Ida Ross Smith

(1872-1958)

At a Glance

Ross Smith Best was a charter member of the Chicora Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She taught Sunday School at Divine Street Methodist Church in Dunn, NC for 42 years. Her husband was Lee Jackson Best (1863-1940) whom she married about 1905 in Harnett County, NC. They had one child who died before the age of one. He had been previously married with several children.

Biographical Data

She went by the name of Ross and her gravestone reads  "Ross Smith Best"

Important Dates

Ida Ross Smith was born on March 16, 1872, in Johnston County, NC. She died on July 27, 1958, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Places of Residence

• Johnston County, NC.
• Wake County, NC.
• Harnett County, NC.

Schools Attended

• Peace Institute.

Relatives

• Parents: Farquhard [II] Campbell Smith (1839-1919) and Sarah Elizabeth Sanders (1840-1900) .
• Paternal grandparents: Farquhard C. Smith, [Sr.] (1801-1871) [1] and Sarah Slocumb Grady [1].
• Maternal grandparents: Ransom Sanders (1797-1844) [1] and Sarah Campbell (1814-1882) [1].
• Siblings:
  • three brothers, Douglas Smith, Edwin Sanders Smith (1873-1929) and Farquhard [III] Campbell Smith (1881-1941).
  • three sisters, Bettie Smith (1881-1881), Jane Robeson Smith (1885-1910) and Laura Sanders Smith (1875-1953).
• Uncle: Edwin Smith Sanders (1835-1864) [1].
• Aunts: Lauretta Winifred Sanders (1842-1866)  [1], Isabella Smith (1830-1853) , Bettie Smith (1836-1875)  and Janie Smith.
• Cousin: Bessie Robeson.

References

1. Mary Claire Engstrom. The Book of Burwell Students: Lives of Educated Women in the Antebellum South. (Hillsborough: Hillsborough Historic Commission, 2007).