A Distinguished Gentleman - Rev. Dr. Benjamin Darius Smith

An 1853 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, he was also ordained as a Baptist minister in 1861. Benjamin's younger brother, George W. Smith, also a Baptist minister, wrote the following about Benjamin in the 1910 Mount Vernon Baptist Association Book: "As a preacher, he was earnest and sound in faith and practice. As a doctor, he was faithful and tender and succeeded well in his profession. As a neighbor, he was kind and helpful, always foremost in everything that tended to make those around him better and happier."

Benjamin and Dora lived in Swainsboro, Georgia for the first few years of their marriage, but by 1860 they had returned to Washington County where Benjamin conducted an extensive medical practice and pastored two Baptist churches.

In 1884 he moved his family to Forsyth, Monroe County, Georgia, where his youngest daughters attended Monroe Female Academy (later renamed Bessie Tift College), with the youngest daughter, Frances Katherine "Dumpsie," graduating in 1897. Benjamin then moved his family back to Swainsboro in Emanual County, where he again practiced medicine and pastored another Baptist church. Some records indicate that he also owned a general store in Swainsboro. Benjamin and Dora remained in Swainsboro until their deaths.

The following wedding announcement that appeared in the local newspaper on May 29, 1856:

MARRIED
By the Rev. Dr. Smith, on the 20th instant, Thomas E. Brown and Miss Ann F. Adams, all of Washington County.

The following Legal Notice appeared in the Milledgeville Union Recorder on Tuesday, Dec 1, 1857:

Sheriff Sales
"...will be sold...50 acres of land adjoining John Brantly, levied on as the property of B.D. Smith, to satisfy executions or fi fas in favor of Jonathan Hooks...R.C. Briant, Sheriff."

The following wedding announcement that appeared in the local newspaper on Jan 18, 1860:

MARRIED
"On the 9th instant, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. Dr. Smith, Mr. John H. Pittman to Miss Mary Ann Marsaleet, daughter of Ephriam Jordan, Esq., all of Washington County."

State: GA; County: Washington; Dist: unk; PO: Sandersville
Enumerated 4 June 1860 by W. G. Robson, Asst. Marshal
LN 12-15; HN 74; FN 73, Page: 169; Image: 0170; Roll: M653-140
===================================
Smith...Benjamin D...29...M...W...Physician...$2,700...$8,500...GA
Smith...Dora L..........23...F....W.............................................GA
Smith...Mary V...........5...F....W.............................................GA...Sch
Smith...Sarah H..........2...F....W.............................................GA

The 1860 Slave census showed Benjamin owned 8 slaves.

The following wedding announcements appeared in the local newspaper on Wednesday, March 16, 1870:

MARRIED
"On the 8th of February, by the same (Rev. B.D. Smith), Mr. Robert Sterling and Miss Martha J. Peacock, all of Washington County."

MARRIED
"On the 25th of February, by the same[Rev. B.D. Smith], Mr. Isaac Greenway and Miss Delilia Wilson, all of Washington County."

State: Ga; County: Washington; Dist: Tennille; PO: Tennille;
Enumerated 9 June 1870 by Henry A. Cates, Asst. Marshal
LN 23-29; HN 237, FN 224; Page: 204B; Image: ; Roll: M593-182
===================================
Smith...Benjamin D...39...M...W...Physician.............$3,500...$1,000...GA
Smith...Dora A.........35...F....W...Keeping House..............................GA
Smith...Mary V........16...F....W...Attending School............................GA
Smith...Sallie H........12...F....W...Attending School............................GA
Smith...George J......10...M...W...Attending School............................GA

The following Legal Notice appeared in the local newspaper on Feb 10, 1876:

"Washington County: Joseph Price files to sell before the court-house door in said county, property of Martha G. Young, deceased, late of Columbia County, Florida. Land adjoins Dr. B. D. Smith, Dr. G. L. Mason, A. W. Guin and others."

The following Legal Notice appeared in the local newspaper on Jan 6, 1876 and Feb 10, 1876:

"Washington County: Joseph Price files to sell before the court-house door in said county, property of Martha G. Young, deceased, late of Columbia County, Florida. Land adjoins Dr. B. D. Smith, Dr. G. L. Mason, A. W. Guin and others."

• Married: 13 Oct 1853 in Emanuel County, Georgia ^{19 1 2 3 4}
• Marriage License: 13 Oct 1853 in Emanuel County, Georgia
• Note:

  Georgia I do hereby certify that Benjamin D. Smith and Doriann L. Rountree
  Emanuel County was [sic] duly joined in matrimony by me the 13th October 1853
  
  Isaac L. Smith, J.P.
  
  The Justice of the Peace, Isaac L. Smith, was the father of the groom, Dr. Benjamin Darius Smith.

