William T. Smith
William T. Smith

William T. Smith

William T. Smith “Uncle Billy” was born in Kentucky on April 18, 1820. Smith was regarded as the Patriarch of the Valley. It is believed he arrived in El Paso around 1850 from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Smith was given a land grant on the Mora River by the Mexican Government. It would later be known as Scolly-Land Grant. Smith also served in the Union forces during the Civil War. ⁣ ⁣ Prior to moving to El Paso, he formed a partnership with Norris Colburn and the firm was known as Colburn and Smith. The firm later dissolved. He was generous inside his circles but may have been regarded as unbusinesslike. In 1854, he purchased the old Ponce de Leon ranch from the heirs of the estate. He sold or gave away small parcels of land to individuals for the creation of businesses. In 1856 when Josiah F. Crosby brought his wife from Austin, Smith gave her three acres of land as a wedding present. In 1860 Smith was killed from a stagecoach after being ejected. ⁣ ⁣ Smith was a proud mason and affiliated with El Paso Lodge No. 130 at its early inception. Furthermore, Smith rented to the lodge for the purpose of the meetings. ⁣

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: EL PASO LODGE # 130 A.F. & A.M. ARCHIVES

Uploaded by: Alonso Wells IV

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories Virtual Exhibition

Beginning in the 1870s, the US government attempted to educate ...

Delia Briones,County Clerk, inside County Courthouse, El Paso, TX 2023

Delia Briones stands outside her office in El Paso, TX Jan ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

"Black Watch" Community Newsletter, 1973

"Black Watch", Vol. 1, No. 5. Nov. 1973

El Paso, ...

home.search_collection