William Smothers

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it — and friend, this one earns every word. William Smothers. Born 1760, died 1837.

If you stacked up the lives of two ordinary men end to end, you might come close to covering what this one man saw and did. Might. He came into the world in Virginia, and hardship found him early.

At twelve years old, Indians killed his father. His mother died of shock. Twelve years old, and suddenly alone in a world that was not yet finished being dangerous.

That detail is just sitting there in the marker, quiet and devastating, and it tells you something about the iron that gets forged in a person under that kind of heat. He grew into that iron. When the American Revolution called, William Smothers answered — and not just for one polite engagement.

He fought at King's Mountain. He fought at Guilford Courthouse. He fought at Camden.

He fought at Eutaw Springs. Four of the hardest fought names in that whole war, and his boots were muddy at every one of them. After the Revolution, he moved to Kentucky in 1781.

Didn't rest long. He built two forts near what is now Hartford — a place originally called Smothers Station, which tells you something about the kind of reputation a man had earned by then. And in 1798, he founded a port on the Ohio River that would later become Owensboro.

Kentucky knew his name. He was a leader in civil affairs, a militia captain, and when the War of 1812 came around, he was back in the field commanding troops. There is a Smothers Park in Owensboro named in his honor to this day.

But here's where the story takes a turn south — literally. Before 1820, William Smothers was already scouting in Texas. Texas.

Out ahead of almost everybody, moving through country that most men hadn't laid eyes on. Then in 1821 he came back — this time with Stephen F. Austin's own exploring party.

And he didn't just ride along for the scenery. He helped build Fort Bend, putting up shelter and walls for the safety of the settlers who would become known as the Old 300. In 1824, Mexico granted him land.

In 1826, he and two of his sons helped settle DeWitt's Colony, and they received land grants right in the vicinity of where this marker stands. He was, by all accounts, fearless — a skillful guide in country that punished the timid. He hunted with Jim Bowie.

His friend Jim Bowie. And if the reputation that followed him around is to be believed, William Smothers tomahawked bears in hand-to-hand combat. I'll let that sit with you a moment.

He married twice. Became the ancestor of many leading Texans. And he lived long enough — just long enough — to see a son and three grandsons help win the Texas War for Independence before he died in 1837.

Born in Virginia. Orphaned at twelve. Fought in four Revolutionary battles.

Built forts in Kentucky. Founded a river port. Led militia.

Scouted Texas. Settled alongside the Old 300. Hunted with Jim Bowie.

And watched his own blood help birth a republic. William Smothers didn't just pass through history. He kept showing up in the middle of it.

What the marker says

(1760-1837) A Veteran of the American Revolution. A native of Virginia, William Smothers was orphaned at 12 when Indians killed his father, and his mother died of shock. In the American Revolution, he fought at King's Mountain, Guilford Courthouse, Camden, and Eutaw Springs. He moved to Kentucky in 1781, built two forts near present Hartford, originally called "Smothers Station," and in 1798 founded an Ohio river port that later became Owensboro. He was a leader in civil affairs in early Kentucky, was a militia captain, and commanded troops in the War of 1812. Smothers Park in Owensboro is named in his honor. Smothers scouted in Texas before 1820, returned in 1821 with the exploring party of Stephen F. Austin, and helped build Fort Bend for the safety of the "Old 300" settlers. In 1824 Mexico gave him a land grant; in 1826, he and two sons helped settle DeWitt's Colony, receiving land grants in the vicinity of this marker. Fearless and a skillful guide, he often hunted with his friend Jim Bowie. Reputedly he tomahawked bears in hand combat. Married twice, he was ancestor of many leading Texans. He died in 1837, after seeing a son and three grandsons help to win the Texas War for Independence. (1977)