Smith County Historical Society

Andrew Smith – WW1 Soldier

Andrew Smith – World War 1 Soldier Andrew Smith was born on October 4, 1894, in Linden, Texas. He registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 at Dangerfield, Texas.  At that time, he was a Hotel porter in Omaha, Texas.  He served overseas from August 22, 1918 through July 17, 1919 with Company C, 322nd Service Battalion.  He was discharged on August 2, 1919. Andrew remained behind the lines most of t ...[Read More]

Jesse Elmer Shelton – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018

Jesse Elmer Shelton – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018 Sponsored by Wanda Barber Life Before the War When Jesse Elmer Shelton was born on February 24, 1896, in Richland, Navarro County, Texas, his father, Joshua F Shelton, was 35 and his mother, Laura Elizabeth (Dunn), was 20. He had one brother and three sisters. At the time of Elmer’s enlistment in Army in 1916, the family is living in Troup. Wor ...[Read More]

Roseland Plantation

Did you know that an antebellum plantation is located just two miles from the Smith County line in Van Zandt County on Highway 64?  The Roseland Plantation was built by B. H. Hambrick in 1854 on a thousand acres of land purchased in 1852. Be sure to visit the Roseland Plantation website here. Burwell Hampton Hambrick (1811 – 1868) B. H. Hambrick along with business partners George W Humphrey and J ...[Read More]

World War Nurse Buried (Gertrude Brogan)

Roses Dropped By Planes While World War Nurse Buried The following, taken from the Tyler Courier-Times in connection with the death and funeral of Miss Gertrude Brogan, world war nurse, will be read with sad interest in Corsicana.  Miss Brogan attended school in Corsicana and following the World war nursed in a local hospital.  She is a sister of Mrs. Mary E. Adams of Powell. Impressive funeral se ...[Read More]

Lieutenant Baldwin’s Last Letter

Dr. and Mrs. A. P. Baldwin have received a letter from a friend of their late son, Lieut. Favre Baldwin, who was recently killed while serving at the front in France.  This friend, Lieut. Robert W. Ashley, was with Lieutenant Baldwin just a few minutes before he met his death.  The letter published below was taken from his dead body by Lieutenant Ashley. My Darlings:  The long-awaited orders have ...[Read More]

Is in the Army Nurse Corps – Gertrude Brogan – WW1

Le Mans, France, Dec. 1, 1918 Dear Sister:  As you see Uncle Sam is letting me tour France at his expense, that is, I am about ten hours ride from Brest, where I was first located.  I like here much better as we are located right in the city where there are paved streets and sidewalks, so of course I do not have the mud to contend with.  The nurses’ quarters is a chateau, the furniture havin ...[Read More]

Spending Leave – Gertrude Brogan – WW1

Nice, France, March 10, 1919 Dear Sister, I am sure you will be surprised to get a letter from this place. I am spending a seven day leave of absence at this place, a pleasure resort, on the southern coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea.  This part of the coast of France is called the Rivera Country.  I know you have read of it in books.  It includes this place, Cannes, Monte Carlo and several ...[Read More]

Wounded Men Are Jolly – WW1 Letter from Gertrude Brogan To Her Sister

France, Nov. 7, 1918 Dear Sister, Here I come again to let you know that I am still “over here” doing my bit.  I am still at the same place I was when I wrote you last and suppose I will be here some time, so am sending the address of this hospital for the next letter that you write me. It still rains quite a bit here but I am getting used to it, so do not mind it so much but do not th ...[Read More]

William Wade Renfro – WWI Servicemen Sponsorship 2018

various world war I men in uniform

Women’s History Month and Bess Robinson