Browse Items (308 total)

A.G. Walker (1807-1882) was land surveyor and a civic leader in Birdville, founder of the Birdville Union newspaper (), and a state senator from 1857-1860. Walker by some accounts was involved in a wild west style shootout with rival newspaperman and…

James Mordecai and Hattie Arwine Anderson with their 10 children. They were civic and community leaders in the early 1900s in the Birdville and Hurst areas. A portion of their farm and pasture land is now “Restaurant Row” on Bedford-Euless Road,…

Edgar Douglass Walker (1870-1954) and son Moody Childress (1900-1977) Walker in front of Walker’s service station on Main Street in Smithfield. The station later burned in Smithfield’s second great fire in 1930. Walker was also a blacksmith.

The first “pumper team,” Smithfield volunteer fire department is pictured here in 1953.

From left to right: Roy Buck Hewitt, Melton Rhine, Andy Knight, R.W. Koonze, Chief Jack Gray, and inside the truck is Marvin Crane.

Dr. Henry Gilbert (1850-1932) and Mrs. Maggie Gilbert (1862-1946) with granddaughter Maurine Pruitt, later Maurine Shaw. Dr. Gilbert practiced medicine in and around the Smithfield Community in the late 19th Century. He also farmed about 240 acres in…

Dr. Lilburn H. Colley (1843-1924) and wife Martha S. Colley (1860-1914). One of four doctors in the Bransford Community of some 124 families. Colley practiced medicine in this area for more than 40 years. As a result of his dedication the community…

Moody Walker (1900-1977) poses in front of the train schedule at Smithfield Station. He was the son of Ed Walker. He is buried in Pasadena, Texas.

The second building of Smithfield’s Methodist Church pictured here was originally built in 1877. As the name of the surrounding community changed so too did the name of the church, originally Willow Springs, then Zion, and finally Smithfield. The…

Quanah Parker, Chief of the Comanches, was the son of Cynthia Ann Parker. Cynthia Ann was a niece of Isaac Parker of the Birdville community. Quanah’s father was Chief Peta Nacona.

The Hightower-Autrey House is located at 6725 Smithfield Road. Jimmy Hightower probably built this house, according to deed records, in 1874. It was the home of his son L.A. Hightower until 1918 when the Bud Autrey Family purchased it.