364
WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1844
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on a league of land in Nacogdoches County (now Rusk County) and opened up a farm to which, in 1835, he brought his family. When the Texas revolution broke out in 1835, he returned to Tennessee and raised a company of volunteers from Tennessee and north Alabama. He spent his own money for the subsistence and transportation of his men, in addition to equipping them with mounts, arms and ammunition. In the latter part of 1836, and again in 1837, when the discharged soldiers and citizens of his district found themselves destitute and in perilous situations, he received them into his own home and spent considerable sums of money in supplying their needs. In 1839 he raised a company of troops and went to aid Burleson in the Cherokee war, and in 1841 he was again put in command of a body of troops in protection of the northwestern frontier, for which service he received a vote of thanks from Congress. In 1844, as this document shows, Houston commanded him to raise a force of men to go to Shelby County to quell the disorder there. He assembled 500 men and marched to the scene of disturbance, where, by his firm conduct and prudence, the belligerents were induced to lay down their arms and submit to the law. James Smith was a close friend of Houston, Rusk, and J. Pinckney Henderson. Indeed, his admiration for Henderson was so great that when Rusk County was created from Nacogdoches County in 1843, he donated sixty-nine acres of land from his farm for a county site (his plantation being almost in the center of the new county) provided the town should be named Henderson, and he insured that the town's name should never be changed. In the event of such a change of name, the land should revert to his estate, or to his heirs. After annexation he ceased to take an active part in politics, but lived quietly on his farm, where he died and where he is buried. He has many descendants in the state today, some of whom have distinguished themselves in various walks of life. See Harriet Smither (ed.), Jounials of the FourUi Cong1·css of the Republic of Texas, II, 50-51. Fulmore, The History and Geog,·aphy of Texas as Told in County Names, 90-92. John H. Brown, History of Texas, II, 294-296. Co1nptrolle1-'s 11'lilita1·y Se1·vice Records, Texas State Library. To T. G. BRoocKs, W. M. MEANS, AND JOHN Tooo 1 San Augustine, August 19, 1844. -To Colonels T. G. Broocks, San Augustine; W. M. Means, Sabine; John Todd, Nacogdoches: Sirs,- You will immediately take the proper steps to have your command in readiness for marching orders, armed and equipped for any emergency. You will consider this order sufficient, after any notification from authority, and act as it may command. Sam Houston 1 Anny Pave1·s, also Executive Reco,-d Book, No. 40, p. 368, Texas State Library.
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