Here is a complete, genuine historic newspaper with the following title, date and description. He obviously focused on his talents to make his life better, rather than being limited by his difficulties. His iron frame has sunk under the severe fatigues and exposures to which he has too willingly subjected himself. There were many others, however, who were just as important to the texas cause. Sep 04, 2006 is a way to mark unique locations on the planet and give them a voice. The oral health of deaf smith county, texas, was so legendary, in fact, that rumor had it one could grow a new set of teeth just by moving there. As a young man, smith travelled to texas, where he remained only a short time before returning to mississippi. Oct 01, 2007 on page 3 under texas is a report datelined houston, december 9 stating in part. Swain passed away when i wrote my first serious deaf smith article in 1990 the voice now hearing health and i dedicated the piece to him.
Deaf smith county, texas simple english wikipedia, the free. At the age of eleven years he emigrated with his parents to the mississippi territory, and settled near natchez. Erastus deaf smith western heritage from the texas. We have just received the intelligence of the death of deaf smith. How was erastus deaf smith important to the alamo answers. Erastus smith 17871837 commonly known as deaf smith is a famous american deaf hero for his significant role as a scout and soldier in the texas revolution. He was born erastus smith in new york on april 19,1787. The deaf smith oak tree, where smith spied on the mexican troops, is located on this property, also. Theres something about reallife figures being wrapped into historical series that makes them more interesting, which i think is a big factor in the success of historys texas rising. Erastus smith was born in dutchess county, new york in 1787. Deaf smith county texas genealogy and history presented by. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company.
A childhood disease caused him to lose his hearing. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1890. Postcard image of the deaf smith monument in richmond, texas. Smith, erastus deaf the handbook of texas online texas. What is now deaf smith county was part of a vast area attached to bexar county, which took in. During those dark days of the texas revolution many men came forward and. Why does stryver continually criticize and belittle sydney carton for his social lapses from tales of two cities book 2 chapter 11. He wrote that there was an informal group mentioned in the. Front black and white drawing of erastus deaf smith wearing a jacket and tie. Erastus deaf smith erastus deaf smith, born an american 17871837, is one of the most remembered revolutionary heroes who fought for texas s independence.
Smith was away from the alamo delivering letters from travis to sam houston when the mexican army made its final assault. Erastus deaf smith why he is famous facts famous quote education adulthood challenges he faced he fought in the texas revolutionary war while he was deaf. In 1798, his family moved near natchez, mississippi. One of the largest counties in texas is named for captain erastus deaf smith, a deaf man. Although erastus deaf smith probably never set foot on deaf smith county soil, it was in his honor and memory the county was named when it was created from bexar territory on august 21, 1879, and was attached to oldham county for law and court purposes with tascosa as the. In 1836, guadalupe and erastus smith sold the lower portion of this grant, including the cibolo crossing to byrd lockhart. Erastus deaf smith was born in duchess county, new york, on april 19, 1787, the son of chilaib and mary smith. Burnet singlehandedly kept a horseback government functioning during the darkest, most dangerous days of the texas revolution. Smith first visited texas in 1817 but did not remain. Deaf smith county the handbook of texas online texas state. Richmond, texas ap for amateur sleuths, theres nothing like a. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Jesse frank ford, founder of arrowhead mills, led the opposition to the deaf smith site on grounds of contamination of the ogalalla aquifer, the source of much of the water supply for west texas.
Smith first moved to texas in 1821 where he married a hispanictexan tejana named guadalupe ruiz. Deaf smith county, texas genealogy links tx geneology. Born april 19, 1787 in dutchess county, new york, smith moved with his parents to mississippi territory at the age of eleven. Erastus deaf smith april 19, 1787 november 30, 1837 was an american frontiersman noted for his part in the texas revolution and the army of the. Deaf smith county is on the western edge of the panhandle of texas.
Smith moved with his parents to mississippi territory at the age of eleven. But mostly deaf smith is remembered as a hero from the storied battle of san jacinto and as one of the lone star republics greatest patriots. Named in honor of erastus deaf smith, 17871837, came to texas in 1821 rendered valuable service as a scout and spy during the texas revolution and was conspicuous for his bravery in the battle of san jacinto. Cornelius smith in texas tx 29 records found whitepages. After he recovered from his wounds, deaf smith became a messenger for william b. Erastus smith, commonly known as deaf smith, is responsible for helping determine the history of texas. Being one of the first to join the texas republican army in gonzalez, his contributions as a spy, scout, and soldier would influence the battle of concepcion, the renowned grass fight, and the battle of san jacinto.
