Smith County has a name that at least keeps it up with the Joneses but its handle hardly compares with the Potters, Lubbocks and Travises of Texas. The East Texas county's history, however, is another story. An interesting story.
While not having the most exotic or romantic of names, Smith County has a long and rich history. Until 1846 it was part of Nacogdoches County, one of the original 23 Texas counties. The history of Smith County amounts to the history of East Texas.
That history has been exceptionally well told in a new two-volume book by James Smallwood, "The History of Smith County Texas: Born in Dixie." Published by Eakin Press, the 920-page set sells for $79.95.
County histories tend to be heavy, oversized books. "The History of Smith County Texas" is certainly a weighty two book set, but the comparison with the typical county history ends there.
Bulk, unfortunately, not always is reflective of quality. More often than not, a county history is the product of a group of enthusiastic and well-meaning volunteers who are neither historians nor writers. If their product runs to two volumes, the second is almost always a compendium of family biographies written by subscribing family members. Indexes, if offered at all, list only family and place names.
Smallwood's work is nothing like what is found in the average county history. A history professor at Oklahoma State University since 1975, he has edited and written several other books and numerous articles. In "The History of Smith County," he has delved into primary sources and done what any good writer should do: synthesize. The author's footnotes show he had a lot of material to distill, not to mention a lot of history to cover.
Not only is Smallwood's book a winner for its content, it is strikingly designed. The illustrations on the covers are two different color photographs of Depression-era murals from the post office in Tyler.
Tiny in comparison to the Smith County set, but also solidly researched and well-designed is "Biography of the Old Blanco County Courthouse" by Curtis Chubb. Published by The Captured Rainwater Company LC (P.O. Box 1360, Blanco, Texas 78606), the 62-page soft-cover sells for $10 plus $2.50 postage and handling.
Chubb tells the story of the old courthouse in Blanco, which amounts to the history of the county, in time line format. The limestone courthouse, designed in 1885 by noted Texas architect Frederick Ruffini, served as the county's capitol for only five years. In 1890, the county seat was moved from Blanco to Johnston City. From 1937 to 1966, the building served as the community hospital. More than 850 people were born there.
Another attractive recently published local history is "A Pictorial History of Marble Falls: The Land Embracing the Falls on the Colorado." Published by The Highlander, the 128-page book sells for $49.99.
Editor Billy Becker gathered some 800 photographs, most of them never before published, and from those culled the ones used in the book. The result is a mosaic in its own way every bit as artful as the murals in the Tyler post office.
Also of the pictorial variety is "Historic Brazoria County: An Illustrated History" by Margaret Swett Henson. Published for the Brazoria County Historical Museum by Historical Publishing Network in San Antonio, the 136-page book sells for $39.95.
Finally, while it lacks the production values of these other books, is "A Long Narrow Strip of Land" by Woodlief Brown. The 97-page book, published by H.V. Chapman and Sons of Abilene (P.O. Box 111, Abilene, TX, 79604), sells for $25.92 (includes tax, shipping and handling).
The long, narrow strip of land referred to in the title is the Matagorda Peninsula, a finger of land which juts into the Laguna Madre from Matagorda County. Brown's book is a mixture of local and family lore, a fair amount of it based on previously unpublished family stories.
One of the best things about local histories is the ability to find interesting tidbits that would not have had much chance of being published anywhere else.
The last page of the Marble Falls book, for instance, features a photograph of a colorful character's tombstone. Engraved on the grave marker are 45 last words that ought to bring a smile to just about anyone: "I've led a wild life boys, but I've earned all I spent. I paid all I borrowed and lost all I lent. I once loved a woman and that came to an end. So get a good dog boys. It will be your best friend."
Mike Cox is the author of six Texas-related books. His columns on Texas and Southwestern books and authors are now available on the Internet at www.lsjunction.com. He can be reached at P.O. Box 4615, Austin, Texas 78765, or by e-mail at email@example.com.