John Franklin Witt was known to many as ‘Doc’ Witt, Tyler’s Music Man. Mr. Witt was a trumpet player, band leader, composer and teacher of music. He made a name for himself in Smith County Texas through his extraordinary musical talent. He was Bandmaster for the Tyler Kid Band in 1908, then the Tyler Municipal Band in 1916. It is no wonder that this leader of bands helped lead the Armistice ...[Read More]
Tyler’s Music Man ‘Doc’ Witt Celebrates the Armistice in 1918
FUN AT THE MUSEUM
History Mystery Fun at the Museum – in Tyler, TX! Smith County Historical Society has a way of continuing the learning process children need through their Summer, Fall, and Winter breaks. Fun At The Museum Studies show that student’s achievement scores decline over summer break. This decline is referred to as Summer Learning Loss. In response to this issue, the Smith County Histor ...[Read More]
Brothers Meet on WW1 French Battlefield
Brothers Meet on French Battlefield Extracts from a World War 1 letter from Lieut. Charles N. McClendon to his father in which he tells of meeting his brother, Lieut. S. S. McClendon, Jr., on the Western Battle front in France: Oct. 23rd, 1918 “Dear Father: “I received your “beaucoup letters from home. You can imagine how greatly I appreciated them. The letters from you I carried to Sidney as he ...[Read More]
Charles Newcomb McClendon – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018
Charles Newcomb McClendon – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018 Sponsored by Daye Collins Life Before WW1 When Charles Newcomb McClendon was born on September 2, 1892, in Tyler, Texas, his father, Sidney Smith McClendon, was 27 and his mother, Annie Rebecca (Bonner) McClendon, was 24. He was the second child born of nine children. He married Norma McClendon on December 12, 1916, in Morris Coun ...[Read More]
Joseph Favre Baldwin – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorships 2018
Joseph Favre Baldwin (1892–1918) Sponsored by Wanda Barber and Tiffany Wright Life Before WW1 Joseph Favre Baldwin was born on August 3, 1892, in Tyler, Texas. His father, Aaron, a doctor and his mother, Clara, a concert pianist. He had one brother, Fredrick. He attended Tyler High School. He was a senior Medical School student in 1915, attending Tulane Univer ...[Read More]
Joseph J “Holland” McKay – WW1 Servicemen Sponsorship 2018
Joseph J McKay (1886-1918) Sponsored by Wanda Barber Life Before WW1 When Joseph J “Holland” McKay was born in April 1886, his father, Samuel F. McKay, was 31 and his mother, Cordelia (Holland) McKay, was 24. He had two brothers and one sister. At the time of Joe’s enlistment in the Army in 1917, he was living in Goose Creek, Texas, which is in present day Baytown. Prior to enli ...[Read More]
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]
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]