Captian Smith honored
by Sibyl Creasey

A Confederate soldier marker dedication was held by members of the Jesse Miller Foster Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, following their regular meeting on Monday, October 15 at the Dairy Palace. The marker for Captain Thomas B. Smith has been placed at Cana Cemetery where the dedication ceremony was planned, but due to inclement weather it was held indoors.

Chapter president Lana Kirby of Grand Saline chaired the meeting and led the dedication ritual honoring Captain Smith who was born December 17, 1830 in Alabama. He served with the 11th Regiment of Texas Infantry, Company I, Army of the Confederate States of America. He was in the Red River campaign in Arkansas in 1864 and died while still in service at Princeton, Arkansas on May 9, 1864 of pneumonia.

Smith was buried in an unmarked grave in the Confederate Section of the Oakland Cemetery at Princeton. His wife was Mary Ann Norman Smith who died in 1899 and was buried at Cana Cemetery where the memorial Confederate marker was placed by descendant Benja Mize of Canton who is a member of the local UDC chapter.

Others attending the meeting and the dedication were members Sherrie Archer and Clara Brewer of Canton, JoAnn Barr of Van and Sibyl Creasey of Ben Wheeler. Guests and prospective members present were Margaret Rounsavall and Gwen Latting of Tyler; Virginia Pittman of Canton; and Marjorie Tarver, Sherley Baugh, Jonnie Miller and Leland Carter, of Edgewood. Carter is a member of the Sons of the Confederacy and appeared in Confederate uniform.

The Jesse Miller Foster Chapter meets every third Monday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Dairy Palace in Canton. Visitors are warmly welcomed and anyone wanting more information about the chapter's activities or membership may contact chapter registrar Sibyl Creasey at 903-833- 1013.