James Lowry Smith

Salado college professor and principal James Lowry Smith was a progressive leader in education. He received degrees at Baylor and served in the Civil War before beginning his tenure at Salado College in 1863. Despite challenges, including low enrollment during the Civil War and the financial panic of 1873, Salado College achieved high standards during Smith’s tenure. He first served until 1874, and then again from 1879-80 in the college’s final year of operation. Married to Julia Catherine (McDowell) and father to seven children, James Lowry Smith, in words carved at his grave monument, is remembered as “an epitome of those blessed humanities of life, virtue, honor, and truth.”

James Lowry Smith is a historical marker in Salado, Bell County, dedicated in 2010. It is one of 226 historical markers documented in Bell County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 411 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.9370, -97.5321 near Salado. The nearest cataloged historic site is The Rev. James E. and Fannie F. Ferguson (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Dr. Samuel J. and Charlotte H. Jones, Dr. Welborn and Louisa Adeline Barton, and Old Salado Graveyard.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016533. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.