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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSmothers, Rev. Thomas T.Rev. Thomas T. Smothers was the oldest child of James Smothers and Clarissa Spencer. James and Clarissa were married on 15 January 1829, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Thomas Smothers married his first wife in the 1850s, perhaps in Kentucky, and moved to Texas about 1859. Following the common practice among Methodist ministers, Smothers moved several times during his first few years in Texas, including a stint at Port Sullivan college. Although Rev. Thomas T. Smothers only lived in Brazos County ten or fifteen years, he had a significant impact on the county's history, especially through his work with the Odd Fellows' University and College. During his years in Brazos County, Rev. Smothers endured many hardships, including the death of his second wife and at least two of his children. In addition, he went bankrupt and his house burned down. One of his last acts while living in Bryan was to patent an improved ~~sad iron." (from a list of traveling ministers in Texas): entered 1859: Smothers, T.T., located 1866 Thrall, Homer S., History of Methodism in Texas, page 187. 1860 Montgomery County, Texas, Census Smothers, T.T. -Preacher 29 Tenn. M.W. 22 M.G. 2 KY female J.E. 1/12 TX male Appointments of Methodist Conference ... Huntsville District ... Montgomery -Thos. Smothers ... Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph, 27 November 1860, page 2 Montgomery County, Texas, marriage licenses: Porter, Joel F. -Mary E. Matthews License: 28 Dec 1860 Married: 29 December 1860 by T. T. Smothers Appointments of the Texas Conference for the Ensuing Year ... Huntsville District ... Cold Springs and Waverly, T.T. Smothers ... Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph, 21 November 1862, page 2 ~~A college was formed in Port Sullivan in the late 1850's, as will be discussed later, which came under the supervision of the Methodist Church. In 1864, J. B. Allen was listed as the president of the college, and T. T. Smothers was also assigned to Port Sullivan." (from Brockman, John Martin, Port Sullivan, Texas: Ghost Town, Texas A&M masters thesis, 1968) Texas Conference. Appointments of the preachers for 1864-5 ... Springfield District ... Port Sullivan, T.T. Smothers .... Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph, 18 November 1864, page 2 Apparently Thomas T. Smothers' first wife died sometime between 1860 and 1866. On 16 March 1866, T.T. Smothers married Mollie E. Perkins. (Washington County, Texas, Marriage Records, Book 2, page 341). Married - On the 20th of March, by the Rev. R.W. Kinnon, Rev. T.T. Smothers, of the Texas Conference, and Miss Mattie E. Perkins, of Chappell Hill, Texas. Houston Tri Weekly Telegraph, 28 March 1866, page 4 T.G. Bledsoe married J.C. Samuel, 19 December 1866, service performed by T.T. Smothers. Brazos County Marriage Records, Book B, page 129 9 April 1867: Went to attend funeral of child of Mr. T.T. Smothers; coffin was so late in arriving that funeral was delayed until the next day. W.S. South Diary, file 1-13. (It is not known which child of Rev. Smothers' this was.) 10 April 1867: Attended funeral of child of Mr. McKay; Smothers and McKay children were buried at the same time. W.S. South Diary, file 1-13. A. Groesbeck, for the railroad, sold T.T. Smothers lots 1, 2, & 3 in block 59 in Bryan for $200; 11 November 1867. Brazos County Deed Records, Book L, page 45 A. Groesbeck, for the railroad sold T.T. Smothers lots 4 & 5 in block 59 in Bryan for $90; 26 December 1867. Brazos County Deed Records, Book L, page 43. D.T. Iglehart and J.H. Iglehart sold 383.75 acres of land in the Griffin Bayne league to T.T. Smothers for $5; a deed of trust was given for the remainder of the purchase price; 25 January 1868. Brazos County Deed Records, Book H, page 662 John H. Iglehart & Bro. sued T.T. Smothers, August 1868. (Cited in Index to Brazos County Court Civil Minutes). 