Blue Ridge in Collin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
George Washington Smith
(1796?-1876?)
Photographed by Gary Estep, December 19, 2025
1. George Washington Smith Marker
Born in Wilson County, Tennessee, George Washington Smith came to Texas in 1834 with his wife Elizabeth Briggs. He fought in the Texas War for Independence (1835-36) as a private in Capt. Clendennins Company 1st Regiment Artillery. In the Mexican War (1846-48). He served as a sergeant in Company K 1st Regiment of the Texas Rangers, under Col. John Coffee (Jack) Hays. The Smith family settled in Collin County in 1852. When Smith died about 1876, he was buried near the entrance of the present Blue Ridge Cemetery, later his grave was moved to the Grounds Cemetery (1.25 miles northwest).
Erected 1979 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6203.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, Mexican-American • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical year for this entry is 1796.
Location. 33° 18.424′ N, 96° 23.939′ W. Marker is in Blue Ridge, Texas, in Collin County. It is on Business State Highway 78, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 684 TX 78 Business, Blue Ridge TX 75424, United States
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Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Blue Ridge (approx. 0.6 miles away); Blue Ridge Methodist Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); Grounds Cemetery (approx. 1.6 miles away); Snow Hill Community (approx. 4.3 miles away); Verona Methodist Church (approx. 4.4 miles away); Indian Creek Baptist Church and Cemetery (approx. 5.4 miles away); Bethlehem Baptist Church (approx. 5.4 miles away); Stony Point Church and Cemetery (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blue Ridge.
Photographed by Jesse Nelsen, December 20, 2020
2. George Washington Smith Marker
Photographed by Jesse Nelsen, December 20, 2020
3. George Washington Smith Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2020, by Jesse Nelsen of Farmersville, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,138 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 19, 2025, by Gary Estep of Anna, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on December 24, 2020, by Jesse Nelsen of Farmersville, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
