Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 480 of 894
762 p., [172] leaves of plates : ill., ports. ; 30 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
408
holds that position now. For the past eight or ten
years, although retaining some ranching interest,
Mr. Trent has devoted his attention mainly to
banking. His home is at Goldthwaite, where he
settled in 1887, shortly after the town was laid out,
and he spends his time between that place and
Brownwood.
Such is a brief outline of what has been an exceptionally
active and, in some respects, eventful
career. Mr. Trent has not been a public man in
any sense of the word, but the value of his services
to the State is not to be measured by the
standard applied to public men. He has rather
occupied the position of scout to the advancing
army of civilization. The contests in which he
has been concerned have been the hand-to-hand
sort where the issue has turned on the personal
merit of the contestant. Beginning his life as a
cowboy on the range, when his only companion was
his pony, his best defense against hostile Indians
a pair of six shooters, his bed at night the earth,
and his covering the sky, with a chorus of coyotes
to lull him to slumber, he has followed the cattle
business through all its evolutions, experiencing
its hardships and its pleasures, its
alternating hopes and disappointments; and now
after a third of a century so spent he is one of the
few "cowmen" of Texas who have practically
retired from that business with a fortune. The
success of such a career argues the possession of a
combination of qualities that is as rare as those
which illumine the supposedly higher walks of life
with their achievements and fill the pages of history
with more or less renown. Yet Mr. Trent is
far from making any boast of his success. It isdoubtful, in fact, if he fully realizes the significance
of what he has done. He has been so absorbed in
the labors which he has assumed that he has never
stopped to consider the magnitude of the obstacles
he has encountered or to weigh the effort required
to overcome them.
As a citizen he has actively interested himself in
the preservation of law and order and has thrown
the weight of a strong personal example in favor
of whatever is calculated to stimulate industry
or improve the country in which he makes his
home. He feels an especially friendly interest in
education, for knowing from experience the disadvantages
under which one labors who has not had
the benefits of schooling, it is his wish that the
rising generation may not be so hampered in the
race of life. He is a member of the Masonic
order, Lodge No. 694, of Goldthwaite, in which his
social instincts find proper expression. Steady,
temperate and economical in habits, his private life
meets the demands of good citizenship. He is
quiet and retiring in disposition, but thinks and
acts for himself.
Mr. Trent has been three times married and is
the father of seven living children. His three
eldest, issue of his first marriage, are grown,-these
being Mrs. Emily Lindsey, wife of F. H. Lindsey,
of Abilene, Texas; Mrs. Mary Ellen Thompson,
wife of William H. Thompson, assistant cashier of
the First National Bank of Brownwood, and
William H. Trent, cashier of the First National
Bank of Goldthwaite. His four remaining children
are small, these being Ida Belle, issue of his
second marriage, Alma, Letrice and Daniel Albert,
the last three being offspring of his last marriage.=
SAMUEL H. SMITH,
ROCKPORT.Maj. Samuel H. Smith was a substantial citizen
of Rockport, a large property holder, and identified
with the development of the material resources
of the Gulf region of Southwest Texas.
He was born near the town of Montgomery, in
Montgomery County, Texas, May 25, 1839, and
was the oldest of four children born to John and
Catherine (Gillette) Smith, the former of whom
was a native of Virginia and the latter of Missouri.
Mr. John Smith was one of Stephen F. Austink'sfirst colony of 300, and located his headright on
the Nueces river near Rockport. He was a relative
of Governor Henry Smith, Provisional Governor
of Texas during the Texas Revolution of 1835-6.
He served as a soldier through the Texas Revolution,
took part in the battle of San Jacinto and
was a participant in the expeditions against Mexico.
After living for a time in Montgomery County, he
removed to Grimes County, where he died in 1848.
He was an especial friend and supporter of Gen.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas (Book)
A history of pioneers in Texas and their confrontations with local American Indians.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Brown, John Henry. Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, book, 1880~; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6725/m1/480/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.