1869: ~~Bryan Methodist Church," (weekly) Bryan Eagle, 1 May 1902, page 7. Writing about the early days of Bryan's Methodist Church, Pastor H.G. Horton said, ~~We had several local pastors [in Brazos County] ... [including] T.T. Smothers ... T.T. Smothers had been pastor of the Church in Houston." [No other record of Smothers having served a church in Houston has been found.] Dr. A.H. Wilson, D.G.P.M., agent of the projected Texas Odd Fellows' University and Orphans' Home, gives the Bryan Appeal an encouraging report of a recent trip in prosecution of his agency, to Waco, Belton, Gatesville, Austin, Bastrop and Brenham. He says: I have no hesitation in saying that the result of my trip will be $2,500 to the University and Orphans' Home, and am now confident that $25,000 will be raised in the State. The Appeals entertains no doubt that the buildings will be in course of erection early in the coming fall. Rev. T.T. Smothers, H.P., and Dr. A.H. Wilson, D.G.P.M., have been appointed to visit Lodges in other States to solicit aid, and will start about the 10th of April. The Board of Directors are taking steps to memorialize the Legislature for a charter, and will also ask a liberal endowment of public bonds. Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 30 March 1870, page 1 F.L. Denison sold 400 acres of land to Mattie E. Smothers in S.F. Austin league 10, for $800, 4 April 1870; this was land they had purchased from J.C. and Matilda Cohle (?). Brazos County Deed Records, Book L, page 44 T.T. Smothers and his wife Mattie E. Smothers gave a deed of trust on 400 acres of land to J.F. Buck; 4 April 1870. Brazos County Deed Records, Book L, page 296. It will be seen by the advertisement that the enterprising Brothers of the Order at Bryan are determined to spare no effort to establish the Odd Fellows' University and Orphans Home at that place. They certainly have our best wishes that their labors may be crowned with complete success. This truly benevolent object is one that appeals to the sympathies not only of the order, but of all who desire to see the great cause of education and relief to the destitute promoted. Rev. T.T. Smothers and Dr. Wilson have been appointed agents to solicit aid in other states, and they go on their mission with the endorsement and recommendation of the Order in this State. Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 6 April 1970, page 2 Rev. Mr. T.T. Smothers, of Bryan, was a passenger yesterday to New Orleans by the Morgan steamer. As we have stated before, Mr. Smothers has been appointed an agent to raise the necessary funds for building a first class University and Odd Fellows' Home at Bryan, estimated to cost $200,000. This enterprise is commenced under the immediate direction of Bryan Lodge, aided most liberally by the citizens of that flourishing town, and will be aided and supported by the Order throughout the State, with a view to make it a Home and Asylum for the orphan children of Odd Fellows from all parts of this jurisdiction, while it will offer superior advantages for education to the children of all classes. We commend Mr. Smothers to the favorable consideration of all to whom he may apply for such assistance as they may feel able to render to an enterprise so deserving of general patronage. Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 18 April 1870, page 1 [ad] The Odd Fellows' University and Orphans' Home ... We desire to call your attention to an enterprise which our Lodge has had in view for some time -the erection of an Odd Fellows' University and Orphans' Home in our city ... We do not propose to erect a palatial edifice, where the funds contributed would be squandered in vain show ... T.T. Smothers, President of the Board of Directors; R.A. Blanford, Secy. Galveston Daily News, 19 April 1870, page 4. On 14 May 1870, T.T. Smothers and his wife Mattie E. Smothers sold land to Philis Miller (race not stated); bordered land of "Freedman Buckly". Brazos County Deed Book L, pages 31-32. 1870 Haywood County, Tennessee Census, page 469 [The census day in 1870 was ]une 1st] Smothers, Catherine55 Tenn. James 31 ,Nancy 28 ,Martha 26 ,Thomas 35 Minister of the Gospel Tenn. Mattie 30 Miss. Mattie 12 Ky. Leona 1 Texas We have received a letter from Rev. T.T. Smothers, dated Bell's Station, Tennessee, where, we regret to learn, Mr. Smothers has been detained by the sickness of a child, and prevented from prosecuting his mission as an agent for the Odd Fellow's University and Orphans' Home at Bryan, Texas. But his child is now better and he will proceed upon the discharge of his duties at once in trying to collect the amount necessary for the University. Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 15 June 1870, page 1 An Act to Incorporate the Texas Odd Fellows' University and Orphans' Home. Section 1. Be it enacted ... that T.T. Smothers, George Johnson, R.N. Blanford, William McIntosh, A.M. Wilson, L.A. Sterne, H.W. Hall, I.M. Zimmerman, Wm. Lambden, T. McCarty, G.I. Goodwin, H. Hardin, J.P. Mitchell, T.J. Beall, G.W. Castles, E. Littlefield, H.S. Newland, I.I. Kumbrough, T.D. Wilson, And Alexander McKee, and their successors, are hereby declared an aggregate corporation ... Approved July 28, 1870. (Texas, 12th Legislature, Called Session, Special Laws, 1870, page 50). The Appeal learns by letter from Rev. T.T. Smothers that Rodgers, Morgan & Grubbs, of 444 and 446 Broadway, New York, are having a bell made to order, with frame, at a cost of $265, for the Odd Fellows' University, at Bryan, to bear the following inscription: ~~From the Merchants of New York to the Texas Odd Fellows' University and Orphans' Home." Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 4 November 1870, page 4 T.T. Smothers and his wife Mattie E. Smothers gave a deed of trust on 400 acres of land to Wm. McIntosh; 10 January 1871. Brazos County Deed Records, Book L, page 466 J.F. Buck gave a release on 400 acres land in S.F. Austin league 10 to Mrs. Mattie E. Smothers; 12 January 1871. Brazos County Deed Records, Book L, page 462 Odd Fellows University and Orphan's Home. The incorporators of the above institution at Bryan have just published a very interesting report of its present condition and prospects, a copy of which is before us. This institution is now one year old, having been organized by a committee of twenty Scarlet Degree members of Bryan Lodge as a Board of Directors, pursuant to a resolution of that Lodge, adopted February 16th, 1870. This committee immediately took measures to raise the necessary funds, with the following results: Cash subscriptions of Bryan Lodge and citizens $13,000 Building site, one block, by Houston and Texas Central R.R. Co. $600 Subscriptions by subordinate lodges $275 Books donated, valued at $700 University bill, valued at $300 Cash donated by Bryan Lodge $500 Total $15,375 The school was started in September last with over one hundred students, and now numbers about two hundred, male and female, including eighteen orphans. The building is 36 by 80 feet, and two stories high, and cost $ 4000. The committee conclude their report as follows: The experiment made demonstrates the practicality of the scheme in contemplation, and feeling encouraged thereby, we again present our enterprise to the serious consideration of our brethren and friends throughout the limits of our great, benevolent and prosperous state. We appeal to you in the name of what we profess to be, and to do. We appeal to you in the cause of education and humanity. We appeal to you in behalf of the friendless moans of the grief stricken widow, and the self despondent wretchedness of the homeless orphan. Will you, brothers, will you, friends, encourage and assist our humble efforts to accomplish so noble a work? At first you were doubtful of the feasibility and practicality of our scheme, now you need not be. We must, we can, we will succeed. Yours in F., L. and T. T.T. Smothers, H.S. Newland, R.A. Blanford, Committee. Galveston Daily News, 24 February 1871, page 1. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, that W.L. Sanders, president, and P.R. Smith, secretary, and J.S. McLendon, T.T. Smothers, H.T. Downard, J.S. Fowlkes, C.H. Randolph and J.N. Cole, directors of the Bryan Bridge Company, and their successors in office, be and the same are hereby declared a body corporate under the corporate name and style of the "Bryan Bridge Company," with the right and privileges of an aggregate corporation at common law ... [law continues at length] Texas. Legislature. Special Laws, 12th Legislature, 1st Session, April 12, 1871, pages 133 134. [legal notice] ... This is to give notice, that on the 13th day of May, 1871, a Warrant of Bankruptcy was issued out of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Texas, against the estate of said Thos. T. Smothers of Brazos County .... (Austin) Daily State Journal, 20 May 1871, page 4. