Man of Courage
N 37° 26.955 W 086° 54.495
16S E 508115 N 4144714
William Smeathers took p art in American Revolution and War of 1812; helped erect fort here and at Vienna (later Calhoun) in early 1780s. He was the subject of a sketch by Washington Irving, 1797. Smeathers served on first grand jury of the Court of Quarter Sessins at Hartford, 1803. Joined Stephen F. Austin in Texas, 1821, as one of "Old Three Hundred."
Waymark Code: WM4Z7N
Location: Kentucky, United States
Date Posted: 10/16/2008
Views: 17
William Smeathers took part in the American Revolution and War of 1812; helped erect fort here. He was the subject of a sketch of Washington Irving in 1797. Smeathers served on the first Grand Jury of the Court of Quarter Sessions at Hartford in 1803. He joined Stephen F. Austin in Texas,1821 as one of the"OLD ONE HUNDRED".
According to descendant Nena Smothers, Smeathers built the first cabin in Kentucky on the Yellowbanks of the Ohio River, which became Owensboro and where there is a monument to him and a park named Bill Smothers Park in his memory. It is likely that William or son John Bate Smeathers named Yellow Bank creek and community west of Petersburg in Lavaca Co. after their home on the Ohio. Smeathers has also been cited on a marker for being helpful in erecting Ft. Vienna, later Calhoun, KY in the early 1780's. William Smeathers' sister, Mollie was raped by a riverboatman name Norris when William lived on the Yellowbanks of Kentucky. William killed the man and went to trial for murder. He was represented by a famous lawyer named Daviess which was also the name of the prosecutor. Smeathers was acquitted, but advised to leave the area for fear of safety for his life following the trial in 1809. This is believed to have prompted William to go to Texas where he was on Galveston Island for a month, living off eggs of the birds. William Smeathers was a very colourful man, a hunter and friend of Jim Bowie, but best of all was his subtle humour and his tales and jokes heard in family stories from generation to generation. He was a just and honest man, and fought for truth, justice and individual freedom. He helped establish Ft. Bend, TX where a historical monument is established on the west bank of the Brazos River, south bridge on US 90A at Richmond with his name inscribed
Marker Name: Man of Courage
Marker Location: City
Type of Marker: Person
Marker Number (for official markers): 1548
Group(s) Responsible for placing Marker:
Kentucky Historical Society... Kentucky Department of Transportation
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Visit Instructions:
A picture of the site or anything specific to the text on marker.