Smith, Robert D

Smith, Robert D., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Oct. 21, 1802. In 1813 his family removed to Champaign County, O., where he lived till 1824, when he went to Mississippi to teach school. There he was converted, and united with the Church Nov. 9, 1824. He was licensed to preach in 1826, and preached under the presiding elder until 1828, when he was received on trial into the Mississippi Conference. He labored as missionary to the Choctaw nation for two years and six months. In 1831 he was stationed in Montgomery, Ala.; 1832, Mobile; 1833, Vicksburg; 1834, New Orleans; 1835, Natchez; 1836, Cole's Creek Circuit; 1837-38, Vicksburg District; 1839, Warren Circuit; 1840-41, appointed president of the Elizabeth Female Academy. at Washington; and in 1842 he was at Centenary College. In 1843-45 he labored as missionary among the colored people in Madison Parish, La., where he closed his life and work, May 16, 1845. See Minutes of Annual Conferences of the ME. Church, South, 1845, p. 33.