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, that H.M. Moore, W.G. Bunger, C.F. Moore, Spencer Ford, S.D. Conger, Frank Clarke, M.W. McCraw, C.W. Gardiner, W.H. Flippen and T.T. Smothers, and their associates and successors, be and they are hereby created and established a body corporate and politic, under the name and style of the "Bryan Real Estate and Building Association," with capacity in said corporate name to make contracts; to hold, buy and sell property, both real and person; to contract and execute leases; to take grants and gifts; to execute deeds and mortgages, and deeds of trust; to have succession and a common seal; to make by laws for the government and regulation of its affairs; to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded; to declare dividends and make divisions of property; to loan its money to any person or persons on any security it may think proper, and to do and perform all such things as may be necessary and proper for and incident to the fulfillment of its obligations ... [law continues at length]. Texas. Legislature. Special Laws, 12th Legislature, 1st Session, May 25, 1871, pages 493 495. July 12, 1871. To His Excellency E.J. Davis, Governor of the State of Texas: We the undersigned citizens of the State of Texas respectfully recommend Batt Peterson Esq., a resident of Brazos County, Texas, as a most suitable person to be placed on the Board of Commissioners for the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State, in the event that any vacancy in said Board now exists or shall be made by resignation or removal of any member of said Board. This 12th July 1871. [signed] C.H. Moore, editor Brazos Eagle, C.W. Gardiner, E.W. Pells Dept. P.M., J.P. Mitchell, David McIntosh, R.A. Blandford, E.L. Ward, N.B. Cole, G.A. Waldrop, A.A. Burck, Geo. R. Scott, T.E. Tullis, H.T. Downard, B.F. Baldridge, W.F. Forman, Henry Mordecai, C.F. Moore, Hugh Reed J.P.B.C. [Justice of the Peace, Brazos County], B.F. Shelton, A.W. Leedon, J.W. Tabor, Jas. N. McLelland, Chas. A. Sterne, Hammett Hardy, T.D. Wilson, P.R. Smith, J.S. Fowlkes, C.H. Randolph & Co., Parker &Flippen [Milton Parker And W.H. Flippen], T. McCarty, T.T. Smothers, J.S. McLendon & Co., Wm. McIntosh, L. Hudson, J.A. Buckholts, J.D. Thomas, W. Onins Special Term Aug. 28 1871 ... To the Hon County Court of Brazos County. Gentlemen ... We the undersigned citizens of your county respectfully ask that your Hon Court will order an election to be held ... on the proposition to raise an ad valorem tax to be levied on the taxable property of your county the sum of twenty two thousand dollars the said sum of money being necessary for the purpose of securing permanently location of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in Brazos County .... [signed]: R.B. Hunt, D.C. Barmore, H.T. Downard, T.J. Dearing, D.P. Thrasher, E. Fox, R.R. Gilbert, T. McCarty, R.H.L. Hughes, J.P. Mitchell, J.N. Cole, J.A. Walden, M.Z. Pierce, P.R. Smith & Co., E.L. Ward, A. Harris, T.S. Snow, M.D. Cole, J. Uprit, C.A. Patterson, H. Cook, R.C. McLendon, D. Hawkins, F.M. McLelland, J.W. Tabor, Jas. B. McLellan, W.H. Edmonds, J.T. Buck, W.M. Wren, J.W. Hand, S.M. Hunter, T.D. Harrison, R. Johnson, H.T. Newland, David McIntosh, James F. Moffett, A.M. Dechman, J.P. Campbell, D.M. Clower, H.M. Thomas, H.E. Muse, W.H. Minkert, J.W. Boyle, C.A. Stern, Thos. T. McCasland, J.M. Robinson, H.C. Latham, J.J. Adams, Dan M. Dansby, J.T. Kelly, J.A. Buckholt, Spencer Ford, R.J. Hill, M. Bonneville, H.R. Wilson, J.S. Fowlkes & Co., C. Tilley, Jo Kahn, J.D. Thomas, A.D. McConnico, O.P. Bowles, Leighton Wood, Jno. W. Coulter, F.F. Hooper, John Brenede, J.S. McLendon & Co., W.H. Flippen, Milton Parker, M.W. Simms, Wm. Davis, C. Davis, H.A. Moore, W.L. Pittillo, P.M. Brown, Wm. McIntosh, T.E. Tullis, R.A. Blandford, T.T. Smothers, B.F. Leman, Thomas D. Wilson, S.C. Echols, John M. Baily, M.C. McGraw, C.F. Moore, W.W. Berry, J.W. Bartie, H. Mitchell, J.S. Barmore, S.D. Conger, H.M. Moore, I. Fulkerson, G.M. Neeley, A.B. Cunningham, G.M. Castles, James P. Wilson, E. Harris, C.W. Gardiner On 25 November 1871, T.T. Smothers and wife gave a deed of trust on 400 acres of land to Moore & Wilson. Brazos County Deed Records, Book M, page 274 Hotel register: T.T. Smothers, Bryan. Galveston Daily News, 31 January 1872. Washington Hotel ... T.T. Smothers, Bryan. Galveston Tri-Weekly News, 23 February 1872, page 3 On 20 February 1872, the mortgage owed by T.T. Smothers and Wife to H.M. Moore & --- Wilson was paid in full. Brazos County Deed Records, Book N, page 21. On 20 February 1872, T.T. Smothers and M.E. Smothers gave T.P. Boyett, a deed of trust of 400 acres of land. Brazos County Deed Records, Book M, page 383. 