Dave,

I can address who were the Union troops "causing a reign of terror in La Fayette and Saline Counties" referred to in Brigadier General Brown's 10 September 1864 letter to LTC Bazel F. Lazear.

To estimate how that was key in the assassination of Edward Smarr's father, I would need to know:
-- the father's name (first, middle initial, last name),
-- date of his murder,
-- and if he held a public office and which one at the time of his death. Am I to assume he was living in or near Lexington at that time? Also, you mentioned "a county history book." Would you happen to know if that Lafayette County history was the 1881 history by the Missouri Historical Company, the 1881 history by the National Historical Company, or another one? A page number would be helpful, if you still have it.

Sincerely, Bruce Nichols