A biography of erastus deaf smith written for juveniles and older children. Houston ordered erastus deaf smith to destroy the bridgea move. The hereford, tx micropolitan statistical area includes all of deaf smith county. The county was created in 1876 and later organized in 1890. Deaf smith county has been ranked the 9th best place for less affluent texans to live, according to texas. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. He played a key role in the battle of san jacinto, in which texas won its independence from mexico on april 21, 1836. Land survey abstract indices of the original land owners of texas deaf smith county. Scout, spy, and texas hero virginia marsh roeder on. Mystery of deaf smiths burial site intrigues fort bend county. In 1876 the state legislature identified and named the county, but it was not organized until 1890, with the town of laplata as the original county seat. Ernie, the oldest book i have on this is the texas rangers by walter prescott webb.
Hereford is known as the beef capital of the world. It was named for erastus deaf smith, a famous scout of the texas revolution. I first learned about deaf smith in 1993 when i entered deaf culture as a realtime court reporter, carting, captioning to large screens for the deaf and hardofhearing communities. He fought at the grass fight and the battle of san jacinto.
If he was around today we might call him, a yankee. Search deaf smith county clerk records and official public records. With tooth decay ravaging virtually every town and city in midtwentiethcentury america, the inhabitants of one region remained famously free of cavities. Texasfile land and real estate records include deeds, oil and gas leases, mineral deeds, liens, right of ways, plat maps and probates. Erastus deaf smith 27 may smith was a hunter, rancher, texas scout and spy for sam houston during the texas revolution. Deaf smith is famous for the important role he played in the texas revolution. Hence, history remembers erastus by the name of deaf smith.
The county seat is hereford, which is known as the beef capital of the world. The words i read captured my attention and imagination, deaf smith, texas spy, died november 30, 1837. In the civil war, deaf smith was a influential soldier and helped texas. Baldwin, 19852012, documents the research performed by dr.
Erastus deaf pronounced deef smith was an admirable person in texas rising and one in which the character of the individual may closely match the one portrayed in the miniseries. Deaf smith retired briefly with his family to richmond, texas, before he died on november 30, 1837. Despite this handicap, however, smith became one of sam houstons most reliable and most trusted scouts. My deaf friends simply shrugged, its because youre hearing. Jul 02, 2015 erastus deaf pronounced deef smith was an admirable person in texas rising and one in which the character of the individual may closely match the one portrayed in the miniseries. After the war, deaf smith led a company of texas rangers. Deaf smith county is located on the texas new mexico border and has a very interesting history. Apr 12, 2016 today a county in texas is named for him as is, of all things, a brand of peanut butter from 1960 that was introduced in deaf smith county. The united states would go on to acquire not only the republic of texas. His parents were strict members of the baptist church, biography of smith deaf smith read more. Deaf smith county, texas tombstone project search cemetery transcriptions for deaf smith county. Since 1935 the texas state directory has been a trusted resource and has been referred to as the bible. His health apparently recovered except for a partial loss of hearing, hence the nickname deaf smith, pronounced deef smith.
Arnie armadillo and the texas heroes is a series of books that tell the stories of the men who sacrificed and fought valiantly for the independence of texas. On page 3 under texas is a report datelined houston, december 9 stating in part. Erastus deaf smith was born april 19, 1787 in dutchess county, new york and lost most of his hearing due to a childhood illness. Travis, who considered smith the bravest of the brave in the cause of texas, carrying messages. Deaf smith county, tx genweb project a collection of online resources for genealogy researchers deaf smith land listings census transcriptions for deaf smith co. Too many texas children know nothing about the heroes of our state. Smith first moved to texas in 1821 where he married a hispanictexan tejana named guadalupe ruiz duran. Consisting of papers, articles, clippings, photocopies, original writings, photographs, videos, maps, theater scripts and programs, mounted posters and music sheets, the erastus deaf smith collection of steve c. The county of deaf smith began keeping marriage records in 1891 and this first volume of those marriages continued up to 1916. Deaf smith overcame several physical limitations to perform incredible exploits as general houstons chief scout and spy.
This article is brought to you for free and open access by the history resources at scholar works at ut tyler. In the early 90s, it was home to texas best peanut butter. The tennessee native married almaron dickinson in 1829 and moved to gonzales. Ba in american history, ma in special education and phd in theater history, theory and criticism from the university of texas at austin, dr. We found 29 records for cornelius smith in hearne, fort worth and 32 other cities in texas. At the age of eleven or twelve he moved with his parents to natchez, mississippi territory. The county seat is hereford with a population of 15,554. Deaf smith county je okrug u americkoj saveznoj drzavi teksas. The county was named for erastus deaf smith 17871837, a partially deaf scout and soldier who served in the texas revolution. This is a book that every responsible parent who call themselves texan should read to this little ones.
