Notes for William Rogers SMITH
Served on boats as rivermen on the Mississippi River acrrying produce and other articles in use at that time. It is said he helped bring the firdt steamship into New Orleans.
Letter from researcher states William owned at least one slave. Also reportedly died 4-2-1853 but this doesn't fit with daughters birth years. He may have died of Yellow Fever which killed 8000 people in New Orleans during 1853.
William and Sam Smith were both grown young men when their parents came
to Texas and had served on boats as river men on the Mississippi River,
plying flatboats to and from various points, carrying produce and other
articles in use at that time. It is said they assisted in bring the first
steamboat into New Orleans.
Several of these Smith boys bought land and once owned the entire strip
up and down Cross Timber Creek from the Cal Smith home to the Bob Taylor
place. William Smith once contracted for land farther down the Jefferson
Road about the Armstrong place, but his death later rendered him unable
to return and develop it. He was married in New Orleans and became father
of two daughters, Josephine and Clara Agnes, before he was taken by
death. His widow was later married to Mr. Gid Witham who soon came with
the family to Texas and Hopkins County where they continued to make their
home. These girls were afterward married, Josephine to Elisha Clapp and
Clara to Will Posey.
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