CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: ED. W. SMITH - Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
7 September 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson

ED. W. SMITH.

Ed W. Smith, of Tyler, was born near the town of Anderson, South 
Carolina, March 9, 1841.  His parents removed four years later to Cobb 
coun­ty, Georgia, where he was reared and educated.  In the fall of 1859 
the family home was changed to Smtih county, Texas. In 1861 the subject 
of this sketch enlisted in Doug­las' Texas battery and was in the fights 
at Elkhorn, Rich­mond, Ky., and all the princi­pal battles fought by the 
Army of Tennessee. On the retreat from Nashville in December 1864 he 
was captured and imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio, until he was paroled 
May 2, 1865. He returned home almost a physical wreck from his prison 
experiences. After several years of successful newspaper work in 
Palestine he removed to his plantation near Noonday in Smith county, 
where for over a quarter of a century he lived the life of the typical 
Southern planter and amassed a considerable competency. His work here 
was varied by much attention to local church and school interests, by 
three years service as county com­missioner, and by one term as 
representative in the twenty-third Texas legislature.  He has always 
been a Democrat in politics, has presided at several conventions, and 
is a pleas­ing speaker and scholarly writer. In November 1905 the U. S.
government commissioned him a special agent of the Agri­cultural 
Department under Dr. S. A. Knapp and his labors in the cotton 
demonstration work are of incalculable value to East Texas. Since 
assuming this office he has resided in Tyler. Capt. Smith was married 
Nov., 1, 1866, to Miss Jonnie, oldest daughter of Judge John C. Robertson. They had born to them ten children. Their only daughter, Hope, married Dr. Swann. The oldest son, Hon. Stuart R. Smith, formerly district attorney, is one of the leading lawyers of Beaumont. Ed W. Smith, Jr., is a lawyer in Colorado, Tex­as, and Robert E. and Charles D. are practicing attorneys in Beaumont. Sledge Smith and Lloyd Smith are'prosperous planters. Maurice Smith, a young man of great promise, died shortly after his graduation from the North Texas Nor­mal College. The two youngest children, Sawnie Brock and Ben G. 'are in school. Capt. S'nith lost his wife June 1, 1897. Five years later he was married to Miss Laura Travis of Dallas.