Benjamin F. Highsmith

Benjamin Franklin Highsmith, son of Ahijah M. and Deborah Turner was born in 1817 in the St. Charles District of Missouri Territory. In 1823 the family moved in a wagon train to Texas and settled on the edge of Stephen F. Austin's Colony. In 1830, at the age of fifteen, young Highsmith joined the company of Aylett C. Buckner to fight the battle of Velasco. Highsmith took part in the battle of Gonzales and was with James Bowie in the battle of Concepcion. He went with Ben Milam in the siege of Bexas and remained in San Antonio after William Barrett Travis took command there. Travis sent Highsmith with the order of Colonel James W. Fannin to come to the aid of San Antonio. Highsmith also acted as messenger from Sam Houston to Fannin , being reputedly the last man our of the Alamo an the last to bring a report from Fannin. It is believed that Highsmith fought at the battle of San Jacinto in the company of William Ware, but his name was not on Houston's list of those who participated.(Ahijah M. Highsmith's name is on the monument at San Jacinto). During the period of the Republic, Highsmith served in Texas Ranger companies under Edward Burleson and Fames Rogers and participated in the Plum Creek Fight. In 1842 Highsmith was with John Hays in the battle of Salado and took part in the Somerville Expedition. He was again with Hays; regiment during the Mexican War.In 1853 Highsmith married Elizabeth Turner. They settled in Bastrop and were parents of 13(thirteen) children. In 1882 the family moved to Bandera County. Highsmith died near Utopia in Uvalde county on November, 20 1905. A headstone erected by the State of Texas marks his grave.