Spencer Russell Smith was the son of Spencer Smith and Mary Jemima Wilson. He married Sarah A Clayton 9 Nov 1843 in Princeton, Kentucky.

In 1861, Spencer Russell and Sarah lived with their eight children in Mount Vernon, Lawrence, Missouri. Spencer Russell was angry that Union soldiers had raided his farm and stolen his best horses. He joined the Confederate troops under the command of Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch at Wlison's Creek about 12 miles southwest of Springfield. The Battle of Wilson's Creek was a victory for the Confederates, but Spencer Russell Smith lost his life.

The next day, Sarah and her oldest son, Sanford searched the battlefield, but they could not find him.

Springfield National Cemetery has a small granite marker that was dedicated 27 Sep 1958 in honor of the unknown Confederate dead who fell in the Battle of Wilson’s Creek.

When Sarah died in 1868, the Smith family erected a stone that included Spencer Russell's name.