Deaf Smith County History

Deaf Smith County is located on the Texas - New Mexico Border and has a very interesting history. The county was named after Erastus "Deaf" Smith, a Texas scout, guide, Indian Fighter and participant in the battle of San Antonio and the Battle of San Jacinto. He was born in New York on April 19, 1787. Smith was "hard of hearing" at an early age which caused him "to remain silent and fond of solitude", this in turn, led him to become observant and get to know the land around him well. This enabled him to pass valuable info for the Texas Revolution. His monument says, "Deaf Smith, The Texas Spy". The county was created from Bexar Territory on Aug. 21, 1876 and was attached to Oldham County for law and court business with Tascosa as the county seat. Some of the early city officials were: Mayors, L.Gough, S.B. Edwards, J.H. Head. Aldermen: L.A. Stroud, R.N. Mounts, Judge J.R. Dean, Atty. F.C. Highsmith, County and Dist. Clerk C.W. Witherspoon and Sheriff, J.M. Cook.

This information is taken from the Deaf Smith County History Book, The land and It's People, 1876-1981, by the Deaf Smith County Historical Society and was sent by Betty Bustos, Assistant Archivist, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum-Research Center.