Bruce Allardice,
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I reluctantly asked my busy friend, Skipper, to help identify the elusive "A. Smith."
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Skipper Steely of Paris TX sent the following two excerpts from his book: FORTY SEVEN YEARS (2000), Chapter 19.
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The days Captain Mackey spent in the area were not happy ones for citizens. The Federal officers used a building on the east side of the Paris square where the Williams and Wortham Store was located. The soldiers were upstairs, the Freedman's Bureau below.
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One tragedy recorded found Mackey in Wirt Smith's law office, removing the furniture in the attorney's absence. Smith was the son of Judge Alexander Smith, and had two brothers in town, Charley and Sam, and a sister, Annie. Wirt Smith was a popular young Paris citizen, just learning the law profession. Upon his return, Smith approached Mackey, demanding back his belongings, which Mackey now used in his own office. Mackey cussed Smith, who in turn drew his pistol. However, Mackey grabbed his own gun and dived out into the street.
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A fight ensued with soldiers following, attempting only casually to break up the altercation. Paris citizens arose quickly in mass to the cause, driving the soldiers back, letting Smith and Mackey fight it out in the dusty square. Both were shot, and Smith died instantly. However, Mackey recovered from his wounds, thanks to the skill of Dr. W.M. Clements, Mrs. Walter Boyd's father.
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For 55 days and $70,000 worth of time the group met, some of the delegates being the same as gathered five years earlier to determine Secession. James W. Throckmorton of McKinney was there as part of a strong minority of conservative Unionists. Albert Latimer of Clarksville, the state's comptroller and always against Secession, Edmund J. Davis and I.A. Pascal were in this group. Among a few familiar names on the other side still were O.M. Roberts, Bowie County's H.R. Runnells, John Ireland, John W. Whitfield and T.N. Waul. But, a considerable element at the convention was classified as merely conservative. Alexander Smith was the delegate from Lamar County's District 23. Micajah Louis Armstrong represented both Lamar and Hopkins Counties as delegate from District 25.[1]
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[1] Steely Collection, Neville Papers, 334.
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With this new "A. Smith" info, I tried my hand at Googling the son's name "Wirt Smith" and found that he was the "Captain A.W. Smith" of "C" Company of Burnet's TX 1st Battn SharpShooters. ..Most know much more about Googling than I, so I hope someone will post or send me the skinny on this Smith family, i.e., "Where and when was 'Brig-Gen. Alexander Smith' born"?
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All Texans will forever be indebted to my friend of 20 yrs, Thomas B. "Skipper" Steely, for compiling the history of Old Miller County, Arkansas from the original handwritten Miller Co AR records found in his family's archives. ..In fact, Skipper was given these records when he visited two aunts in Idabel OK. ..Yes, handwritten original records. ..It is upsetting that most univeristy libraries in Texas have not shelved this book, but more upsetting is that professors of Texas history have never heard of Old Miller County.
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Skipper Steely's SIX MONTHS FROM TENNESSEE, Paris TX, Wright Press (1982). ..This wonderful book, from handwritten records, sheds light on the era 1819 to 1830s era that includes the area of what is now About Miller County, Arkansas that includes now McCurtain County OK, and Lamar County TX, esp. George W. Wright (founder of Paris TX). You may want to see my November 24, 2007-Indian Territory posting about this book.
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http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/itcwmb/webbbs_config.pl?read=4312
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com
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