History of Smithland
Present day Smithland is not the original location. The original location was first know as Smith's Landing and was between Carter's Lake and Thompson Camp Road. Smith's Landing became the first Smithland at that location and was there prior to Jefferson. If you look at old maps, they show Smithland before Jefferson is shown on the maps. There was some debate where Jefferson would be and I think the settling factor was that at that time they couldn't get a clear title on the land at Smithland and Urqhuart had clear title to the land that became Jefferson. After that Smithland relocated to the present day site which had three stores and a post office for many years with the postoffice and store combination closing in the early 70's and then Moseley's Store closed in l995 and McNeely's about l997. In my youth there were still some of the old buildings that were vacant that were still there but the original J. W. Moseley store and the J. B,. Moseley building (unoccupied except for storage) burned in April of l955. Marvin Moseley (my father) had bought the original store from his Dad in about l945. Immediately after the store burned Daddy began rebuilding another store and it burned in l960. He rebuilt again using hollow tile brick, wiring in conduit, concrete floor and said that was the last one he was going to build. We bought the business from in in l969 and operated the store until June of l995. It was in continuous operation in the family for 92 years. My mother always told me and I have heard it from other sources too, that the old J. B. Moseley Building was from the original Smithland and was moved to present day Smithland on logs. When first planned, present day Smithland was laid off as a town was streets and a plat of this is on file in the Marion County Court House.
I am a fifth generation descendant of the Smith founders, Moseley's and Peavy's in Marion County. I read your history on Smithland and felt I could add to what you have. I have lived here all of my life and my granddaughter makes the 7th generation here. I thought this information might be of interest to you and I will be glad to help supplement any information that I have or stories about the area. Mary Alice Moseley Biggs
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