The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-02-26
A TEXAS PIONEER.
Death OF q Distinguished citizen Of
the Lone Star state.

Death OF Q Distinguished Citizen Of
the Lone Star state.
A special telegram announcing the
death. at his home in Harris county,
Texas, on the 2lst of January, of Hon.
Ashbel Smith, was received Friday
morning. With this death one of the
most distinguished of the ancient and
heroic band of Texan pioneers has
passed away and few of them left be-
hind.
Ashbel Smith was born In Connecti-
cut in 1906. He graduated at Yale col
lege and then studied medicine. After
obtaining his medical degree he re-
moved to South Carolina and spent
some years there in the practice of his
profession, but subsequently visited
Paris, where he resided for considera-
ble period. devoting himself to the study
Of languages and the civil law. and
perfecting himself in his profession by
practicing in the hospitals Of the French
capital.
In 1886. the Texas struggle for inde-
pendence began to attract attention
both in America and Europe, and DIR.
Smith resolved to espouse the cause of
the Texans, and sailed for America,
but this was before the days of railway
and steamship travel, and he did not
arrive in Texas until the great and de-
cisive battle of San Jacinto was fought.
He at once rendered his services to
President Sam Houston, and was early
in 1887 appointed surgeon general Of
the Texas army.
From 1912 to 1845, under Presidents
Houston and Anson Jones, DR.. Smith
served the Texas Republican as am
bassador to the court Of France, and
subsequently performed special missions
for his country to tho courts of Eng
land, Spain, and Sardinia. At Turin,
the capital of the latter kingdom, in
1912. the Texas ambassador attended
the wedding of Victor Emmanuel, then
crown prince, but subsequently king of
Italy, who was married to the Arch
duchess Adelaide of Austria, afterward
tho mother of Humbert w., the pres
cnt king of Italy.
In l845 DIR. Smith was secretary of
state to President Anson Jones. who
took an active interest in the negotia-
tions which brought about the annexa-
lion of Texas to the United States, and
during the Mexican war he acted rs
Texas commissioner with General Tay-
lor's army. In 1849 he was appointed
by the president of the United States
chief of the board of examiners at the
military academy at West Point. He
served many terms in the state legisla-
turc, both before and after the civil
war. At the breaking out Of that strug-
gle he raised a company which was
Incorporated into the ID regiment of
Texas infantry, and marched to the
scene of war IN Tennessee. It was en-
gagged in the battle of Shiloh, losing many
officers and men, and there Capt. Smith
was promoted to be colonel of the regi-
ment on the field, and served with great
gallantry to the close of tho war. He
was Il warm friend of Gen. Albert Sid
ney Johnston, with whom he had served
in the Texas national army. and after
tho war, being member of the Texas
legislature, he offered q motion that the
body of Gen. Johnston be inferred on
Texas soil at the cost of the state. The
resolution was adopted, and DR.. Smith
was chairman of the committee which
had charge of tho matter. finally secur.
ing the intcrmcnt of the remains at
Austin, the Texas capital.
DR.. Smith was a man of profound
learning, and up to the time of his
death never neglected his duties. His
charity was provcrbial, and for many
years his services in a large medical
practice were given away freely to all,
while a great part of his income from
valuable estates was spent in private
benefactions. His courage, fortitudc
and endurance were invincible, and, al
though advanced in life while in the
military service of the confederacy, few
men could equal him in undergoing the
hardships of q campaign. To the end
Of his long and useful life his energy
and activity never tagged, and at the
time of his death he was serving his
state as president of the board Of re-
gents of the Texas university. He died
at the ripe age of 80 years, and was
one of the most distinguished and use-
full men which Texas has ever produced.
-New Orleans Picayune.