history – Page 2 – Texas History Notebook

Future Texans in the War of 1812

The War of 1812 is not customarily considered to directly be part of Texas history although some historians view the various filibuster events involving expeditions into Texas and clashes with Spain during those years to be associated with the War of 1812. Regardless, these years predated both the rise of Mexico to control the area and the Texas Revolution. However, a number of individuals who served in the northern and southern theaters of the War of 1812 later came to Texas.

“Lonesome Dove” – the Miniseries

The miniseries filmed in 1988 was the first release of a series of video projects of the four “Lonesome Dove” related books written by author Larry McMurtry. In February of that year, press releases announced that filming would soon begin on the screenplay based on McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that came out in 1985.

The Del Rio News-Herald in its issue of February 2, 1988 noted that locations would include the Moody family’s Rancho Rio Grande outside Del Rio and the Alamo Village in Brackettville. The miniseries was set to air for an estimated eight hours over several days. The article stated that the screenplay was written by Texan Bill Wittliff.

San Jacinto Monument

The San Jacinto Monument is one of the most recognizable symbols of Texas history. It was designed to commemorate the battle of April 21, 1836 in which the Texas Army led by General Sam Houston defeated Mexican troops led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna. For years prior to the Texas Centennial, various ideas had been discussed regarding ways to celebrate the anniversary. The site of the battle was chosen for the location of a monument.

Elizabeth Boyle Smith and Henry Clay Smith

Elizabeth Boyle Smith was born in Blair Mains, Dairy, Ayrshire, Scotland on July 12, 1848 to Allan Boyle and Elizabeth Orr Young. She came to the United States in 1871 after the death of her mother that year to follow four of her brothers who had had come to America. The siblings and their families first lived in Missouri before settling in Texas. Elizabeth was a single woman keeping house for her brothers when she met Henry Clay Smith. They were married on April 10, 1874 in Palo Pinto County.

John B. Denton

John B. Denton is the namesake of Denton County and the town of Denton. There has been some question regarding what his middle initial stood for. His middle name has variously been shown as “Bernard,” “Bunard” or “Bunyan” but the wife of a descendant said that his middle name was “Bunyan.”

Denton was born in Sparta, Tennessee on July 28, 1806 to James Denton and Sarah Clarkson Denton. He was the oldest of about eight children. Some accounts say that he was orphaned around 1815, but his father and mother are believed to have died in 1827 and 1846, respectively, according to current genealogical information available. Other accounts suggest that Denton ran away from home as a young boy and held various jobs including apprenticing as a blacksmith and working on steamers on the Mississippi River. For whatever reasons, he was residing in Arkansas when he was marred on June 23, 1825 to the former Mary Greenlee Stewart. The couple started their family with the birth of the first of their children the next year.