James Hamilton Smart ^17,23,24

  General Notes:

James was farmer and a "self made" Baptist preacher. No formal education, but began preaching around 1890 (served the Sycamore Baptist Church as pastor from 1899-1926). He celebrated the marriage and funeral rites of many of his family members. James kept a diary for a couple years around 1890 - put down something everyday. Depended on farming for a living and grew cotton, corn, potatoes and pretty much all their own food. James did not have electricity, nor indoor toilet for his family. For water they used an open well - used a bucket and pulley. No telephone. Just "country life".

His house "never had a paintbrush on it". The house had an open hall down the middle with two rooms on each side of the hall.

According to his son John, James Hamilton Smart was, "A good man. He came along at a time when most of the farmers did not try to make alot of money. They wanted to provide for their family. The Lord was really leading him in the field of preaching - he farmed so that his family would have something to eat. He was gone each weekend because at the time preachers did not really have set churches they preached in.

James Smart had black hair...

MORE NOTES:
He was a preacher and farmer, converted and joined the church on
September 29, 1882. He was ordain to Ministry in June, 1898 and
began preaching September 1899 at Sycamore, Ar. He and his wife
moved from near Okolona to the Sycamore Community 1/2/1908 where
he lived until his death on 1/1/1942.

James married Susan Iola Crosslin, daughter of William Frederick Crosslin and Martha Jane Daniel, on 3 May 1888. (Susan Iola Crosslin was born on 10 Nov 1870 in Arkansas ²⁴ and died on 10 Jul 1970 in Camden, Arkansas.)