Baytown in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Dr. Ashbel Smith

Photographed By Jim Evans, April 2, 2009

1. Dr. Ashbel Smith Marker

Inscription. Ashbel Smith was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1805. Recieved his M.D. degree from Yale in 1828, and came to Texas from South Carolina in 1837. He established a plantation called Headquarters on Goose Creek in 1840 and in 1847 purchased property adjoining his and a plantation home named Evergreen on Tabbs Bay, part of the San Jacinto Estuary. Dr. Smith kept the name Evergreen for the combined estates. This **** acre estate remained his home until his death in 1886. Dr. Smith's active life as physician, statesman, soldier and educator often took him away, but he always returned to Evergreen and his life as a farmer, rancher, scientist and writer.

Dr. Ashbel Smith served the Republic of Texas as Surgeon General 1837—39, Minister to England and France 1842—44, and Secretary of State 1845: worked to establish the Texas Medical Association 1853 and the Texas State Agricultural Society 1853: represented Harris County in the sixth, eleventh, and sixteenth Legislatures of Texas: formed the Bayland Guards 1861; was Colonel 2nd Texas Infantry Confederate Army; led the way in founding Prairie View State Normal School 1879, the University of Texas in Austin 1881, and the medical branch in Galveston. Served as first president of the University of Texas Board of Regents 1881—1886.

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1805.

Location. 29° 46.924′ N, 94° 57.879′ W. Marker is in Baytown, Texas, in Harris County. Marker can be reached from North Main Street, 0.3 miles north of West Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5117 N Main St, Baytown TX 77521, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Wooster School (within shouting distance of this marker); Near Home Site of John Peter Sjolander (approx. 2.2 miles away); Humble Oil & Refining Company (approx. 2.7 miles away); Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge (approx. 2.9 miles away); Hall of Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge (approx. 2.9 miles away); Cedar Bayou United Methodist Church (approx. 2.9 miles away); Goose Creek Stream (approx. 3.3 miles away); K'Nesseth Israel Synagogue (approx. 3.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baytown.

Also see . . .
1. Ashbel Smith in Wikipedia.

Dr. Ashbel Smith Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jim Evans, April 2, 2009

2. Dr. Ashbel Smith Statue

(Submitted on November 23, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
2. Ashbel Smith in The Handbook of Texas. (Submitted on November 23, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
3. Brief Bio of Ashbel Smith. (Submitted on November 23, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)

Dr. Ashbel Smith image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia

3. Dr. Ashbel Smith

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 836 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 23, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.