Hilliard Fort SMITH, SR.

March 7, 1853, Bastrop County, Texas - December 31, 1940, Cameron, Milam County, Texas

CAMERON AND MILAM COUNTY PIONEER DIES

HILLIARD F. SMITH, 87 DIES AT HOME HERE

SAW EMPIRE RISE OUT OF ASHES OF SOUTH

Hilliard F. Smith, 87, widely known Texan and a moving figure in the transformation of a wilderness empire, died at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, December 31st, at his home in Cameron.
Mr. Smith had been in declining health since September 1939, and had remained in his home a greater portion of the time. On Friday December 27th, Mr. Smith, while descending a stairway in his home, sustained severe injury from a fall.
Physicians who were called to the home expressed belief that he would recover, but a short time later other complications developed and while his health had been poor for some time it is believed the fall may have been the immediate cause of fatal illness.
The entire city, where for more than 50 years he had lived and where much of his impressive record as a citizen and builder had been made, was unwilling to accept the sorrow occasioned by his passing.
Mr. Smith was born in 1853, the son of Meek and Harriett Smith, on a lower Colorado valley plantation near Bastrop.
As a boy he witnessed the early beginning of the transformation of the Texas wilderness and lived through the States. In this atmosphere of the pioneer he observed as a youth the pattern of both vision and frugality that led so many of the adventurous spirits who pushed far beyond the borders, to lay the foundations for future wealth and development.
Meek Smith, father of H. F. Smith, crossed the border into Texas before Sam Houston fought the battle of San Jacinto. The exact date was not ascertained but it was believed to have been sometime in latter part of 1835. No doubt he carried with him great strength of admiration for Houston who although not a native of Tennessee, became its governor.
Mr. Smith, the pioneer, was a native of Tennessee. Many men with the flame of freedom in their hearts, made their way to Texas to follow Sam Houston, the man who altered the face of the continent to be followed by those men who would preserve it as he left it.
One among a company of 50 men, all adventurous spirits, Mr. Smith proceeded alone across the border as did the other 49. They agreed to meet later n Texas. When they met again Texas was free and near the stage of Republic because Houston had triumphed over Santa Anna at San Jaciento.
Harriett Smith, mother of H. F. Smith was also a native of Tennessee.
After their marriage which occurred sometime later in their native state Meek Smith, the pioneer, brought his bride to a valley plantation on the lower Colorado near Bastrop and there in 1853 Hilliard F. Smith was born. Meek Smith brought with him 270 negro slaves.
After the War between the States Meek Smith, a man of unusual business ability visualized the great industrial resources of the timber belt of Ease Texas and accordingly established Texas' first shingle mill in the vicinity where the City of Orange now stands. His business prospered and Mr. Smith adding his new earnings to many thousands of dollars in gold which he realized from the sale of cotton in Mexico during Civil Was days gave him a great fortune.
In later years he became one of Texas' largest land owners and many of the headrights in Texas counties bear his name. He sold his timber mill to Lutcher Moore and today it is the foundation for one of Texas' greatest timber industries and fortunes.
Hilliard F. Smith spent his early childhood on the plantation. There in an atmosphere of the old South, mellowed by the cultural background of an aristocracy that has made immortal the story of Southern chivalry, he saw the empire of Lee and Jackson melt away, but his youth was atuned to the vast possibilities of a new land that was Texas and at an early age he began a career which led him to fulfill the traditions his environment destined for him.
After the War between the States Mr. Smith, then a young man, lived a short time in San Antonio and from there went to Orange in East Texas where he saw his father in the early stages of the development of East Texas pine. He attended law school at Lebanon, Tennessee, and later went to the Eastman Business College in New York.
After he concluded his business course in the East he returned to Orange and later to Salado in Bell County which was at that time an educational center and the site of Salado College. It was there he met his future bride, then Miss Viola Oxsheer, who was a student in Salado College.
Mr. Smith traveled about the State and sold shingles from his father's mill at Orange and later established a shingle business in Houston.
Mr. Smith married Viola Oxsheer in 1875. She is the daughter of the late W. W. Oxsheer, wealthy land owner whose plantation was located on Little River near Gause and where the old log mansion still stands. He too was a slave owner. Mr. and Mrs. Smith celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on November 25, 1940.
Mr. Smith engaged in the cattle business in Hamilton County for several years fut returned to Milam and purchased a farm adjoining the W. W. Oxsheer plantation.
He left the farm and came to Cameron in 1888 where he entered the hardware business with the late C. W. Lawrence and E. Eanders. The firm was later known as Lawrence and Sanders. Mr. Smith was one of the moving spirits in the organization of the Cameron Water Works Company.
Mr. Smith was a member of the first City Council in Cameron under the late B. L. Arnold who was mayor. He was a member of the school board and with him on the board were the following illustrious men of yesterday: J. R. Hefley, B. J. Baskin, D. Kemp and W. M. Jeter.
His great ability was recognized by his felloe citizens and in 1895 he was elected to the Legislature of Texas where he served with credit to his County and to his State.
The crowning adventure of a long life of business successes occurred when in 1900 with three other men he organized the Citizens National Bank.
So Uncertain was the venture at that time that only three men would take stock and Mr. Smith advanced $100 in loans each to his partners so they could qualify as stock holders to launch a little bank.
He lived to see his bank become the outstanding financial institution among all the smaller cities of Texas and is known in every city and hamlet in Texas for its relief of the Confederate Veterans by cashing thousands of their warrants in the great depression period when there were no other banks that would accomodate the diminishing line of gray veterans who fought for the South he so much loved.
In 1913 Mr. Smith gave his bank to his children having purchased the stock of the Oxsheer heirs. He owned at the time of his death the famous Oxsheer lands which have now been in the family for more than 100 years.
Mr. Smith was in the bank every day until illness in September kept him away from his office which is located across the lobby from that of his son Oxsheer Smith who is President of the Bank. Mr. Smith visited the bank about four weeks ago for the last time.
Mrs. Viola Smith, widow, his companion through the years, servives him.
Mr. Smith was the father of eight children; five of whom survive. The surviving children are Miss Aetna Smith, Oxsheer Smith, President of the Citizens National Bank; Mrs. Rush A. Thomas, Hilliard F. Smith, Jr., and Mrs. Vernon McIntrye.
Four grand children also survive as follows: Hilliard Thomas and Miss Viola Thomas, children of Mr. and Mrs. Rush A. Thomas; Janette McIntrye, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon McIntyre and Goodhue Smith and Mrs. Goodhue Smith of Waco.
He was prededed in death by an infant son, and a daughter, Miss Bessie Smith who died at the age of 17 years in 1901. A son Goodhue Smith who was engaged in business in Waco, died in 1922.

