John Peter Smith, (sculpture).

John Peter Smith, (sculpture).

Bowman, Lloyd, sculptor.

Fort Worth Marble and Granite Works, fabricator.

John Peter Smith, (sculpture).

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: gray marble; Base: Texas granite.

Sculpture: approx. 3 x 2 x 1 ft.; Base: approx. 12 x 7 x 7 ft.

(On front of base, raised letters, overlapping:) JPS (On lower front of base, raised letters:) JOHN PETER SMITH (Metal plate on proper left side of base:) MADE BY FORT WORTH MARBLE AND/GRANITE WORKS/E.T. BERGIN PROP. unsigned

A bust of John Peter Smith with a moustache, wearing a bow tie, vest and jacket. The bust is mounted on a tall, tapered base decorated with a relief of his initials (JPS) on the front.

Portrait male -- Smith, John Peter -- Bust

Occupation -- Monetary -- Philanthropist

Occupation -- Political -- Mayor

Occupation -- Law -- Lawyer

Occupation -- Military

Outdoor Sculpture -- Texas -- Fort Worth

Administered by City of Fort Worth, Planning Department, Parks and Recreation Department, 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Located Triangular park adjacent to City Hall, 1100 Throckmorton & Jennings Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas

The monument was installed with funds raised by public subscription. The artist used a death mask to create the sculpture. The monument is dedicated to John Peter Smith (1831-1901), who was one of Fort Worth's early civic leaders. He was involved in the city's commerce and development, donated land for parks, cemeteries and hospitals, and served as mayor. IAS files contain related excerpt from Carol Roark's "Tarrant County Historic Resources Survey, Fort Worth Central Business District," 1991.

A nearby Texas Historic Commission Commemorative plaque reads: JOHN PETER SMITH/(1831-1901)/A NATIVE OF KENTUCKY, JOHN PETER SMITH MIGRATED TO/FORT WORTH IN 1853. HE WORKED AS A TEACHER, CLERK, AND/SURVEYOR BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT AS DEPUTY SURVEYOR/OF THE DENTON LAND DEPARTMENT IN 1855, FOR WHICH/HE RECEIVED PAYMENT IN PROPERTY. ALSO A STUDENT OF/LAW, HE WAS LATER ADMITTED TO THE BAR/ALTHOUGH OPPOSED TO THE SECESSION OF TEXAS DURING/THE CIVIL WAR, SMITH RAISED A COMPANY OF TARRANT/COUNTY MEN FOR THE CONFEDERACY AND JOINED SIBLEY'S/BRIGADE IN 1861. WHILE IN THE WAR HE SERVED IN THE UNSUCCESSFUL INVASION OF NEW MEXICO, THE RECAPTURE/OF GALVESTON IN 1863, AND WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED AT/DONALDSVILLE, LOUISIANA, LATER THAT YEAR./AFTER THE WAR SMITH RETURNED TO FORT WORTH, WHERE/HE BECAME INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY. HE/HELPED ORGANIZE A BANK, GAS LIGHT COMPANY, AND STREET/RAILWAY. HE ALSO DONATED LAND FOR PARKS, CEMETERIES, AND/A HOSPITAL, LATER NAMED JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL. IN 1882 HE BECAME MAYOR AND DIRECTED THE ESTABLISHMENT/OF MANY PUBLIC SERVICES, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM/AND THE WATER DEPARTMENT. IN 1901 SMITH DIED IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, WHILE ON A/PROMOTIONAL TRIP FOR FORT WORTH. HE IS BURIED IN/OAKWOOD CEMETERY, A SITE HE DONATED TO THE CITY/(1980)

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Texas, Fort Worth survey, 1993.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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