El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-04-06
COL. Smith IS
FR0NTIER5NAN
Native Of Tucson, With
Long War Record, Heads
3l4th Cavalry.

Col. Cornelius C. Smith. command
ing officer Of the 31fth cavalry, ma
tional army. about 10 be organized at
Fort Bliss. is a product Of the south
west and has risen from the ranks.
He was born at Tucson. Ariz., April
I. 1859. son Of Gilbert Cole Smith and
Lola Curry Smith. the mother being
also born in Tucson. Col Smith comes
OF a family Of fighters. His grand
father, William Curry. was a famous
pioneer fighter and a leader in the
Camp Grant expedition Of 1892. At
the time of this expedition the col
oneTs father was a lieutenant Of in
fantry stationed at old Fort Lowell
in the outskirts Of the city Of Tucson
It is said Cornelius was the first
child Of AnglO-SaXon parents to be
christened at the mission Of San
Xavier del Bac- The colonel was
reared around Tucson and received
his early schooling in the post schools,
where his father was attached TO the
qUartermaster department
Works His Way Up.
Col. Smith is also a product OF the
army. He was not appointed TO tne
West Point military academy, but
worked his way from a private in the
cavalry to a colonel OF cavalry,
through all the intermediate grades.
In the year 1890 Cornelius c. Smith
enlisted as a private in troop X,
Sixth cavalry. He was subsequently
promoted to corporal and as a cor
poraI. while engaged in Indian cam
paigus, was awarded the medal Of
honor Subsequently he was made
sergeant and first sergeant Of troop
X. OF the Sixth, and on November 9,
1892 he was graded a second leu
tenant OF the Second cavalry.
As Captain. Governs 1IOros.
On March 2, 1893, he was promoted
to first Heutenancy and won his sec
ond shoulder bar on February 2, 1901,
when he was transferred 20 the
Fourth cavalry. At the end Of the
Spanish-American war he was a ma
jor OF volunteers.
As governor Of several provinces
in the Philippine islands, Col. smith
won additional credit for himself. He
was civil governor OF the island OF
COttabatto. in the Moro district, in
1906, when a captain Of the Fifth cav
airy. TO which regiment he had been
transferred on December 8. 1901; and
while still a captain in this regiment
during 1910-11-12 he was governor
Of Lanao. another Moro province
Writes Dictionary and History.
While in the Moro country he com
piled q dictionary OF the Moro Ian
guage which has proved an invalu-
able aid TO army officers who have
been stationed in that country since
his time. He talks the Moro dialect
fluently He also wrote a history OF
the Moro tribe. During his stay in
the Philippine islands the colonel
made collection OF Moro weapons
which is said to be one or the most
extensive collections extant- This he
presented TO the University OF Ari-
IONA in 1913.
Transferred later to the Tenth cav
airy. he was detached as military at
tache to Columbia and Ecuador, and
while on this duty he was promoted
to a major and later to a lieutenant
colonel While in the West indies be
was for a time attached TO the secret
service department Of the govern
ment
Leaves Infantry For the Horse.
Upon the creation OF the 340th In
fantry at Rockford, Ill, he was pro-
NOTED to the grade Of colonel and as
signed 10 the command OF that regi-
ment, subsequently being ordered 90
this city to organize the new cavalry
regiment
. Col smith IS well known in Texas
and Arizona and has many friends
among the officers stationed here
He and Lieut. Col John A. Wagner,
division quartermaster, are close per
sonaI friends.
Few officers IN the American army
can show more service badges than
Col Smith lie wears the medal OF
honor. Indian campaign, spanish
American war, Philippine insurrectlon
and Moro campaign ribbons
Mrs. smith accompanied her hus-
band TO FL Paso and they made tenn
porary quarters at Hotel Sheldon