Willam Smith
Biographical Information
William Smith
- Full Name
- William Smith
- Victim Profile
- William Smith
- Name Variations
- Jim Smith
- Biography
- On January 4th, 1915, William “Jim” Smith, 26, was lynched and shot, along with his brother Edward “Ed” Smith, 22, five miles outside of the City of Wetumpka, by a mob of twenty to fifty people, after being accused of the murder of a prominent Elmore County farmer. Smith was a native of Macon AL, and a farm laborer who worked occasionally on Stillwell’s land with his brother Ed. Mr. Smith left behind his newly wed bride Meter Marbly, to who he was only married to for a year prior to his lynching.They were married on January 11th, 1914, in Titus, AL. His relative, Hezekiah Smith, served as a witness for their holy matrimony, and was married to Lueada Benson on the same day. It is unclear to determine what happened to Marbly after Smiths lynching, but it is most likely that she moved out of the area, along with some of the Smiths’other relatives. Many, including Hezekiah, relocated to cities up North, with their families and never returned. Jim was not only a husband, but a brother, a cousin, a son, and a valued member of his community. His life was taken unjustly and too soon.
- Documented or Attempted
- Documented
- Birth Date
- Circa 1891
- County of Birth; County of Death
- N/A; Elmore County
- Death Date
- January 4, 1915
- Date of Attempted Lynching
- N/A
- Age at Death
- 26
- Race
- Black
- Sex
- Male
- Researchers
- Makyla Brewer
- Case Number
- AMP541-19150104-001
- Identified by:
- Alabama Memory Project
- Mother
- N/A
- Father
- N/A
- Spouse or Partner
- Meter Marbly
- Child
- None
- All other relatives
- Hezekiah Smith, Edward "Ed" Smith (sibling)
- Occupation
- Farm Laborer
- Education Level
- N/A
- Head of Household and Literacy Status
- N/A
Featured Sources
Click here to view sources for Willam Smith
Created
Nov 7, 2023
Modified
Nov 7, 2023