Joshua Smith, and Mary, his wife, had born to them twelve children. Two of them died in childhood—a son and a daughter. The other ten reared highly respected families in the South and West. Of these ten there were seven sons and three daughters.
Patience Bland, daughter of Joshua Smith and his wife, Mary Anderson, was born October 24, 1797. She was a granddaughter of Nancy Anderson, nee Stephenson, one of the Four. She received a liberal education. She was always neat in her appearance, industrious and self-reliant, and quite intelligent. She was not foolishly proud, but worked with her own hands in order that she could appear in any society without expense to her family. Her father moved to Robertson County, Tennessee, when she was a child. She married Davis Gurley, Esq., of Tennessee, in 1823. As useful and domestic as she was in young womanhood, it was reserved to her matronhood to shine brilliantly. She lived to have the care of a very large household, both of children and negro slaves. But she was always equal to the task over which Providence and a good husband had placed her. Mr. Gurley bought land and opened up a farm one mile west from Leighton, Alabama, in 1823. Davis Gurley was for many years a justice of the peace. He was an upright, honorable man, a fine, intelligent farmer. He accumulated a ens ae ee
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fortune in land and negroes. He and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Church. They were noted in their neighborhood for their leniency to their slaves. Their negro slaves had such a home with their master and mistress as they have never had since they were free, and no one knows this fact so well as the old slaves do. They reared a family of sons and daughters. The children were well educated. They are among the best people in the country. The family moved to Waco, Texas, in 1853.
Col. Edwards Jeremiah Gurley, oldest son of Davis Gurley, commanded a regiment of soldiers in the Confederate army. He is a lawyer, but has retired from practice, and lives in comfort at Gurley, a railroad town below Waco, in Falls County. He employs his time in looking after the interest of his large estate.
James Henry, son of Davis Gurley and his wife, Patience Bland Smith, was born in Alabama. He was educated at LaGrange College, married in Waco, Texas; was master of Waco Masonic Lodge, Number 92. He has a son in Waco, George B. Gurley, who is an only child. He is city engineer. J. H. Gurley died comparatively young. During the year 1871, Waco Lodge, Number 92, having grown so as to be unwieldy, a new lodge was organized and chartered. It was named in honor of a deceased master of Waco Lodge, Number 92, J. H. Gurley Lodge, Number 337.
Davis Robert Gurley, the youngest child of Davis Gurley and his wife, Patience Bland Smith, was born near Leighton, Alabama, and educated in the Wesleyan University, Florence, Alabama. He graduated with the class of 1857. On his return to his father's home in Texas he volunteered for the State frontier service. When the war of the States began he went into the Confederate service. He filled many high official stations with honor and distinction. He was adjutant-general at the close of the war. He is a farmer with ample means. He lives at his country plantation just below and adjoining the city of Waco. Davis Gurley married Miss Lutie Earle, in 1865. They reared an interesting family. It has been a happy household. Much attention has been given by Captain Gurley and his wife to the education and domestic training of their intelligent children. The facilities for an education at Waco are very good. Probably no place affords better schools and colleges. The city is known over the State as the "Athens of Texas." The Gurleys have reaped, and are yet reaping, the full benefit of such grand opportunities. Some of his children are married and living in Waco. One daughter, Mary Azalete, married Dr. C. C. McCulloch, who holds high rank as surgeon in the United States Army. Of course, he goes where his services are thought to be most needed. They are now stationed at Fort Meade, South Dakota. Mrs. McCullock is a very intelligent, educated lady, a loving wife and devoted mother.
Joe Taylor, Esq., one of the leading lawyers of Waco, is a grandson of Davis and Mrs. Patience Gurley.
Nancy Agnes, daughter of Joshua Smith and his wife, Mary Anderson, was born in South Carolina in 1799. She married Cornelius Carmack. They reared a family in Lauderdale County, Alabama, where Mr. Carmack was well and favorably known. He was fond of politics, an able debater, a natural poet and orator. In his early life he had no opportunities for obtaining an education. But he had a vigorous and retentive memory. He moved to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, served in the State legislature and was president of the State Constitutional Convention when he died.
Francis McMillan Carmack, son of Cornelius Carmack and his wife, Nancy Agnes Smith, married Elvira (Kate) Holding. Edward W. Carmack, son of Frances McMillan Carmack, is a United State senator from Tennessee. He is an able debater and a leader of the Democratic party.
Robert Anderson, son of William Anderson, the Revolutionary soldier, and his wife, Nancy Stephenson, one of the Four, married Miss Jane Barber in South Carolina and moved west, and settled in Giles County, Tennessee, where they reared a large and worthy family. Their descendants of to-day are among the most respected and honored citizens of Giles County, Tennessee.