Catalina & Isa Quintanar | Spring, 2006 |
U.S. History 1302 | R. Hines, Instructor |
A Historical Landmark Says:
Attracted by abundant water from a natural lake,
settlers began moving to the area in the late 1840s.
Ranching provided the earliest commerce. In addition
to cattle and sheep, ranchers raised racing horses for
sale in the southern states. Cattlemen brought their
herds to the lake area until they were ready for
transfer to Belmont (20 miles north), where a branch
of the Chisholm Cattle Trail was located. George W. Colley, considered to be the founder of
Smiley Lake Community, moved here in 1870. Near his
home he built a steam-powered cotton gin and sawmill.
He was joined later by Major W. M. Phillips who
opened a mercantile establishment here in 1883. The
settlement of Smiley Lake, named for early pioneer
Jim Smiley, was located on the Cuero-Rancho trade
route between San Antonio and the Gulf port of
Indianola. The village once had a saddle factory, blacksmith
shop, wire fence plant, newspaper, general stores,
drugstore, school, Baptist church, an I.O.O.F. Lodge and a
Post Office established in 1884. When the Galveston,
Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad completed lines
nearby in 1906, the Town of Smiley was moved to the
present location (one mile north).
Images of Smiley, Texas and their meaning:
This here is the old L.O.O.F Hall. This building is now being used for a church. Smiley has silos and barns which have been standing for many years. Most commonly silos are used in agriculture to hold grain or fermented feed known as silage.
This building is The Grange Hall in Smiley Texas. This organization provides many benefits for its members. This here is the Local Smiley Library. It was donated by Mrs. Stella Ellis Hart. This library is known as, "The Stella Ellis Library." This town may not have a museum, but it sure it does have many things to show. This very unique town can surely show it's historical background with it's neat library. Here is Smiley's City Hall. Though it may be small it is sure ran by a great staff. And one of those staff members of Smiley City Hall is Mrs. Eloise Estes.
Here is a picture from a U.S Postal Cover from the U.S. Postal service in Smiley. The post office opened in the year 1884, and became number three in the county of Gonzales. This was Smiley's principle drug store. The men are; standing at far left behind the counter is
Winchester "Chess" Sample, man sitting to the left of the group at the table is Dr. Henry Hatch Beverly.(Photo courtesy of Rob Schmidt.)
City Map
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/GG/hcg7.html" Gonzalez County. This website helped find the information needed for Gonzales County.
www.wilcoxen.com/family: From "An American Family" Tribute Page; Smiley Texas, home of the Bantams.
www.nixontx.com: This website helped recieve information on Nixon Texas.
www.www.pvahec.org/cuero.html: This website also helped us to find out what Cuero, Texas was about.
www.ok-history.mus.ok.us/enc/chsmtrl.htm" Chisholm Trail; this webpage was help on finding out what the Chisholm Trail was.
www.mainstreet-marketplace.com/Pages/Misc/Odd%20Fellows.htm" I.O.O.F, this webpage was of great help to find out what the Internationl Order of Odd Fellows is about.
www.grange.org: Information on the Grange Hall is found on this website.
www.maps-n-stats.com/us_tx/us_tx_smiley_m.html Directions to Smiley Texas.