[TEXAS]. UPSHAW, Horace L. Autograph letter signed twice ("H. L. Upshaw," "H. Upshaw"), to George W. Blow Jr. San Antonio, 16 February 1845.

3 1/2 pages, 4to, on a bifolium, addressed on an integral leaf, with portion of wax seal.

DISCUSSING THE DEATH OF JOHN WILLIAM SMITH, THE FIRST MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO UNDER THE REPUBLIC

Upshaw writes to George W. Blow Jr.: "Through the medium of the newspapers or otherwise you have doubtless e'er this heard of the death of our old friend John W. Smith, senator from this county, who died in Washington on the 10th ult. while there attending to his duties; he died of some disease of the lungs or chest incidental to the Brazos of Trinity Country & of which the physicians know nothing, he was not aware of his condition & became speechless several days before his demise and was consequently unable to attend to any kind of business."

Smith moved to Mexican Texas and settled in San Antonio in 1826. He fought in the Texas Revolution, serving as a messenger during the Siege of the Alamo. Before the final battle of the Alamo (and its fall), Smith was sent with a message to Washington-on-the-Brazos, assuring his escape from the fate of the Texas soldiers who were defending San Antonio. He was elected Mayor of San Antonio in 1837, and served until 1838. He was elected as Mayor again in 1840, serving until 1844. He served as a Texas Senator from 1842 until his death, most likely from pneumonia, and was buried at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park.

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana, and Historical Documents