[Footnote 1:  From Chattanooga to Petersburg under Generals Grant and Butler, Houghton, Muffin & Co., N.Y. 1893.]

William Farrar Smith was born at St. Albans, in Northern Vermont, on the 17th of February, 1824.  He came of good New England stock, which emigrated from Massachusetts to the valley of Lake Champlain before the beginning of the last century.  Both his paternal and maternal ancestors and relations were notable people, and took prominent parts in the troubles of a thinly-settled frontier, and especially in the French and Indian war, and in the Committee of Safety, as well as in the militia and volunteers during the Revolutionary War.  They fought at the battle of Lake George, at the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, and at the affairs at Hubbardton and Bennington.  They were the companions of Stark, Seth Warner and Ethan Allen, and appear to have borne themselves bravely and well upon all occasions.  They were by name Robinsons, Saffords, Fays, Butlers and Smiths.  There is a well-founded tradition that his father’s family, which came from the old hill town of Barre, Massachusetts, were known during the earlier colonial days as Smithson, but before emigrating to Vermont dropped the second syllable for the sake of simplicity, and always thereafter called themselves Smith.

William’s father was a respectable farmer at or near St. Albans.  His uncle John was a lawyer and a judge of distinction, and during the excitement growing out of the Canadian rebellion of 1837, was elected to the next Congress.  He was a Democrat and the only one up to that time ever elected from the State.  During his term of service he gave the appointment of cadet at West Point to his nephew William.  His cousin John Gregory Smith, also a lawyer of distinction, was afterwards Governor of Vermont, and for many years president of the Vermont Central and Northern Pacific Railroads.  His grandmother Smith also from Barre, was the sister of a certain Captain Gregory of the Highland regiment serving in Boston before the Revolution.  Through this connection the General always believed he received a strain of McGregor blood, for many of that clan took the name of Gregory after their immigration to the colonies.

His own mother was Sarah Butler, a direct descendent of Isaac and Samuel Robinson who were believed to have come in the direct line from the celebrated puritan pastor, John Robinson, of Leyden, who was long recognized by even those who differed with him on questions of doctrine as “the most learned, polished and modest spirit that ever separated from the Church of England.”  To the prepotency of this distinguished divine, General Smith often, in a tone of mingled banter and seriousness, attributed not only his habit of mature reflection and love of learning, but also his “moderation combined with firmness” upon all questions which engaged his attention.