More Information:
About William David Smith:
United Daughters of the Confederacy By United Daughters of the Confederacy, United Daughters of the
Confederacy, Turner Publishing Company
William David Smith was born, , Tx, Feb 15, 1846, to Bartlett
S. and Caroline Fyffe Smith, who had come to Tx in the Peters Colony. "Willie" was greeted by an older
brother and two older sisters. When he was a child the family moved to Hunt County where he grew to
manhood, married and where his children were born.
As a youth of almost 17 (Feb 1, 1863) Co.
B Terrells 37th Cav. A sister later reported when his older brother came home in his..Willie was so
impressed that he nagged until his father finally allowed him to join. ?Proud of his service, but
did not talk about it, .saw action LA. In 1864 Terrells Tx returned to Tx and was stationed in Hempstead
area. Willie served. Was disbanded.
William David returned to Hunt County where he married Narcissa
Amanda Hail on Jan 18, 1866, a marriage which lasted 68 years. They had six children: Walter W. Smith,
born Nov 25, 1866; Mary Ellen Smith Eiland, born Sept 12, 1869; Otho A Smith born March 3, 1873; Thomas
Marvin Smith, born May 4, 1878; Bartlett Fyffe Smith, born Dec 21, 1881, and Elijah Clyde Smith, born
July 12, 1887.
In the early 1890s, the Smith family moved to West, Tx, living in Fisher and Taylor
Counties for a brief time in the area of Jal, NM. They returned to settle in Martin County where they
remained until their deaths, hers in June of 1934 and his Nov 4, 1934. Both are buried in Evergreen
Cemetery, Stanton, Tx.
William David Smith was a farmer until age precluded such work. He served
as county clerk of Martin County for a term. ?Bro. Smith was an active member of the Methodist Church
for 65 years, serving as steward for 62 years. He was a loyal supporter of both McMurry College in
Abilene and Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He was a charter member of the Masonic lodges
in Merkel and Andrews, Tx.
An exemplary Christian gentleman, William David Smith was a good husband
and father, neighbor and friend. While never famous or rich, he lives in the memories of his descendants
as an example of the hardy pioneer who developed our state from wilderness to cultivate farms and thriving
cities,.
Submitted by Lois Eiland Welch (GGD), Corpus Christi Chapter 1437, Corpus Christi, Tx;
Eileen Eiland Welch, (GGD), Seven Brothers Theus Chapter 2393, Midland, Tx; Phyllis Smith Janke, (GD),
Permian Basin Chapter 2589, Odessa, Tx
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