold and by their presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said Andrew J Smith The following described parcel or tract of land, viz, The North West Quarter of the North West Quarter of section thirty four also ten acres off of the west side of the North east Quarter of the North west Quarter of section thrity four all in township fifty eight, 58, and Range thirty to have and to hold the premises thereby conveyed with all the rights privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the said Andrew J Smith his heirs and assigns forever & that Anderson Smith, (Sr) hereby covenanting to and with the said Andrew J Smith his heirs and assigns for himself his heirs creditors and administrator to warrant and defend the title claim of every person whatsoever in witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this the twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Fifty Eight.

/s/ Anderson Smith
State of Missouri }
County of Dekalb { ss

Be it Remembered that Anderson (Sr) Smith who is personally known to the undersigned justice of the Peace within and for the county of DeKalb in the State of Missouri to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within deed as a party therto this day appeared before me and acknowledged that he executed and delivered the said deed as his voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein contained given under my hand this the twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and fifty eight. S. V. Shewe. Justice Peace

Filed for record Jun 26th 1858

Robert A Stewitt [sp?], Recorder
[This is a transcription of the land transaction between Andrew Jackson Smith and his father Anderson Smith, dated May 24, 1858, and filed June 26, 1858, from the DeKalb county Courthouse in Maysville, Missouri.]

MARRIAGE: Married with consent of father, John Thompson. Surety - Thomas Thompson. Clerk's Office, State of Kentucky, Pulaski Co., Court Hose Marriage bonds, Vol. I (1799-1863) page 155; roll #2959, April 5, 1878 (LDS); by Rosalie Smith.

Anderson and Rebecca's children are:
1-Thompson b. 15 Feb 1802, Kty, d. 16 Oct 1865, Maysville, DeKalb, Misso, bur in the Smith Cem, DeKalb, Misso. md Elizabeth Conlee.
2-Vincent T b. 15 May 1803, Kty, d. 28 Oct 1853, Bethany, Harrison, Misso, bur in the Smith Cem, Bethany, Harrison, Misso. md Sarah Emeline Wright.
3-Priscilla Aquilla b. 11 May 1804, Georgia d. 1875, Maysville, DeKalb, Misso, md. John Wright
4-Capt. Edward (Ned) b. 7 Sep 1806, Georgia, d. 4 Aug 1879, Cameron, DeKalb, Misso, md Elcy Best
5-John E (M) b.2 Dec 1809, Tenn, d. Oct 1880, Maysville, DeKalb, Misso, md. Unity Gilliam
6-Anderson (Ance), III b. 19 Jan 1813, Tenn. d. 19 Apr 1876, Alto Vista, Daviess, Misso, bur Black Cem, Winston, Daviess, Misso. md. Mahalia Ann (Halley) Henderson
7-Sarah (Sally) b. 1814, Tenn. d. Cameron, DeKalb, Misso.
8-Mary b. 1815, Tenn. d. Albany, Gentry, Misso. md. Jeremiah Stanton
9-William Carrell b. 1815, Tenn. md. Elizabeth Lord
10-Andrew Jackson b. 6 Dec 1817, Gallatin, Ill. d. 4 Jan 1892, Winston, Eaviess, Misso. bur Wamsley Cem, DeKalb, Misso. md Lucinda Henderson (sister to Mahalia above)
11-Narcissa Rachel b. 1822, Morgan co., Ill d. Cameron, DeKalb, Misso, md. George Shaw
12-George Washington b. 21 Mar 1824, Morgan co., Ill, d. 10 Jan 1851, Cameron, DeKalb, Misso. bur.Wamsley, DeKalb, Misso. md. Martha Jane Newhouse
13-Louise Callie b. 1826, Morgan co., Ill. d. Albany, Gentry, Misso. bur Koger Cem, Martinsville, Harrison, Misso. md. William Hunter, Jr.
14-Elizabeth Ann b. 17 Sep 1828, Clay co., Misso. d. 12 Mar 1885, Mercer co., Misso. bur. Oak Hill Cem., Funktown, Dekatur, Iowa md. __(?) Henderson
15-Martha