Obedience A. Smith

Obedience A. Smith

• Obedience A. Smith was born on 15 February 1805 in Logan County, Kentucky.
• She married Hiram George Runnels, son of Harmon Runnels and Hester Hubert, on 16 June 1823 in Hinds County, Mississippi.
• Obedience A. Smith became a widow at the 16 December 1857 death of her husband Hiram George Runnels.
• Obedience A. Smith appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Brenham, Washington County, Texas, at Vulcan boarding in the household of dentist Henry Graves.
• Obedience A. Smith died on 10 December 1883 at age 78 in Independence, Washington County, Texas.
• She was interred at Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
• The following appeared on 16 December 1883 in The Galveston Daily News: (Independence, Dec. 13) On Monday afternoon, December 10, Mrs. ex-Governor Hiram G. Unnnels was laid away in the cemetery of this historic town. She was sick but a short time and in her last moments was attended by her beloved sister, Mrs. T. B. J. Hadley, of Houston. She was born in Logan county, Kentucky, February 14, 1805, hence, was seventy-eight years old when she died. She was married to Hiram G. Runnels, at Jackson, Miss., in 1824, and joined the Baptist church the year before her marriage. Her husband was governor of Mississippi in 1838, at a time when the most momentous questions were the subject of political agitation. After he had served out his term asd governor of Mississippi he came to Texas. He was the uncle of the late ex-Governor H. R. Runnels, of Texas, and Mrs. Alexander Sessums, late of Galveston. His granddaughter married James Bryan, great-grandson of Moses Austin, the founder of the first American colony which settled Texas.
       A wide circle of relatives will long remember the genial disposition, benefolent heart and stately presence of the widow of Hiram G. Runnels, governor of Mississippi in the palmy days of McNutt, Foote, Walker and Sergeant S. Prentiss. W. C. C.

• Last Edited: 25 Dec 2012