• Change Date: 30 Jan 2005

1. Mayme Vandella "Mary" SMITH b: 8 Sep 1854 in Swainsboro, Emanuel County, Georgia
2. Sarah Hasseltine "Sis Sallie" SMITH b: 3 Dec 1857 in Washington County, Georgia
3. George Leon SMITH b: 4 Jul 1860 in Washington County, Georgia
4. Dora Lavinia SMITH b: 19 Sep 1864 in Washington County, Georgia
5. Anna Elizabeth SMITH b: 15 May 1867
6. Mattie Mae "Doll" SMITH b: 3 Aug 1874 in Washington County, Georgia
7. William Fuller "Bud" SMITH b: 24 Apr 1877
8. Frances Katherine "Dumpsie" SMITH b: 6 Dec 1879 in Washington County, Georgia

1. Media: Book
   Title: Colby Smith and His Descendants
   Author: Brantley, Gene D., Smith, Robert A., and Veal, Carllene S.
   Publication: [primary and secondary source] Louisville, GA: The Colby Smith Family Publications, 1998
   Date: 19 Sep 2000
   Note:
   The three authors are all direct descendants of Colby Smith and Anna Henry Smith of early Washington County, Georgia.
   Page: p 790
2. Title: Descendants of Dr. Benjamin Darius Smith
   Author: Smith, DeSaussure Dugas, III "Dess", Compiler/Editor
   Publication: [primary and secondary source] Georgia, 2000 dess@jazz.cybermedia.net GEDCOM file (imported 9-18-2000) received from Dess Smith as an attachment to e-mail message dated 9-11-2000 to Diane Carrington Bradford.
   Date: 18 Sep 2000
   Note:
   DeSaussure Dugas Smith, III "Dess" is a direct descendant of Dr. Benjamin Darius Smith and through him of Colby Smith of early Washington County, Georgia.
   Page: GEDCOM from Dess Smith
3. Media: Photograph
   Title: Photograph of Tombstone (in possession of compiler)
   Author: Bradford, Diane C., Compiler
   Publication: [primary source] Georgia, 2000
4. Media: Census/Tax
   Title: 1850 Washington County, Georgia Census
   Publication: [primary source] Sandersville, Georgia, 1850
   Date: 10 Mar 2001
   Page: House 176, Family 176, p 215A
5. Media: Electronic database
   Title: Hart.GED
   Publication: [secondary source]
6. Media: Personal
   Title: Lists of Mason and Smith Family Names, Births and Deaths [handwritten by the family historian]
   Author: Henry, Francis Katherine Smith (Aunt Dumpsie)
   Publication: [primary source] Swainsboro, Georgia, 1920
7. Media: Electronic database
   Title: Smith/Ouzts Family Research [Online]
   Author: Ouzts, Julian Wilburn, Jr., Compiler/Editor
   Publication: [secondary source] Georgia, 2000. Downloaded Jul 3, 2000, from RootsWeb's World Connect Project at www.worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com
8. Media: Electronic database
   Title: Smith/Manuel Family Records [Online]
   Author: Manuel, Jayne, Compiler
   Publication: [secondary source] Downloaded Jul 3, 2000, from RootsWeb's World Connect Project at www.worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com.
9. Media: Research collection
   Title: Benjamin Darius Smith Descendants
   Author: Smith, DeSaussure Dugas, III "Dess", Compiler/Editor
   Publication: [primary and secondary source] Georgia, 2000 dess@jazz.cybermedia.net
   Date: 18 Sep 2000
10. Media: Book
    Title: Washington County, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings Vol. I 1852-1866
    Author: Evans, Tad, Compiler
    Publication: [primary source] Savannah, Georgia: Tad Evans, Publisher, Feb 17, 1994
    Date: 15 Aug 2001
    Page: Vol I 1852-1866, wedding announcement dated May 29, 1856, p 115
11. Media: Book
    Title: Georgia Newspaper Clippings, Emanuel County Extracts, 1815-1889
    Date: 5 Feb 2005
12. Media: Book
    Title: Washington County, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings Vol. I 1852-1866
    Author: Evans, Tad, Compiler
    Publication: [primary source] Savannah, Georgia: Tad Evans, Publisher, Feb 17, 1994
    Date: 15 Aug 2001
    Page: Vol I 1852-1866, Legal Notice dated Jan 18, 1860, p 224
13. Media: Census/Tax
    Title: 1860 Washington County, Georgia, Census
    Publication: [primary source] Sandersville, Georgia, 1860
    Page: LN 12, HN 74, FN 73, p 169
14. Media: Book
    Title: Washington County, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings Vol. II 1867-1880
    Author: Evans, Tad, Compiler
    Publication: [primary source] Savannah, GA: Tad Evans, Publisher, Apr 14, 1994
    Date: 11 Sep 2003
    Page: Wednesday, March 16, 1870
15. Media: Book
    Title: Georgia Newspaper Clippings, Emanuel County Extracts 1815-1889
    Publication: [primary source]
    Date: 6 Feb 2005
    Page: List of clippings about "Wilson" surname posted to the Emanue-L on Apr 12, 2004, 10:46 AM
16. Media: Census/Tax
    Title: 1870 Washington County, Georgia Census
    Publication: [primary source] Sandersville, Georgia, 1870
    Page: LN 23, HN 237, FN 224, p 204b
17. Media: Book
    Title: Washington County, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings Vol. II 1867-1880
    Author: Evans, Tad, Compiler
    Publication: [primary source] Savannah, GA: Tad Evans, Publisher, Apr 14, 1994
    Date: 11 Sep 2003
    Page: p 234
18. Media: Book
    Title: Georgia Newspaper Clippings, Emanuel County Extracts 1815-1889
    Publication: [primary source]
    Date: 6 Feb 2005
    Page: List of clippings about "Price" surname posted to the Emanue-L on Apr 12, 2004, 1:05 AM
19. Media: Court Records
    Title: Emanuel County, Georgia Marriage Book A 1817-1860
    Publication: [primary source] Emanuel County Probate Court, Swainsboro, Georgia (copy of marriage record in possession of Diane Carrington Bradford.)
    Date: 21 Jan 2004
    Page: p 46