Pettis County, Missouri - Chapter 28: Smithton Township, 1919

Smithton township is situated in the eastern part of the county, a little south of the center. The main line of the Missouri Pacific railroad runs through the northern part of the township.

The principal industry is farming and stock raising. Fruit thrives better in this township than perhaps any other in Pettis county. Dairy¬ ing is carried on to a limited extent. Smithton township, in taking its name, honors the founder of Sedalia, General George R. Smith, whose history will be found interwoven around Sedalia, in its early days.

This township was originally a part of Bowling Green and was or¬ ganized in 1864. It was separated from that township in 1864. The County Court records show that while separate voting places were estab¬ lished in that year, still the township was not organized until May 13, 1873. The township is square. It is bounded on the north by Bowling Green township, on the east by Morgan County, on the south by Lake Creek township, and on the west by Flat Creek and Sedalia townships. It has 23,040 acres.

The early settlers, while the township was yet a part of Bowling Green, were Joseph Scott, who came from Kentucky in 1815. James Roberts came to the township in 1820. N. Steel came from Kentucky in 1820 to this township. John Porter, from Kentucky, came in 1825. George Smiley, came to the township in 1825. Robert Ross came to the county and settled in the township in 1827. Daniel Wright came to the State from Alabama in 1831, and settled in Bowling Green township. William

Smiley came to the township from North Carolina in 1832. George Small came in 1825 from Kentucky, and lived a number of years in the town¬ ship. Andrew M. Wright came to the township from Alabama in 1831. Clinton Young came to the township in 1830, from Tennessee, and his brother, Clayburn Young, from the same State in 1839.

The pioneer ministers were Revs. Wolf and E. Morey, both Old School Baptists. They looked after the spiritual welfare of the early settlers in 1831. In 1837 Dr. Thomas Evans located in the township. The first school was taught in a log cabin in 1832, by William Miller. Mr. Miller was after¬ wards elected County Judge. The school house occupied a piece of ground in section 23, township 46, range 20. The first meeting was held at the residence of Joseph Scott.

At an early day the churches of different denominations held meet¬ ings in private houses. The first church building that was erected in what is Smithton township, was erected in 1844 by the Methodist Epis¬ copal denomination. It was built of logs with rough benches for seats. Rev. Sebastian Bard was the officiating minister. Mr. Bard was the cir¬ cuit rider for this district in those early days, and his circuit extended from Jefferson City to St Joe. Preaching was held at each appointment once each month, and the ministers frequently had to ride forty miles in one day to meet his appointments. He preached every day in the week. The next church erected in the township was built at Farmers City. This church was moved to Smithton shortly after that town was started.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Smithton, was organized Novem¬ ber 26, 1866, by Rev. J. B. Stout. In the summer of 1868 a commodious frame house of worship was built, at a cost of $3,600, by Rev. Nathan Jewett. It was dedicated on November 28, 1868, by Revs. T. H. Hagerty and W. R. Marshall. The pastors to 1881 were Revs. J. B. Stout, G. Mc- Rea, N. Jewett, S. Alexander, W. A. Boucher, E. P. F. Wells, A. H. Heinlein, A. P. Sallaway, J. B. Daniel and W. G. Cowan. The original members of the class were T. Ellison, E. Ellison, N. Ellison, J. Silken, Mrs. Silken, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Norton, Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Norton, Mr. and Mrs. E. N. Norton, Mrs. Galbrath, C. Bohon, Susan Bohon, S. Mar¬ tin, W. H. Mers, E. Mers, Lydia Heismeyer, P. Martin and Lucy Wilkin¬

The Church of Christ was organized in Smithton by Elder Allen Wright in 1860, and in the fall of the same year the congregation had a commodious frame house of worship erected at a cost of $2,400. The original members were: Joseph Fowler and wife, John Fowler, Hannah Fowler, F. B. Taylor and wife, Job Harned and wife, James Major, wife and daughter, and B. jP. Smith and wife.

The Flat Creek Baptist Church was located southwest of Smithton five miles, and was organized at Johnston's school house, September 23, 1846, by Elder J. G. Berkley and Elias George. The original members were Benijah Gentry and Mary, his wife; James Harvey and Nancy, his wife; J. G. Berkley and Cornelia, his wife; Mary A. Berkley, Nancy Berkley, Lucy Johnston, Sarah Carpenter and Nancy Carpenter. First officers, J. G. Berkley, pastor and moderator; J. E. Crawford, deacon, and James Harvey, clerk. Elder Berkley served as pastor and Moderator until 1851.

The early schools in the township, outside of Smithton Academy, wrere five in number and they were primitive affairs, the buildings and seats being made of hewn logs, and the teachers of the stern type. The build¬ ings were mostly frame. The present school building in Smithton was built in 1870. The contractor who erected the building was James L. Moore of Illinois. It cost $5,000. The first teachers in the building were Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Brundige. The colored school was under the super¬ vision of W. J. Baucher.

There are many churches in this township. The Flat Creek Baptist is five miles southwest of Smithton. The building is white, built on ground sloping from three sides, with public road on the south side. The membership is ninety-eight, with Sunday school attendance of forty. Rev. L. R. Kenney is the present minister. Church has cemetery in connection, Flat Creek Cemetery, just north of the church building.

William Leatherman is the present minister. Ministers since 1882: W. V. Hamel, I. J. K. Lunbeck, William Stephens, W. G. Pyles, M. G. Rambo, W. F. Jones, George A. Glens, Homer A. Babbitt, Clark Baker, F. S. Beggs, Zed Wright, R. N. Jones. The church building is located on the south¬ east corner of Locust and Third streets. It is situated on two beautiful lots near the center of the town and just across the street east of the parsonage and handsome grounds, consisting of a quarter of a block. The church, as it now stands, was completed in 1902.

Smithton Christian Church was first organized at Farmers City. Bros. Orrison, Sterling, Trader, Couch, Cunningham, Ferrell, Barrow, Baker and Dunkleberg, have been ministers to the church since 1882. The building is a substantial frame building. There are sixty members and the Sunday school attendance is forty.

Smithton Baptist Church is located in the town of Smithton. The church property is substantial and well cared for, representing a money value of approximately $1,600. The church has a membership of thirtyfive, with an average Sunday school attendance of thirty-two.

Smithton has another Methodist Church, the German Methodist, situated in the southern part of the town. The church building is a frame in good condition. The church has a membership of about 100. Rev. Winker is the minister in charge.

This township is proud of her schools. The Smithton High School is one of the best in Pettis County. E. L. Zion is superintendent; Ora L. Stephens, principal, and Anna Swafford is assistant. The grade teachers are Mariam Homan, Iva Smith and Cora Lamm. There are five public schools. Brushie enrolled twenty this year, and Mrs. G. F. Rudy is teach¬ ing. Pin Oak school has an enrollment of fifteen, and Leo Shepherd is the teacher. E. L. Zion is teaching Smithton school and they have 140 pupils. White has an enrollment of eighteen, and Ruth Dow is teaching. Maplewood school enrolled twenty this year, and Lena Montgomery is teaching.