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A Yankee gunboat was stationed in the harbor, but as there was no fighting in the area, the sailors began entertaining the young ladies at parties aboard ship. On one of these occasions, the ladies got word to their men, who returned home, dressed in ladies clothes, and captured the gunboat. Henry brought home a teapot as a souvenir, treasured by the Smith family to this day.
1935 Map of Copano Bay, Port Aransas Museum
There are no known published reports of the above escapade, despite at least one account from the Union perspective that includes no mention of the local escapade.[3]
Upon returning to Indianola (28°33'N 96°31'W), it seems the family lived outside of town at Alligator Head (later renamed Port O’Connor), as accounts depict William Henry growing up on his father’s ranch. The 1870 Census lists Henry’s occupation as a Grocer and Lumber dealer. This change of profession was likely fortuitous as the 1875 storm destroyed the mailboat. The home was damaged but survived.
Port Lavaca 1910
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The 1880 Census lists Henry’s occupation as a Farmer. In 1884, his daughter Louisa marries George Braden, future business partner of William Henry. Henry and Josephine moved to Port Lavaca after the storm of 1886. Henry ran a grocery store in Indianola and later in Port Lavaca, where the "regulars" were known to play dominos. The 1900 Census lists Henry as being a Grocer. By 1910, according to Census data, Josephine was living with adult children James, Lizzie and Alice M. on Noble Point Road.
Henry and Josephine married on Matagorda Island on May 10, 1851, and had 16 children.
- Henry Christian (born in Indianola 1852),
- Christopher (born in Indianola November 24, 1853; died 1921 in Tivoli),
- Phillip (born in Indianola 1855, died young),
- Mary Josephine (born in Indianola February 6, 1856; died in San Antonio in 1909),
- William Henry (born in Indianola December 21, 1858; died August 21, 1941 in Port Lavaca),
- John Phillip (born in Copano Bay January 20, 1860; died in Seguin September 15, 1948),
- Henrietta Louisa (born in Indianola December 10, 1863; died in Seguin December 21, 1949),
- Elizabeth (born in Copano February 20, 1866; died in Port Lavaca February 5, 1937),
- Teresa, (born circa 1869 according to 1870 Census)
- Catherine Emilie (born March 3, 1871; died young),
- James (born in Port O’Connor August 23, 1872; died in San Antonio),
- Agnes (born 1874; died young),
- Edward Joseph (born 1875)
- Alice Marie (born 1877, died 1937)
- Freddie Smith (born 1879)
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The Indianola Courier, July 30, 1859 October 15, 1859 October 22, 1859
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Henry and Josephine are interred at the Port Lavaca Cemetery (28°36'N 96°37'W), Henry passing on May 22, 1907, and Josephine on December 28, 1912.
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He followed virtue
as his truest guide.
Lived as a
Christian and as a Christian died.
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Galveston Daily News Feb. 21, 1884
County Voter Registration 1867_1869
- Note the all male registry as this was over 50 years before the 19th Amendment.
- Note time of residence is the same for all, so perhaps Precint 3 and 4 were newly formed.
Indianola, The Mother of Western Texas, by Brownson Malsch, State House Press, Austin, 1988
Victoria Advocate September 24, 1875
Top Row (LtoR): John Phillip Smith, Christopher Smith, William Henry Smith Sr-"Pappy", James Smith. (Edward Smith not in picture.) Seated (LtoR): Alice Smith, Lizzie Smith, Josephine Ludwig Smith, Louisa Smith Braden, Teresa Smith Rasmussen.
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Dear Mother, Tho we
miss you much, We
know you rest with
God.
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It is possible the portion of the circuit from Refugio back to Indianola was made on horseback. The family lived on Copano Bay at Old St. Mary’s[2] (28°10'N 97°06'W) for a time (based on births of children, 1860 – 1866), including during the Civil War where Henry ran the mailboat.
This essential public service spared Henry from serving in Hobby's 8th Infantry. Read page 43 of 1948 Thesis of Camille Yeamans Neighbors for how the mail was transferred overland.
Family lore includes a story about an event during the Civil War.
Port Lavaca - 1900
Indianola - 1880
[1] Alice Helen was the daughter of James McCoppin, first Calhoun County Judge and a noted shipbuilder at Powderhorn. Perhaps the schooner was named after this young girl.
[2] * https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvsbf
*http://www.aransashistorycenter.org/aransas-history-articles/what-civil-war-invasions-occured-in-copano-bay * http://www.thehistorycenteronline.com/uploads/resources/Lufkin_Line_1949_09_September_October_OCR_reduced.pdf
[3] http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/books/barney/barney_c15.html
Photo: P. Boyd Collection
US Census Records (click on image to see full page)
Copano Precinct - 1860
Josephine Smith Funeral Notice
Calhoun County Censuses, as compiled by Ann Boyd
- Handwritten letter addressing service absence
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Birth Record
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Copano Bay Newspaper Writeup
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General Land Office, Map of Mason County, 1859
Although he secured the familiy's homestead grant (as per Anna Maria's contract) for 640 acres in Mason County, he preferred living in Calhoun County, never left the coast and eventually sold the land. Henry made his living fishing and was the captain of the schooner Alice Helen[1], a regular mail packet as shown in this newspaper advertisement.
Smith Brothers, 1893
Left to right: William Henry Smith Sr. (Pappy), Christopher Smith, John Smith, James Smith, Edward Smith,
last on right: unknown (maybe George Braden?)
Indianola - 1870
Henry Smith and Josephine M. Ludwig
Henricus Schmitt was born in Büdesheim, Mainz-Bingen, Germany(50°13′N 6°33′E) on March (1)2, 1829, to parents Johann and Anna Maria Schmitt. Josephine Ludwig was born in Kiedrich (50°02'N 8°05'E), the Duchy of Nassau, on June 8, 1834(5), to parents Christpoher and Catherine Ludwig. Henry and Josephine each came with their parent(s) and siblings from their homeland in Germany, arriving at Indianola in 1845 and 1846, respectively. Henry became a US Citizen in 1850(6) and at that time changed his last name to Smith.