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Although
Erastus "Deaf"
Smith never set foot in Deaf Smith County, it was in his honor and memory that
the county bears his name. Erastus "Deaf" Smith was a hero of the Texas
Revolution. He was the scout commander under General Sam Houston. Smith’s
exploits during the revolution led to his being made a Captain of the Texas
Rangers. After retiring from the Rangers, he made his home in Richmond, Texas
where he died in 1837. His "heroic acts" were admired by many and he was known
as "The Texas Spy" for his bravery and scouting ability. La Plata was the first
county seat, but the winter of 1897 brought disaster to the once promising
little town. In February of that year, four inches of sleet was covered with
eight inches of snow. The temperature was freezing or below for 21 consecutive
days making it impossible for cattle to break through the ice for water or
grass. Over 350 head were lost, forcing folks to leave and begin again
elsewhere. The railroad missed La Plata by 26 miles prompting the citizens to
relocate the town near the railroad.
Hereford was born on
September 1, 1898. Troy Womble owns the distinction of being the first resident.
His dugout was 40 yards west of Hwy. 385 and 10 feet south of the present
railroad track. Hereford got its name from registered Hereford
cattle brought by L.R. Bradley and G.R. Jowell. The cattle were from Hereford, England. Hereford
became the county seat that same year. By 1900, the population had grown to 843
residents.
As Hereford grew at a
steady rate, water was pumped from underground. Windmills provided the solution
to meeting the growth demand. Hereford became known as the "Windmill City" with
more than 400 windmills in the town. Area farmers began growing wheat in 1903.
The first irrigation well was dug on the G. R. Jowell ranch in 1903. It was a
ten inch well, 100 feet deep, and produced 280 gallons of water per minute. The
area became prime farmland with the ability to make a profit of $1,000 per year
and producing 40 bushels to the acre. Hundreds of people at a time began
arriving by immigration trains to look at Hereford as a place to relocate and
start a new life. They were drawn by agricultural products like cabbage, onions,
corn, cotton, and wheat. After the "Dust Bowl" days, Hereford resumed as one of
the top producers of agricultural products.
The
railroad was the heart of trade for Hereford and it allowed Hereford to prosper
and grow very rapidly. In 1910, Hereford was doing so well that it constructed a
new courthouse. It was built of white Georgia marble. It is the only marble
courthouse in Texas. Downtown Hereford began a rapid growth and became a trade
center for the area. That’s pretty much the way it has been ever since. Hereford
has prospered and grown and is still recognized as one of the more progressive
cities in the Texas Panhandle.