SMOOT Family, Johnson County Illinois From: The Portrait and Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin Counties, Illinois. Chicago Biographical Publishing Company 1893 Transcribed by Cindy Pegg Benjamin Franklin Smoot was born 30 December 1848 in Johnson County, IL to Reed Smoot and Eliza Thomas. His father was born 1812 in Owen County, KY and his mother was born 1819 in Sumner County, Tenn. Reed died in 1878 in Johnson County, IL. Benjamin married 20 November 1873 to Elizabeth Amanda Barley of Hardin County, IL. She was the daughter of Samuel W. and Jane Barley. Benjamin and Elizabeth had three children, Thomas R., James A. and Eliza L.