The Cameron Herald(Cameron, Texas), 02 Jan 1941, Thu, Page 1 and 5

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR H. F. SMITH HELD WED.

Funeral services for H. F. Smith, 87 pioneer, who died at his home in Cameron at 1:40 a. m. Tuesday, December 21st, were held at the family residence at 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 1, 1941.
Mr. Smith was of the Presbyterian faith and a member of the Cameron Presbyterian Church at the time of his death.
The Rev. Mr. Aerey's remarks were as follows:
"We pensively mark the lapse of time by the vanishing of faces dear and the hushing of familiar voices. A shadow has fallen over us. Another pioneer citizen, business man, partner and statesman has crossed the great divide.
"To the people of this state and community shall be left the privileged duty of praising his contributions to the state, his patriotism, his wise counsel, and his whole-souled devotion and splendid faith in our land, county and community. It sufficeth us to say ohn this occasion, reverently what someone has so fittingly said before: "As, O God, You did not lose him when you gave him to us, as we do not lose him now when we return him to you."
"The Father of us all would not rob us of the natural release by tears from the strain and sorrow occasioned by his passing. We shed our tears hopefully. Our faces are not turned downward. We look upward and westward confidently. "As in the darkness of the night hopes sees a star and faith hears the rustle of a wing," so our sad abstruction of the moment is broken by the reflection that:
"The Day has come, not gone;
The sun has risen, not set;
Thy life is now beyond
The reach of change or death
Not ended but begun!
"Those who knew Mr. Smith best were conscious of his desire expressed all along in life to be modest and retiring. He was unostentatious and disliked fulsome praise. However, it is not amiss to express here the devotion of a group which was very close to him in business relations.
"This little card which I am holding in my hand reads as follows:
"In tenderest respect from that part of his family, just outside the close home circle, who have always loved and respected him. His memory will be with us forever,
"Signed: Walter O. Newton, Lester Williams, Ladis Marek, Alvin Nolte, S, H, McDermott, Pauline Wiggs, Wis McDermott, Dell Siebman, John H. Davis, Emma Lee Woodum.
"We all know of his untiring energies to business and of those faithful qualities which enabled him to love justice, to deal kindly with men and to enjoy their friendship and esteem. His daily walk of life and his convictions as touching the things that are spiritual and eternal are best expressed in the prayer:
"My Father, help me to remember that three feet make one yard, that sixteen ounces make one pound, and that sixty minutes make one hour. Help me to do business on the square; make me sympathetic with the man who has broken in the struggle and keep me from putting in teh gaff where it does not belong. Deafen me to the jingle of tainted money, blind me to the petty faults of others, but reveal to me mine own.
"Guide me so that each night when I look across the dinner table at my wife, who has been a blessing to me, I shall have nothing to conceal
"And when comes the smell of flowers, and the tread of soft steps, and the crunching of wheels out in the front, make the ceremony short and the epitaph simple - "Here Lies A Man."

The Cameron Herald(Cameron, Texas), 02 Jan 1941, Thu, Page 1

Family Members
Parents
Elias Meek Smith
1815–1884

Harriet Elizabeth Fort Smith
1822–1874

Spouse
Viola Malinda Oxsheer Smith
1853–1942 (m. 1875)

Siblings
Paulona J Smith Black
1848–1922

Children
Infant Son Smith
1876–1876

Viola Aetna Smith
1877–1969

Oxsheer Meek Smith
1880–1974

Elizabeth Smith
1883–1901

Lilla Smith Thomas
1885–1974

Hilliard Fort Smith
1888–1959

Vivian Smith McIntyre
1890–1979

Goodhue Wilson Smith
1893–1922

Photo courtesy of: Holly Bonorden Jentsch

Contributed on 6/3/20 by lynst.peters62
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Record #: 321340

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