WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1837
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2Ashbel Smith (August 13, 1805-January 2, 1886), statesman, soldier, diplomat physician, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, his ancestry on both sides being from old illustrious American families. He had received the best education the world of his time could give. In 1824 he received both the A.B., and M.A., degrees from Yale College, and had begun the study of law at that institution when his health failed. He went to North Carolina and there continued the study of law, but there his health failed utterly and he was forced to give up his work. When he was better he began the study of medicine. He continued his study in this profession until he had degrees from the best schools in the United States and Europe. In 1837 he became interested in Texas, and in June of that year was appointed surgeon general of the Texas army. From that time until the day of his death he rendered the State of his adoption a Yaried service. From 1842 to 1845 he was the Texan Minister to England and France; in 1846 he served as a surgeon in Taylor's army in Mexico; in 1849 he was president of the board of examiners at West Point, N.Y.; in 1856, he represented Harris County in the Texas Legislature; in 1861 he entered the Confederate army with the rank of captain, but was soon promoted to the rank of colonel of the Second Texas Infantry; in 1866 he was again in the Texas Legislature; in 1878, he was a commissioner from Texas to the Paris Exposition. During all this time, and during the activities of these varied services, he never gave up his study of, nor his practice of medicine. He attended most of the medical conventions of his day that were held in the United States; he had a large medical library of the latest published books, and was a constant contributor to several outstanding medical journals. He was considered by the medical profession the highest authority on the treat- ment of yellow fever. But for all this, he regarded his part in the estab- lishment of The University of Texas as the crowning accomplishment of his life. Ashbel Smith never married. He established several homes, however, where he entertained his friends and gave sanctuary to the needy. His last residence was a tract of two thousand acres which he had bought on Gal- veston Bay. He erected on it a comfortable but unpretentious house which he called "Evergreen." This old plantation is today the nucleus of the Goose Creek oil fields. As bounty and donation for service in the Texas army he was granted lands in Comanche and Caldwell counties. From the proceeds from the sales of these lands, and from the revenue from his medical practice he lived, made a profit, and laid up a fortune. It is said that he was accustomed to practice true Yankee thrift in the management of his affairs; nevertheless he dispensed cordial hospitality. to all his friends and neighbors, and did a great deal of charity practice in his profession. Altogether, Ashbel Smith is one of the most remarkable men who has ever claimed Texas as his home. The most complete biography of Ashbel Smith -still in manuscript-has been written by Harriet Smither, Archivist of the Texas State Library. She wrote a short sketch for the Dictionary of American Biography, XVII, 239-240. See also the Ashbel Smith Papers, The University of Texas Library; Lama1· Pape1·s, I and II, passim; Bio- uravhical Encyclovedia of Tex<is (1880), 162-164; S. C. Red, Biographical SketcJi of Ashbel Smith (1929); Ashbel Smith, Reminiscences of the Texas R epubl-ic .
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