LOCATIONTyler, Texas
Most of our members are from Tyler, but some are from other areas of Texas. We invite anyone interested in honoring their War of 1812 ancestor and learning more about this time in our history to come join us. For more information about the chapter, please complete the contact form below. |
MEETING DATESWe meet the last Wednesday of the months of January, April, and October. We encourage attendance at the Fall State Workshop and the February State Council.
|
ABOUT US AND JAMES SMITH
Chartered May 1, 2010 in Tyler, Texas
JAMES SMITH
James Smith, a Texas Colonizer, soldier, and statesman, was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on September 10, 1792. He enlisted as a private in the army of his country and later served as a lieutenant under General Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans.
Following this battle, James Smith returned to South Carolina to marry Hannah Parker, and after several children were born to them, the family moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee. He was head of the vigilance committee of Lincoln County to protect the home-building pioneers from the Indians and the lawless element prevalent on the Tennessee frontier at that time.
In 1834 James Smith joined the westward trek to Texas. His wife and children: Henry Mattison, James, Joseph, Andrew J, Newt, Marion, Wm. Jasper, Berth H., Sam Houston, Sarah, Francis and Barsheba followed in January 1836.
James Smith returned to Tennessee and raised and equipped a company of seventy-five volunteers from Tennessee and Alabama to aid the fight for freedom of Texas from Mexican tyranny. He served Texas as captain of Cavalry, Inspector General, Colonel of Cavalry, and Brigadier General of Volunteers. President Sam Houston sent him to Shelby County to quell the Regulator-Moderator War. A Centennial marker was erected in Center in his honor.
By an act of the First Texas Legislature after statehood was attained, Smith County was formed from a portion of Nacogdoches County and named for General Smith.
General Smith died Christmas day in 1854. He was buried in Henderson, Texas, with full military honors with his friend General Thomas Rusk officiating.
JAMES SMITH
James Smith, a Texas Colonizer, soldier, and statesman, was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina on September 10, 1792. He enlisted as a private in the army of his country and later served as a lieutenant under General Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans.
Following this battle, James Smith returned to South Carolina to marry Hannah Parker, and after several children were born to them, the family moved to Lincoln County, Tennessee. He was head of the vigilance committee of Lincoln County to protect the home-building pioneers from the Indians and the lawless element prevalent on the Tennessee frontier at that time.
In 1834 James Smith joined the westward trek to Texas. His wife and children: Henry Mattison, James, Joseph, Andrew J, Newt, Marion, Wm. Jasper, Berth H., Sam Houston, Sarah, Francis and Barsheba followed in January 1836.
James Smith returned to Tennessee and raised and equipped a company of seventy-five volunteers from Tennessee and Alabama to aid the fight for freedom of Texas from Mexican tyranny. He served Texas as captain of Cavalry, Inspector General, Colonel of Cavalry, and Brigadier General of Volunteers. President Sam Houston sent him to Shelby County to quell the Regulator-Moderator War. A Centennial marker was erected in Center in his honor.
By an act of the First Texas Legislature after statehood was attained, Smith County was formed from a portion of Nacogdoches County and named for General Smith.
General Smith died Christmas day in 1854. He was buried in Henderson, Texas, with full military honors with his friend General Thomas Rusk officiating.