6 June 1872: Know all men by these presents that whereas the Texas Odd Fellows University and Orphans Home is justly indebted unto Wm. McIntosh in the sum of fifteen hundred and seventy nine & 48/100 dollars gold coins as evidenced by promissory note ... [this continues at length] ... Signed J.W. Boyle v.p. and acting president, H.S. Newland sec. pro tem ... (Brazos County Deed Records, Book N, page 85. [It is not clear why this document was signed by the home's vice president instead of its president.] T.T. Smothers filed for letters of administration, etc., for estate of Mattie E. Smothers, deceased, 15 October 1872. Brazos County Probate Records, Book F, pages 507-508, 552, 553; Book G, pages 207-208 (Microfilm reel # 1020031). [Her burial place has not been located.] T.T. Smothers was appointed administrator for Mattie E. Smothers deceased; 11 November 1872. Brazos County Probate Minutes, Book D, pages 114, 121, 125-126, 158, 160, 164, 190. Bryan, August 15. T.T. Smother's residence was totally destroyed by fire on the night of the 13th. Galveston Daily News, 16 August 1873, page 2. Brazos County ... The loss sustained by Rev. T.T. Smothers, when his house burned down, amounts to $6000 gold, instead of $3000, as reported. The burning was the work of an incendiary. Galveston Daily News, 24 August 1873, page 4. Bryan, Oct. 23, 1873. The fever dealt gently with us last night, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather. No new names have been added to the sick list, and those already down, with an exceptional case or two, are doing as well, bad weather considered, as could be expected. Business is not entirely suspended, as some few of the stores remain open, driving their local trade. The sun is shining warm, but the weather is cool and blustering. Second Dispatch -Bryan, October 23. Three of the afflicted, Mrs. Hall, Lem Hall and Miss Minnie Smothers, are very sick, and I fear the destroyer will not be as merciful as last night. All the others are doing well. The plague has assumed no appearance of epidemic. No never fevers within the past twenty-four hours, and the white faces I remarked yesterday are beginning to wear their habitual red. Galveston Daily News, 24 October 1873, page 2 Bryan, Oct. 24. Miss Minnie Smothers died last night. Mrs. Hall and three others are not expected to live till night. There are three new cases, making nine in all. The weather prognosticators talk of all manner of inclemencies, some even hinting of sleet or snow. Afire is comfortable and necessary. Second Dispatch -Bryan, October 24. I can only inform you that there are two persons who will probably die to-night. No change or death since my noon report. Galveston Daily News, 25 October 1873, page 2 See U.S. Patent, 166421, Improvement In Reversible Sad-Irons, invented by Thomas T. Smothers, Bryan, Texas, 3 August 1875. 1876 Brazos County Tax Rolls: Smothers, T.T., lot 59, Bryan, value $350, also poll tax By virtue of an order made by the Brazos County District Court in the case of Francis Boyett vs. T.T. Smothers, on 9 September 1876, in November 1876 the Brazos County sheriff sold the land of T.T. Smothers, consisting of block 59 in Bryan, to Thomas P. Boyett. Brazos County Deed Records, Book U, pages 193-194 This is the last record I have found concerning Rev. Thomas T. Smothers. I suspect he left Bryan after all of his financial reverses, but I cannot find him in the 1880 census, so I just don't know what became of him. It's possible that he died and was buried in an unmarked grave, perhaps next to his second wife and two children who had earlier died in Brazos County.