Marker #23650 Text:

Born into slavery sometime between 1845-1852 in Stafford County, Virginia, George Edward Smith enlisted in the Army’s 9th Calvary in 1869. The Ninth Calvary, along with other units of African American soldiers, is popularly known as the “Buffalo Soldiers”. Smith came to Texas when his unit was dispatched to Fort Davis. While at Fort Davis, the Ninth Cavalry’s main concern was protecting travelers and the mail. There, the soldiers contended with the formidable Comanche and Apache peoples. He mustered out in 1874 and returned to Virginia, where he reenlisted in 1879. He was assigned to the Tenth Cavalry and stationed at Fort Concho in Tom Green County. While there, Smith became active in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, ordained as a deacon in 1883. After being discharged in 1881, Smith stayed in San Angelo. There, he began his first foray into public service. In 1885, the AME Church chose Smith to establish a church in Brownwood. Upon arrival in Brownwood, he noticed there was no African American school, and thus started one. He served as teacher and principal. In 1888, he organized and led Lee Chapel AME Church. The Reverend Smith held services under a brush arbor at his home. That same year, he married Virginia Love (1875-1962). The couple would have fourteen children. He resigned as teacher and principal of the school in 1890. Six years later, the school would hire Rufus Hardin, after whom the school is now named. Smith died in 1913. Because of his work to improve housing in the African American community, in 1951 the city housing authority named its newest public housing units “George Smith Apartments.” A Brownwood pioneer during his lifetime, the Reverend George Edward Smith contributed significantly to both the spheres of education and religion. (2022)