Author and genealogist Randal L. Highsmith has recently released a book of Brantley County’s Highsmith family.
The book is titled “A Texian Odyssey: The Life of Benjamin Franklin Highsmith.”
Highsmith has family ties to Brantley County. He organized the gravemarking for Revolutionary War solider Jacob Highsmith at the Highsmith Cemetery in Waynesville in 2014.
His book brings to life the incredible true story of a man who rode from the Alamo, fought for Texas independence and helped shape the frontier as a Texas Ranger.
Benjamin Franklin Highsmith (1817–1905) witnessed the fall of the Alamo and survived the chaos of San Jacinto. In this meticulously researched historical novel, author and genealogist Randal Highsmith traces the real-life journey of his third cousin four times removed — an unsung hero whose legacy deserves a place beside Crockett and Bowie.
“I wanted to preserve more than just dates — I wanted to preserve a man’s memory,” said Highsmith. “This is not just Texas history. It’s American heritage, and it’s family.”
Blending historical accuracy with compelling storytelling, the book follows Benjamin Highsmith’s migration to Mexican Texas in 1823, his service as a teenage scout, his role as a courier at the Alamo, and his later years as a Texas Ranger, husband and father.
The book spans over 80 chapters featuring original maps and illustrations.
This release marks the first step toward Randal Highsmith’s larger vision: a limited-edition hardcover with archival design, made possible by reader support.
“Every Kindle purchase brings us closer to putting this story into physical hands — where it belongs,” Highsmith explained.
The novel is ideal for fans of The Alamo, Lonesome Dove and Little House on the Prairie. It weaves frontier grit with family legacy, offering a poignant portrait of Texas through one man’s eyes.
Randal Highsmith is a historical fiction author, genealogist and descendant of early American pioneers. With deep roots stretching back to the colonial frontier, Highsmith has spent decades researching his Highsmith ancestry from the pinewoods of Georgia to the rugged trails of Texas.
A native of Florida and a proud member of both the Sons of the American Revolution and The Gideons International, he brings a lifetime of perseverance, faith and heritage to his writing.
As a childhood burn survivor who endured more than a decade of surgeries, Randal Highsmith learned early the power of resilience and hope — lessons that echo throughout his writing.
By day, he serves as vice president of Operations at a Florida-based construction firm. By night, he writes beneath the hum of history preserving the stories of those who shaped America with grit, grace and courage.
Randal Highsmith lives in Ocala, Fla., with his wife, Kelley, cherishing his roles as a husband, father and proud grandfather.
The book is available on Amazon Kindle $9.99 at https://www.amazon.com /dp/B0FGQMC26V.
