Name Note
Hiram's middle initial is sometimes listed as "T.". Information for a descendant of his sister Anna Mariah Baker indicates that his sister referred to him as Hiram F. Smith, often calling him "Franklin".
Family Note
Hiram Smith and his sister's father-in-law, Willis Baker, were both executed in the Palmyra Massacre, Palmyra, Marion, Missouri, during the Civil War. A memorial was erected in the Palmyra town square in honor of those who were executed.
Willis J. Baker
Historical Notes
This man deserves special recognition. He was one of ten victims of Union soldiers during the Massacre of Palmyra. The prisoners, confederate sympathizers, were scheduled to be executed in retaliation for the kidnapping and killing of a Union informant in Palmyra. These prisoners had nothing to do with the kidnapping/killing.
William T. Humphrey was one of the ten prisoners scheduled to be put to death. He was pardoned because he had seven small children. Hiram was taken in his place.
William T. Humphrey
William's son George, who was born two years after the execution, spent his first year's salary from teaching to erect the headstone monument which now stands at Mt. Pleasant. It was placed over Hiram's grave in honor of the man who was killed in place of Mr. Humphrey.
Verification
It has been verified through records found on the military website Fold3 that Hiram was a member of the 1st NE MO Cavalry, assigned to Colonel Porter's unit.
Hiram's middle initial is sometimes listed as "T.". Information for a descendant of his sister Anna Mariah Baker indicates that his sister referred to him as Hiram F. Smith, often calling him "Franklin".
Family Note
Hiram Smith and his sister's father-in-law, Willis Baker, were both executed in the Palmyra Massacre, Palmyra, Marion, Missouri, during the Civil War. A memorial was erected in the Palmyra town square in honor of those who were executed.
Willis J. Baker
Historical Notes
This man deserves special recognition. He was one of ten victims of Union soldiers during the Massacre of Palmyra. The prisoners, confederate sympathizers, were scheduled to be executed in retaliation for the kidnapping and killing of a Union informant in Palmyra. These prisoners had nothing to do with the kidnapping/killing.
William T. Humphrey was one of the ten prisoners scheduled to be put to death. He was pardoned because he had seven small children. Hiram was taken in his place.
William T. Humphrey
William's son George, who was born two years after the execution, spent his first year's salary from teaching to erect the headstone monument which now stands at Mt. Pleasant. It was placed over Hiram's grave in honor of the man who was killed in place of Mr. Humphrey.
Verification
It has been verified through records found on the military website Fold3 that Hiram was a member of the 1st NE MO Cavalry, assigned to Colonel Porter's unit.
Name Note
Hiram's middle initial is sometimes listed as "T.". Information for a descendant of his sister Anna Mariah Baker indicates that his sister referred to him as Hiram F. Smith, often calling him "Franklin".
Family Note
Hiram Smith and his sister's father-in-law, Willis Baker, were both executed in the Palmyra Massacre, Palmyra, Marion, Missouri, during the Civil War. A memorial was erected in the Palmyra town square in honor of those who were executed.
Willis J. Baker
Historical Notes
This man deserves special recognition. He was one of ten victims of Union soldiers during the Massacre of Palmyra. The prisoners, confederate sympathizers, were scheduled to be executed in retaliation for the kidnapping and killing of a Union informant in Palmyra. These prisoners had nothing to do with the kidnapping/killing.
William T. Humphrey was one of the ten prisoners scheduled to be put to death. He was pardoned because he had seven small children. Hiram was taken in his place.
William T. Humphrey
William's son George, who was born two years after the execution, spent his first year's salary from teaching to erect the headstone monument which now stands at Mt. Pleasant. It was placed over Hiram's grave in honor of the man who was killed in place of Mr. Humphrey.
Verification
It has been verified through records found on the military website Fold3 that Hiram was a member of the 1st NE MO Cavalry, assigned to Colonel Porter's unit.
Hiram's middle initial is sometimes listed as "T.". Information for a descendant of his sister Anna Mariah Baker indicates that his sister referred to him as Hiram F. Smith, often calling him "Franklin".
Family Note
Hiram Smith and his sister's father-in-law, Willis Baker, were both executed in the Palmyra Massacre, Palmyra, Marion, Missouri, during the Civil War. A memorial was erected in the Palmyra town square in honor of those who were executed.
Willis J. Baker
Historical Notes
This man deserves special recognition. He was one of ten victims of Union soldiers during the Massacre of Palmyra. The prisoners, confederate sympathizers, were scheduled to be executed in retaliation for the kidnapping and killing of a Union informant in Palmyra. These prisoners had nothing to do with the kidnapping/killing.
William T. Humphrey was one of the ten prisoners scheduled to be put to death. He was pardoned because he had seven small children. Hiram was taken in his place.
William T. Humphrey
William's son George, who was born two years after the execution, spent his first year's salary from teaching to erect the headstone monument which now stands at Mt. Pleasant. It was placed over Hiram's grave in honor of the man who was killed in place of Mr. Humphrey.
Verification
It has been verified through records found on the military website Fold3 that Hiram was a member of the 1st NE MO Cavalry, assigned to Colonel Porter's unit.
Inscription
This monument is dedicated to the memory of Hiram Smith the hero that sleeps beneath the sod here who was shot at Palmyra Oct. 17, 1862 as a substitute for Wm. T. Humphrey, my father.
G. W. Humphrey
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