John Smith, or Elder John Smith, was also known to thousands of Kentuckians as "Raccoon" John Smith. Born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on Oct 15, 1784, Smith had a limited but through education. He joined the Baptist Church in December 1804 and became a preacher in 1808. In 1828 he transferred allegiance to the Church of the Disciples of Christ and continued to preach for the next forty years in Kentucky and Missouri. He was arrested in Missouri in 1866 for refusing to take an oath of alliegence to the "new Constitution of Missouri," although he was a known supporter of the Union. His trial was never held since the oath was set aside by the United States Supreme Court. Smith died on February 28, 1868, at the age of 83, in Mexico, Missouri.
From the description of John "Raccoon" Smith marriage records, 1815-1853. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 36082111
