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CSA Record of Sgt. Robert Rufas Smith

Listing originally contributed for use on the Polk County FLGenWeb site on or before 18 Jun 2000 by Jennifer Taylor Nichols. Prepared by the family of Rab Smith: Mary Traylor Lyons, Kathy Best Brosky, Jennifer Taylor Nichols, Jeff & Shelda Gary.
In Deepest Appreciation and Honor

Robert Rufus "Rab" Smith and Sarah Louisa Hagan

The Sons of the Confederate Veterans No. 1323
&
The United Daughters of the Confederacy No. 791
&
Color Guard

~~~~~ HONOR ~~~~~
Saturday, May 6, 2000 9AM at Gapway Cemetery
SGT. ROBERT RUFUS SMITH

In 1838 Robert Rufus Smith was born in Wilcox County Alabama to Seth Smith and Nancy Rackley Smith. Seth Smith died fighting in the Alabama Creek Indian uprising. Shortly thereafter when Rab was 12 years old his mother died, leaving him with no living relatives. Tradition has it that Rab, at the young age of 12, set out on foot to Florida, heading to Calhoun County. Brave Rab made it to Calhoun County and was befriended by a black preacher (free-man) named Nathaniel Hiers. Preacher Hiers took Rab in and taught him to read and write the "Old English" style that was common in those days. Until Rab was 20 years old he remained with Preacher Hiers who, according to census documents, was a "shingle cutter". A man named Halcomb Hagan lived in Calhoun County and also befriended young Rab. Halcomb Hagan had 5 sons near the age of Rab. Rab, along with Hagan's 5 son's entered the Civil War together.

Rab enlisted at Apalatchicola, Florida on 10 March 1862. He transferred to Co. E, 5th Batt'n, Florida Cavalry and also served in Co. A, 2nd Florida Cavalry and Co. H, 1st Florida Cavalry. Rab was paroled at Quincy, Florida 22 May 1865.

Upon Rab's discharge he returned home to Calhoun County and married Halcomb Hagan's eldest daughter, Sarah Louisa on 5 September 1866. Rab supported his family as a bounty hunter and entrepreneur living most of his married life in Sumter County. Later in life he settled in Auburndale where he died at the home of his only living daughter, Mary Dove (Smith) Norman.