Old Nacogdoches University
Rosters - Students and Instructors

The following transcripts are taken from the
Lois F. Blount Papers
(Box 31, A-107)
and the
R. B. Blake Papers
(Nacogdoches University Papers 1845 - 1888; Box 1, Folder 5)

in the manuscript collection
at the East Texas Research Center,
Stephen F. Austin State University,
Nacogdoches, TX

Copies contributed by Peggy Price, 10 April 2001.
Transcribed by Debbie Wayne, May and June 2001.

The following notes are included in this file and contain comments about the catalogue above and a biography of the university Principal.

Catalogue of Nacogdoches University.

The copy of the catalogue of Nacogdoches University which I sent you was a page for page copy. The mistakes in alphabetical order of the names listed and the differences in the spelling of the names were copied from the catalogue. I think the differences in the spelling of certain names were typographical errors and not due to the orthographical differences of different families.

The catalogue was printed at the"Chronicle" office. Mr. E. W. Cave was the editor and owner of the "Chronicle". He moved his paper from Nacogdoches to Rusk. Sometime later it was moved to Cleburn and Mr. Bob Ransome became the editor.

Mrs. K. P. Branch thinks that this catalogue was printed for the use of the University when the first brick building was built. According to the "Treasurer's Register" the contract for that building was let January 12, 1858 and the building was to be delivered January 1, 1860. I have not yet been able to find out when the first classes were held in that building.

G. M. L. Smith was born March 12, 1836 near Newnan, Coweta County, Ga. He was educated at Newnan and at the University of Virginia. He came to Texas in 1856 and for four years was the principal of the school at Nacogdoches.

June 29, 1858, at Nacogdoches he married Miss Mary P. Fowler who was also a teacher in the Nacogdoches University. Miss Fowler was the only daughter of Rev. Littleton Fowler who was the first Methodist missionary to East Texas and first presiding elder of the Bast Texas Conference, the first chaplain of the Texas Senate and the first grand chaplain of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Texas.

During the Civil War Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Mt. Enterprise where Mr. Smith was principal of the school for three years and then to Sexton for two years.

In the fall of 1866 he moved to Chireno where he was principal of the school there for about ten years. The remainder of his life was spent as a merchant at Chireno where he died Sept. 28,1889.

Four children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are now living in Nacogdoches. They are Dr. W. I. M. Smith, Rev. Littleton Smith. Mrs. J. M. Weeks, and Mrs. K. P. Branch. There are also several grandchildren and great grandchildren. This information concerning Mr. and Mrs. Smith was furnished me by Mr. E. W. Smith of Chireno. He and a sister are living there. Another son, Ellis Smith, has been dead for a number of years.

Mr. John Rusk who was a pupil of Mr. Smith's tells me that Mr. Smith was a very proud and a very stern man. In school he was a very strict disciplinarian, but he was and [sic] excellent teacher and after he left Nacogdoches many people living in or near Nacogdoches sent their children to Chireno to go to school to him.

[Note: This biography is not dated.]