SMART ROOTS - Our Family Origins

Rutherford County, NC

As was the case with much of the South, things were tough in Rutherford County after the Civil War. But as John's generation was growing up, America had established it's independence and was quickly expanding westward. Lands opened up in Kentucky and Tennessee luring young men to better futures and land just for the taking. There wasn't enough land in Rutherford County for the many Smarts that were now there so many left while some are still living there today.

James Smart Marries Nancy Scott (1794)

One of Mary's boys, James, married Nancy Scott on March 8th, 1794 in Rutherford County. Nancy's mother, Agnes (Reed) Smart, was the daughter of a Joseph Reed who must have been a descendent of the original Joseph Reed of Maryland.

James and Nancy Smart Move West (~1790s)

James and Nancy moved to Christian County and later to Livingston County, Kentucky. Sometime after Joseph Reed died, Nancy had a second son, born around 1799 in Eddyville, Kentucky which they named Joseph Reed Smart after her dear departed grandfather.

Joseph Reed Smart Born (1799)

The connection of Joseph Reed Smart to James and Nancy Smart is documented on a separate page, including information and contact for other Smarts not tied to our line.

James Smart Passes On (~1837)

James Smart died in Caldwell County, Kentucky sometime in 1837 at around the ripe old age of 67. On January 9th, 1836, seeing death coming, he wrote a will which is a treasure of our family history.