He was born into a Cherokee family in 1832 located in western North Carolina, part of a band that remained in the state during and after the period of Indian Removal.

Henry Smith served as an interpreter and translator for Reverend Evan Jones at the old Valley town mission.

[2] Henry Smith was one of the wealthiest men in the Eastern Cherokee Band (it was known in relation to the majority of the tribe that moved west.)

He worked actively to gain official U.S. government recognition for the band as a tribe under federal law and was successful.

[2] He is credited with gaining incorporation of the Eastern Band as a legal entity by the North Carolina General Assembly.