HISTORY OF SMITH COUNTY, Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
14 May 2001 
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"Some Biographies of Old Settlers." 
Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I 
By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas 
Chapter I - Pages 3-9.

HISTORY OF SMITH COUNTY

From 1846 - to 1900 -- Historical, Personal and Reminiscent.

Chapter I.

Smith county is situated in Northeast Texas, the Sabine river being the
northern boundary; on the west it is separated by the Neches river, the
dividing line between Van Zandt and Henderson counties; on the south by 
Cherokee, and on th east by Rusk counties.  The present population is
about 50,000 inhabitants, with a voting population of 6,500.  Tyler, 
the county seat, now has a population of 10,000 and is situated on the 
main line of the Cotton Belt railroad and on a branch of the 
International and Great Northern and the Tyler and Southeastern 
railways, thus giving the city extra railroad facilities.  I could say
a great deal about her present resources, but leave that for another 
chapter, in which I will give a general detail of her industries.

In April, 1846, the legislature appointed W. B. Duncan, J. C. Hill, 
E. E. Lott, John Dewberry and John Loller commissioners to locate the
county boundary, and also to locate the county seat.  This work was 
done by the commissioners in a few months, and the site for the city of
Tyler was located.  They built a log courthouse on the north side of 
the public square, also a jail a little east of the International and
Great Northern depot.  Here a controversy arose between the locating
commissioners and the newly elected county commissioners.  That is a
part of the early history in the election of 1848.  The commissioners'
court built a long house on the spot where the present courthouse now
stands, while the locating commissioners contended for their location 
on the north side, and the result was a lively canvass followed; the
county commissioners being on the winning side.

You see that Smith county was born in the throes of a political 
revolution, and has been "storm-tossed" ever since.  The thinly 
settled people were brought together, and much eloquence was spent in
carrying their point.  It was this early and continuous education of 
her people that qualified Smith county leaders in leading the political
forces in the state campaigns that followed.  Her part played in state
politics will occur later on.  Her politicians, lawyers and statesmen
have played a conspicuous part, and her literary people and educators
have done their share in advancing along the lines of intelligence and
good government.

A short notice of the lacating commissioners will not perhaps be out of 
place here.

John Duncan was an old settler here before the county was organized, 
and he won golden opinions from the people who knew him for his honesty, 
intelligence and manly virtues.  I have no special data of his late
life, but suppose he has paid the debt we all owe, and "passed over the
river."

John Dewberry was born in the state of Georgia; came to Texas in 1835, 
and died in this county in February, 1877.  He was a large planter, and
a humane slave owner of the ante-bellum days; true to his section and
loyal to the South.  He settled and opened up a large plantation in the
Southern part of the county, making farming a success.  The plantation
now bears his name.  Col. Dewberry was not only a successful farmer, 
but made merchandising a success.   He was greatly loved and 
appreciated for his intelligence, public spirit and gentlemanly 
qualities.  An old-time Southerner, to the manner born, we could but
love and venerate his old-time Southern hospitality.  He built the 
first ginhouse Smith county had, and flat-boated his cotton down the
Trinity river to the Galveston market.  He was an honored citizen, and
an upright, honest man.  Col. Dewberry was not a politician, hence he 
never aspired to official honors, preferring the walks of private life.
He, however, played his part in building well for the future, and 
making Smith county a leader in everything that goes to make up a good 
and advanced civilization.

Col. E. E. Lott was a marked personality, and was recognized as a 
leader among men; a natural born politician, a fluent speaker, making
a good record in county and state affairs.  He was a member of the 
first Texas legislature, and remained in the upper house as State
Senator up to the civil war, resigning it to accept the position of
Lieutenant Colonel of Roberts' Texas regiment.  He was one of the 
most popular men Smith county ever had.  In manners and personal 
appearance he was pleasing, and had a magnetic force that few men
ever possess.  The world was flat or round with him, so that depended
on the crowd he was with.  He was at home in any place, let the 
conditions be what they might, and was never known to make a mistake
in politics in his eventful life.  Fully six feet, one inch tall, 
black, piercing eyes, he would naturally attract attention anywhere
and under all conditions.  In "the dazzling splendors of the banquet
hall," or the humble log cabin of his constituency, he was a ease and
made himself at home.  He never lost an election, nor suffered the
pangs of defeat.  The writer remembers a discussion on the reopening
of the African slave trade between Col. Geore W. Chilton and Co. Jack
Davis, along in the fifties, at which Col. Lott was listerner, and at 
the same time a candidate for the election to the State Senate.  The
crowd was about equally divided on the question discussed.  It was
whispered around that Lott would be called upon for his opinion, and 
as he was a candidate, the people had a right to know how he stood.
Cols. Chilton and Davis were able debaters, and had raised enthusiasm 
on each side to fever heat, and it was feared that Col. Lott would
make some mistake.  He was called out for an expression, and rising 
to the call, he made a most remarkable speech, capturing both sides.
He took up one side, and declared if the result would be as stated by
Col. Chilton, he was strongly in favor of it.  But if the results 
would be as predicted by Col. Davis, he was unquestionably opposed to
it, winding up without uttering one word as to how he stood, but 
saying enough to convince all sides that he was with them.  He took
the audience by storm and captured the whole--both favoring Lott, and
all sides claiming him.  The result of the election was he was elected
State Senator with without opposition.  He was greatly appreciated for 
his sterling, generous qualities, and there was much regret at his 
death, which occurred at his home in Starrville, in this county, a few 
years after the war.

Col. J. C. Hill, another old pioneer, was a model citizen, and upright
Christian gentleman of education an old-time Southern hospitality.  He
came to Texas in 1835, and was here before the organization of the 
county.  A practical and educated surveyor, he did more surveying in 
the early settlement of this county than all others put together.  The 
old surveys made by him, and the accuracy of his work, has never been
questioned.  He surveyed the county boundary lines, and laid off the
city of Tyler, and the same lines run by him then are the landmarks of
today.  He lost his eyesight during the war, and passed several years
blind.  He was an intelligent man, and very popular with all who knew
him.  He died on his farm near Whitehouse, in this county, about 1870, 
greatly lamented.  He was a model man, and made his impress upon the
community in which he lived.  Honest in his dealings, truthful in what
he said, Col. Jim Hill was loved by everyone.

John Loller was another old-timer who played a conspicuous part in 
early times here.  Much can be written of him, as he fulfilled the 
duties of life and laid down to receive his just reward.  These men 
will figure later on.

A sparsely settled county a half century ago, with a few hundred souls 
then, teeming with its thousands of busy people now!  What will the 
next fifty years bring forth?

Let us mark the grave of the old-timer with a befitting headstone.  
His virtues were many and his good deeds would fill a volume.  His 
patriotic devotion to his county, to posterity and a Christian 
civilization is worthy of preservation.  It is the duty of succeeding 
generations to preserve the good deeds of our benefactors.  It is 
approved by the intelligent throught of any people.