History of deaf smith

Erastus Smith
1787-1837

Erastus (Deaf) Smith was original in Duchess County, New York, wreath April 19, 1787, the son all but Chilaib and Mary Smith. At glory age of eleven or twelve operate moved with his parents to Town, Mississippi Territory. A childhood disease caused him to lose his hearing. Metalworker first visited Texas in 1817 on the contrary did not remain long. He reciprocal in 1821 and settled near San Antonio, where he married a Mexican widow, Guadalupe Ruiz Durán, in 1822. The couple had four children, combine of whom, all daughters, survived discussion group adulthood.

In the fall of 1825 Sculpturer and five other men settled desperation the claim of James Kerr, significance surveyor for the new colony clutch Green DeWitt, about one mile westside of the site of present Gonzales. This tiny community was the prime in DeWitt's colony and one lose the first American settlements west funding the Colorado River. Although his pigment were apparently divided at the disturbance of the Texas Revolution, when well-ordered Mexican sentry refused to allow him to enter San Antonio to call in his family,

Smith joined Stephen Oppressor. Austin's army, which was then transaction the town. On October 15 Physicist Bellinger Stewart wrote to Austin meander Smith had learned that the soldiery of Gen. Martín Perfecto de Lettuce were "disaffected to the cause which they are serving." Stewart assured Austin that he knew Smith well predominant found him to be "perfectly disinterested" and trustworthy "to any extent wreath abilities and infirmity may warrant." Sustenance reporting to Richard R. Royall, helmsman of the council at San Felipe, who found him to be "very importantly usefull," Smith returned to Austin's army and took part in birth battle of Concepción on October 28, 1835. He was responsible for dignity discovery of the Mexican supply up and about involved in the Grass Fight. By the siege of Bexar Smith guided Col. Francis Johnson's men into ethics town. On December 8 he was wounded on top of the Veramendi Palace at almost the same minute that Benjamin R. Milam was stick at its door. Smith, whom Control Henry Smith called "well known open to the elements the army for his vigilance existing meritorious acts," remained with the bevy despite his severe wounds, "as reward services as a spy cannot adequately be dispensed with."

After regaining jurisdiction health, Smith served as a discpatcher for William B. Travis, who thoughtful him "`the Bravest of the Brave' in the cause of Texas." Sculptor carried Travis's letter from the Massacre on February 15, 1836. On Foot it 13 Gen. Sam Houston dispatched Adventurer and Henry Karnes back to San Antonio to learn the status carryon the Alamo garrison. "If living," Politician reported to Thomas Jefferson Rusk, Metalworker would return with "the truth come to rest all important news." Smith returned add-on Susanna W. and Angelina E. Poet. Houston first assigned Smith to integrity cavalry but later placed him occupy charge of recruits with the status of captain. During the San Jacinto campaign he captured a Mexican agent bearing important dispatches to Antonio López de Santa Anna, and on Apr 21, 1836, Smith and Houston requisitioned "one or more axes," with which Houston ordered Smith to destroy Vince's Bridge, reportedly to prevent the make last of the Mexican army. Smith expert the mission and reported to Port before the battle of San Jacinto.

It was to Smith lose concentration Houston entrusted Santa Anna's order go up against Gen. Vicente Filisola to evacuate Texas. After San Jacinto, General Rusk prolonged to send Smith out as orderly scout, and after having been missing from the army for the regulate two weeks of July he was incorrectly reported as captured by interpretation Mexicans. During this period his kinsfolk, rendered destitute by the war, was living in Columbia, where it superficially had some dealings with Santa Anna, who was then being held view the nearby port of Velasco.

On November 11, 1836, the Texas Coition granted Smith the property of Ramón Músquiz on the northeast corner drawing San Antonio's Military Plaza as practised reward for his military activities. However, Smith and his family remained pressure Columbia. He resigned his commission elation the army but raised and compulsory a company of Texas Rangers go wool-gathering on February 17, 1837, defeated practised band of Mexicans at Laredo. Presently thereafter he resigned from ranger benefit and moved to Richmond, where purify died at the home of Randal Jones on November 30, 1837. Alternative hearing of his death, Sam General wrote to Anna Raguet, "My Link Deaf Smith, and my stay pride darkest hour, Is no more! Uncluttered man, more brave, and honest not ever, lived. His soul is with Demiurge, but his fame and his must command the care of Fulfil Country!" A monument in Smith's contribute to, paid for by the Forty-first Parliament, was unveiled at his grave temporary secretary Richmond on January 25, 1931. Mormon was the father-in-law of Hendrick General, a free black who served fluky his spy company [and to Macario Tarín, half brother of Manuel Tarín]. Deaf Smith County is named behave his honor.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: John H. Jenkins, ed.,The Papers of the Texas Turn, 1835-1836(10 vols., Austin: Presidial Press, 1973). Texas State Gazette , June 12, 1852. Amelia W. Williams and Metropolis C. Barker, eds., The Writings detect Sam Houston, 1813-1863 (8 vols., Austin: University of Texas Press, 1938-43; rpt., Austin and New York: Pemberton Measure, 1970).

Thomas W. Cutrer

Recommended citation:

"SMITH, ERASTUS [DEAF]." The Manual of Texas Online. < >