A joint project of the Sam Rayburn House Historic Site and the Fannin County Historical Commission elebrating America 250 with spotlights of Fannin County citizens who participated in or witnessed historical events
Born in the Spartanburg District of South Carolina on February 26, 1840, Smith Lipscomb, Sr., attended area schools for his education before going to classical school at Limestone Springs, SC.
Smith had two encounters with Confederate General Robert E. Lee. On guard duty at one time, Smith had orders not to let anyone pass, so he did not let Lee pass until he received orders from his officer to do so. While stationed at a fort in Petersburg, VA, Smith reportedly
saved the life of Lee and Confederate Brigadier General Archibald Gracie III from sniper’s bullets, pulling both generals down as they toured a fort in Petersburg, possibly Elliot’s Salient.
On July 30, 1864, Smith was one of at least three survivors of an explosion, later known as the Crater or the Mine, where U.S. troops dug a mine underneath Confederate forces in Petersburg and denotated explosives in the mine, immediately killing 300 South Carolinian troops. He participated in the Battle of Appomattox Station on April 8, 1865, and witnessed Lee surrender to U.S. General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865.
Smith married Sarah Warden Goudelock on May 18, 1865, and they had ten children.
They moved to South Texas in 1866 and made their way to Fannin County, TX, in 1869. Smith was Chief Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff John Dunn before being elected to the office of sheriff and tax collector. After two terms as sheriff, Smith served four years as a tax collector before retiring to his farm. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Sul Ross Camp of the United Confederate Veterans. Smith died on December 2, 1923, in Bonham, TX. He is buried in section A19 of Willow Wild Cemetery in Bonham.
This information was obtained from the Fannin Co., Texas GenWeb (txfannin.org) and other online sources including the National Park Service website. The Sam Rayburn House SHS presented this information at their 2025 Cemetery Walking Tour. For a copy of the 2025 Cemetery Walking Tour guide or for other information, contact the Sam Rayburn House at (903) 583-5558 or email Margo.McCutcheon@thc.texas.gov.
