The son of Thomas Franklin and Nancy Fulgham Smith. Albert learned the cattle & farming business from his father. At age 10, he went with his father a number of times, driving cattle to the market. They had over a thousand head in each drive. Albert's Dad had bought land in the Panhandle of Texas and leased land from some Indians in Oklahoma to have a place to rest the cattle, horses and cowboys for awhile. Albert learned something else from his father - everything was on a cash basis in those days. There were no checks in those days. No one expected a child to have money in his saddle bags. On these drives, only Albert and his father knew the money was in Albert's saddle bags.
During one of these trips, the men stopped for the night,made camp, and ask Albert to take the horses to a nearby creek for water, When Albert arrived there, he found Indians fishing. He jumped back on his horse, and made a wild dash for camp, with the Indians behind him. The Indians wanted the "white papoose" and tried to trade for him. Albert's father had to give them coffee, sugar and tobacco to keep the peace. For days, the Indians followed them. Albert had to ride among the cattle for safety, to keep them from kidnapping him.
As a child, Albert Smith was a Methodist, but later in life, he joined the First Baptist Church of Crockett. One of his best friends was Brother McLarity, a Methodist preacher who lived in Crockett for a number of years.
F Albert Smith was a member of the Masonic Lodge, joining in 1910. In 1912 he joined El Mina Shrine in Galveston. He later moved his membership to the Arabia Shrine in Houston, Texas.
Albert was one of the organizers of the Crockett Savings and Loan. He was a friendly man, with a frank and unassuming manner.
He died at his home in Crockett, Texas.
Source: Houston County Historical Commission's Library.