Erastus deaf smith 17871837 is best known in texas history as a scout, solider and spy during the texas revolution. This edition is an accumulation of 30 years of studying and writing about deaf smith. While gps technology allows us to pinpoint any location on the planet, mark the location, and share it with others, waymarking is the toolset for categorizing and adding unique information for that location. He was well known for his coolness in the presence of danger. The free standing monument has a bust image of smith at top with the following information etched in the stone. Deaf smith county formed from young and bexar territories. For a short time after the revolution, smith commanded a company of rangers to protect texas frontier settlements from mexican and indian raids. The story of deaf smith a hero of the texas revolution. Our material contains a listing via grooms and shows the brides with the date the licenses was issued and a second listing via the brides showing the grooms and the date the licenses was issued.
Deaf smith was one of the most celebrated patriots in the texas fight for. Back worn around edge of picture plain brown paper covers all backside of the frame and picture backing. There was already an old structure on the land, when byrd lockhart surveyed the property in 1833. He originally came to texas in the year 1817 for health related issues, but would not make it his permanent residency until his second visit in 1821. When he was eleven, his family moved to mississippi. Captain smith was the leader of general sam houstons scouts during the texas revolution, the war in which texas won its freedom from mexico. Search texas death records texas newspapers, full search 181993, 408 titles texas obituary search 1984current texas funeral notices. He fought in the grass fight and the battle of san jacinto. Erastus smith deaf smith american sign language asl. Mystery of deaf smith s burial site intrigues fort bend county. Deaf smith is remembered as a man of few words, and one that kept cool in the presence of danger. Jun 16, 2015 is deaf smith from texas rising a real person. Although he was hearing impaired, he became one of sam houstons most reliable and most trusted scouts. Created, august 21, 1876 organized, october 3, 1890.
I was stunned i did not know about this daring, bold hero of the alamo. Erastus deaf smith was born in duchess county, new york, on april 19, 1787, the son of chilaib and. As of 20102014, the total deaf smith county population is 19,331, which has grown 4. Deaf smith county is indeed named after a deaf soldier by the name of erastus deaf smith pronounced as dif smith. For example, jeffrey dean morgans character erastus deaf smith was a real texas ranger who did in fact fight in the texas revolution and help. Erastus smith was born april 19, 1787 in dutchess county, new york. Polk city directory for hereford, deaf smith county, texas. The smith family moved to mississippi when erastus was eleven years of age. Today a county in texas is named for him as is, of all things, a brand of peanut butter from 1960 that was introduced in deaf smith county. Books cotton texas railroads texas trips texas drives. The county was named after erastus deaf smith, a texas scout, guide, indian fighter and participant in the battle of san antonio and the battle of san jacinto. Baldwin for more than 30 years on the figure of erastus deaf smith and his role in the texas revolution. Among his accomplishments were introducing muley cattle to the san antonio area, and acting as a spy, scout, and messenger for the texans during the texas revolution. This book is about the famous texas spy, erastus deaf smith.
The battle of san jacinto tslac texas state library and archives. Page 1 history of deaf smith county deaf smith county, texas. Did you know how deaf smith county in texas come to be. Deaf smith county, usgenweb texas archives search online deaf smith county, texas obituaries, deaths, cemetery and other records. Erastus smith, better known as deaf smith, was the son of chiliab and mary smith, and was born in new york on the 19th of april 1787. Nine lives of deaf smith by griffis faye campbell abebooks. West park cemetery hereford, deaf smith county, texas. Named for famed scout in texas revolution, erastus deaf smith. Erastus deaf smith april 19, 1787 november 30, 1837 was an american frontiersman noted for his part in the texas revolution and the army of the republic of texas.
Deaf smith county, on the western edge of the panhandle, is bounded on the west by new mexico, on the north by oldham county, on the east by randall county, and on the south by parmer and castro counties. A guide to the erastus deaf smith collection of steve c. Brand, the texas united states deaf smith county hereford 21 march 1902 to 8 january 1904 the portal to texas history. Travis called smith, the bravest of the brave in the cause of texas. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Book describing deaf smith county including local history, photographs, illustrations, and biographies. Erastus smith one of the largest counties in texas is named for captain erastus deaf smith, a deaf man. Erastus smith 17871837 erastus smith was born april 19, 1787 in duchess county, new york. He returned permanently in 1821, however, to help restore his health.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Texas history collection and was provided to the portal to texas history by the deaf smith county library. He returned to texas in 1821 and made his headquarters at bexar, and there in 1822 he married to mrs. He first came to texas in 1817 but stayed only a short time. Deaf smith monument in richmond, texas the portal to. When we think of those times, the names travis, houston, austin, bowie, and crockett quickly come to mind. His hearing loss was not complete, but was significant after suffering an illness some years prior to the texas revolution. Baldwin spent more than 30 years researching and writing about texas revolution hero erastus deaf smith.
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