William Willis Smithwick was born in Georgia, November 1823 - 24, to Edmond Smithwick and Piety Jackson Skinner Willis.

He married Mary James, May 5, 1848 in Campbell County, Georgia. Mary James bore him six children before he joined the Confederacy in Alabama.

William was 39 when he enlisted, older than most soldiers at that time, so his commander detailed him as a wagoner.

For a short time William was listed as a deserter but later records indicated that he returned to service in 1864. It is believed that he may have returned home to bury Mary (she died bet 1862/63) and settle his children with their Grandmother Piety.

In 1865 Wm married Mary Albright and she bore him six more children. They relocated to Bellefonte, Boone County Arkansas before 1880. Between 1880 & 1900 the family moved to Italy, Ellis County, Texas, where two older sons Steven and William Dawson were living.

It is believed that Mary Albright and four of their children died about the same time (between 1900 - 1905, in Italy, and are buried there. William Willis death or his burial is not known.

William W Smitherwick