(Oct. 29, 1846 - May 15, 1916) In 1855 Alabama-born John Tyson Smith moved with his parents to Upshur County, Texas. A Confederate veteran, he settled in Longview about 1872. He served as city tax assessor and was justice of the peace for two terms. He was elected to five terms as Gregg County judge, 1888-1898. Actively involved in downtown real estate development, he ran the Smith Upstairs Opera House, 1902-1915. Married twice, smith had six children who lived to adulthood.