Preston Butler Smith was born on 27. May. 1863 at Shelby County, Indiana. He was the son of
John B. Smith and
Olive C. Thomas. Preston Butler Smith married
Hattie Smart, daughter of
James J. Smart and
Mary Ann Moody, on 27. Nov. 1886 at at her sister Lucy's home, Neosho County, Kansas; by J. M. Johnson, minister. Preston Butler Smith died on 5. May. 1931 at age 67. He was buried at Moran, Allen County, Kansas. They lived for a time at Stark, Kansas, then moved to Moran, Kansas where Mr. Smith was in business. Both are buried at Moran. (Preston B. Smith was a brother of Ernest Clifton Smith who married Mary Hancy Moody, Hattie’s cousin.) Preston was the son of John B. and Olive C. (Thomas) Smith, but she used her stepfather’s name, Howery. Her mother, Mrs. Sally Thomas married Jacob Howery when Olive was two. Preston was born about the same time the family moved to Barton County, Missouri. Both his parents died when he was very small. It is believed that he was cared for in early life by his sister, Eldora, and her husband, Jacob Moon. Also his oldest brother, Ernest Clifton Smith, must have helped care for him; however, it is known that he went to work early. He met Hattie Smith while visiting his brother, Ernest Clifton Smith.