Smith, John Peter

A native of Kentucky, John Peter Smith migrated to Fort Worth in 1853. He worked as a teacher, clerk, and surveyor before his appointment as Deputy Surveyor of the Denton Land Department in 1855, for which he received payment in property. Also a student of law, he was later admitted to the bar. Although opposed to the secession of Texas during the Civil War, Smith raised a company of Tarrant County men for the Confederacy and joined Sibley's Brigade in 1861. While in the war he served in the unsuccessful invasion of New Mexico, the recapture of Galveston in 1863, and was severely wounded at Donaldsville, Louisiana, later that year. After the war Smith returned to Fort Worth, where he became involved in the development of the City. He helped organize a bank, gas light company, and street railway. He also donated land for parks, cemeteries,and a hospital, later named John Peter Smith Hospital. In 1882 he became Mayor and directed the establishment of many public services, including the school system and the water department. In 1901 Smith died in St. Louis, Missouri, while on a promotional trip for Fort Worth. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, a site he donated to the city.

Smith, John Peter is a historical marker in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, dedicated in 1980. It is one of 358 historical markers documented in Tarrant County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 501 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.7497, -97.3301 near Fort Worth. The nearest cataloged historic site is Saint Patrick's Cathedral (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, Site of, Saint Ignatius Academy Building, and Flatiron Building.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5439002799. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.