John William Smith
Encyclopedia
John William Smith (born William John Smith in Virginia
) was a Texas political figure and the first mayor of San Antonio, Texas
. He supported and served Texas during the struggle for Texas Independence
.
after moving from his birth state of Virginia, and received an expensive education. He married Harriet Stone in Hannibal, Missouri
sometime between 1821 and 1822. They had two children, both of whom lived.
His first elected position was in 1822 as Sheriff
of Ralls County and State and County tax Collector. He resigned from the post in 1826 to move to Texas
following the birth of his third child. His wife refused to accompany him and filed for divorce. She ultimately came to Texas with her second husband.
(like George Washington
) and a civil engineer. While in the city (San Fernando Cathedral to be exact), he converted to Roman Catholicism and married a 15 year old Mexican girl named Maria Jesusita Curbelo.
and was saved by his wife's pleas, which enabled him to escape. He served twice as a messenger during the Siege of the Alamo
. Before the Alamo's fall, William B. Travis
sent Smith with a message for Washington-on-the-Brazos, allowing him to escape the fate that all Texas soldiers ultimately succumbed to. After delivering the message, he returned with men to fight in the battle but heard no gunfire as the horses drank at Cibolo Creek
. He was informed that the battle was over and headed eastward to fight at San Jacinto
, where Independence was won.
and San Pedro Creek
between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. He established that businesses must close at 9 p.m. on Sunday, and allowed for milk cows in downtown as long as they were milked and in the corral before 10 p.m. Smith also regulated dog ownership, taxing citizens $2.00 for bitches and $0.50 for males. Although he did not run for re-election in 1838, he would run in 1840 and was elected. He served his second time as mayor until 1844. During this time he constructed the city's first bridge across the San Antonio River on Commerce Street.
He was for a time postmaster of San Antonio.
Other positions he held in Bexar County were alderman, tax assessor, clerk of the County Court, clerk of the Board of Land Commissioners, clerk of the County Probate Court, county treasurer.
From 1842 to January 12, 1845, he would serve the Republic as a Texas Senator .
. He is regarded as a hero and was honored as such upon his death.
He was buried at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park but his remains were later transferred to Washington City Cemetery, where his body remains today.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
) was a Texas political figure and the first mayor of San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. He supported and served Texas during the struggle for Texas Independence
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
.
Early life
Smith was born as the second son of John And Isabel Smith. He grew up in Ralls County MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
after moving from his birth state of Virginia, and received an expensive education. He married Harriet Stone in Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately northwest of St. Louis. According to the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 17,606...
sometime between 1821 and 1822. They had two children, both of whom lived.
His first elected position was in 1822 as Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Ralls County and State and County tax Collector. He resigned from the post in 1826 to move to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
following the birth of his third child. His wife refused to accompany him and filed for divorce. She ultimately came to Texas with her second husband.
Move to San Antonio
Smith arrived in San Antonio and changed his first and middle names around because "William" was difficult for Mexicans to pronounce. He was known throughout the town as "El Colorado", Spanish for "Redhead". He served as in the city as military storekeeper until 1835 also working as a surveyorSurveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
(like George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
) and a civil engineer. While in the city (San Fernando Cathedral to be exact), he converted to Roman Catholicism and married a 15 year old Mexican girl named Maria Jesusita Curbelo.
Texas Revolution
Through time, Smith had become upset by the occupation of San Antonio by Mexican Colonel Domingo Ugartachea. He was arrested with Samuel MaverickSamuel Maverick
Samuel Augustus Maverick was a Texas lawyer, politician, land baron and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence...
and was saved by his wife's pleas, which enabled him to escape. He served twice as a messenger during the Siege of the Alamo
Siege of the Alamo
The siege of the Alamo describes the first twelve days of the Battle of the Alamo. On February 23, Mexican troops under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna entered San Antonio de Bexar, Texas and surrounded the Alamo Mission...
. Before the Alamo's fall, William B. Travis
William B. Travis
William Barret Travis was a 19th-century American lawyer and soldier. At the age of 26, he was a lieutenant colonel in the Texas Army...
sent Smith with a message for Washington-on-the-Brazos, allowing him to escape the fate that all Texas soldiers ultimately succumbed to. After delivering the message, he returned with men to fight in the battle but heard no gunfire as the horses drank at Cibolo Creek
Cibolo Creek
Cibolo Creek is a stream in South Central Texas, United States that runs approximately from its source at Turkey Knob near Boerne, Texas, to its confluence with the San Antonio River in Karnes County...
. He was informed that the battle was over and headed eastward to fight at San Jacinto
San Jacinto
San Jacinto is Spanish for Saint Hyacinth; as a place name, it may refer to:* San Jacinto, Bolívar, Colombia* San Jacinto, Chiquimula, Guatemala* San Jacinto, Comondú, Mexico* San Jacinto, Lerdo, Mexico* San Jacinto, Ancash Region, Peru...
, where Independence was won.
Mayor of San Antonio
He was elected Mayor on September 19, 1837 and served until 1838. As mayor he prohibited public bathing in the San Antonio RiverSan Antonio River
The San Antonio River is a major waterway that originates in central Texas in a cluster of springs in north central San Antonio, approximately four miles north of downtown, and follows a roughly southeastern path through the state. It eventually feeds into the Guadalupe River about ten miles from...
and San Pedro Creek
San Pedro Creek
San Pedro Creek is a perennial stream in the City of Pacifica, San Mateo County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area whose tributaries originate on Sweeney Ridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Montara Mountain in the Santa Cruz Mountains.The creek mainstem flows through the...
between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. He established that businesses must close at 9 p.m. on Sunday, and allowed for milk cows in downtown as long as they were milked and in the corral before 10 p.m. Smith also regulated dog ownership, taxing citizens $2.00 for bitches and $0.50 for males. Although he did not run for re-election in 1838, he would run in 1840 and was elected. He served his second time as mayor until 1844. During this time he constructed the city's first bridge across the San Antonio River on Commerce Street.
He was for a time postmaster of San Antonio.
Other positions he held in Bexar County were alderman, tax assessor, clerk of the County Court, clerk of the Board of Land Commissioners, clerk of the County Probate Court, county treasurer.
Senator of the Republic
During the Republic years, Smith served as a commissioner, to treat with the Indians of Texas.From 1842 to January 12, 1845, he would serve the Republic as a Texas Senator .
Death
He died on January 12, 1845 most likely from pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He is regarded as a hero and was honored as such upon his death.
He was buried at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park but his remains were later transferred to Washington City Cemetery, where his body remains today.