Note 118 — {73} CHAPTER IV

Thomas A. Smith, a native of Virginia, attained the rank of brigadier-general during the War of 1812-15. Resigning his commission in 1818, he was appointed receiver of the land office at Old Franklin, Missouri. In 1826 he removed to a large tract of prairie land on Salt Fork, Saline County, about eight miles from Marshall. This being one of the earliest attempts to occupy prairie land, Smith called his estate "Experiment." He was an intimate friend of Senator Thomas A. Benton. See volume xvi of our series, note 91, for his military record.—Ed.