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My husband's grandmother was Lucinda Smith. She had siblings John James, born 1869 and Missouri, born 1871. This family of Smith's lived in Polk County, Texas. From reading books about southeast Texas I learned that there was a lot of violence in the early days over open range rights, whiskey stills, and many other things. I came across two news articles that were in the Polk County Enterprise.

17 Dec 1914
Polk County Enterprise
Livingston, Polk County, Texas

JOHN SMITH KILLED AT CORRIGAN YESTERDAY (Wednesday)
Last Thursday about 1:30 p.m. Mr. John Smith, who lives about 7 miles west of Corrigan was shot by W.M. Gibbs on the streets of Corrigan. The shooting occurred between the old Henderson Store and the Livery Stable. It is stated that Mr. Smith was in his wagon returning from the gin where he had carried a load of cotton when he was shot. Twenty-one buck-shot entered Mr. Smith's left side and his left arm was almost torn to pieces. He only lived about two minutes, and no one heard him speak a word before he died. Mr. Gibbs called up Sheriff Foreman at his place and told him he wanted to give himself up to the officers. When Sheriff Foreman reached Corrigan the examing trial had been waived and the bond of Mr. Gibbs fixed at $3,000 to await the action of the Grand Jury. Mr. Gibbs readily made his bond.

20 May 1915
Polk County Enterprise
Livingston, Polk County, Texas
W.M.GIBBS KILLED AT CORRIGAN
Monday morning about 6 o'clock W.M. Gibbs was shot and killed at Corrigan, near Cobb's Store. Four shots were fired from a shot gun. After the shooting four men were seen to leave from near the place of the shooting, and parties telephoned Sheriff Foreman, of this place, to come to Corrigan with his bloodhounds in order that they might trail the parties who were supposed to have done the shooting. While Sheriff Foreman was preparing to go to Corrigan with his dogs, he received a long distance call from Benford, from Arthur Smith, who stated that he had killed Gibbs, and was ready to give up. Sheriff Foreman and County Attorney Hill went to Corrigan on the morning train. The other three parties, who were seen with Smith, proved to be Steve Thornton, a half-brother of Smith's; Luther Lewis, a cousin of Smith's; and Clyde Foster. It was stated to the officers that the shooting was the outgrowth of former family trouble, Gibbs having killed his father last December. Smith, Thornton, Lewis and Foster all made bond to await the action of the grand jury.

Note: I would like to know more about this Smith Family, i.e. siblings, who was John Smith's father, etc.

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