"Maybe thats where he partnered with John Webber, the Vermont War of 1812 verteran who came to Texas in the '20's and actually bought the freedom of the slave woman he married."

Yes! John was married to "Puss" Webber. She was a mulatto. Puss supplied the wash pot to the Local Tonkawas to us to cook the Comanche captive they executed and later ate!!!! I believe Smithwick was not all that impressed with this act of cannibalism.... Nor was he impressed with the Tonkawa method for thrashing pecans for the local whities. That is cut the whole tree down! LOL! I think they Webber's went to Mexico in the late 1850's and Smithwick went out to Morman's Mill by Marble Falls.

Sidenote.... I went thru all three of my degrees at "Colorado Lodge #96, AF & AM" in Webberville in 1986. Chartered in 1852. Currently the City of Austin is building an immense solar power project just north of the little hamlet....

Founder
Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester

"Come, shall we go and kill us venison?
And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools,
Being native burghers of this desert city,
Should in their own confines with forked heads
Have their round haunches gored."

WS