Since these Smith Church Pages are now appearing on the Mason County Genealogy Site, I am in the process of revising and updating them. This may take several days. In the meanwhile, they are still open to viewing. It has been a while since I posted these pages, therefore there will be a number of changes.
Unless otherwise indicated, the photos on this page are by Okey L. King and Ralph "Jay" Suter.
SMITH CHURCH CEMETERY
The following is from the Mason County Cemetery Book:
.....This church and the very old but well kept cemetery were named for the Samuel Smith Family who settled here at an early date and whose descendants are numerous in this area.
.....In 1818 a Methodist minister, Francis Wilson, preached the first sermon in Union District. Later in 1823 he organized the first society at the home of Moses Knapp. Among the members were Samuel Smith, Moses Knapp, Jane Smith, Reuben Harrison, Jacob Newell, William Knapp, Isaac E. Smith, John Harrison, Andrew Waugh, Eachel Smith, William Hanson, and John Knapp.
.....In 1840, some of these people, and a few others, formed the Smith Methodist Church. The members at the time of its formation were Jacob Newell, John Newell, Preston Newell, Fannie Newell, Isaac Smith, Rachel Smith, William Knapp Sr. William Knapp Jr., Jane McDermitt, Strauther Smith, Samuel L. Smith, Gideon Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Burwell Smith, Charles Baker, Sarah Baker, and Abraham Baker. Rev, A. L. Lyda was the minister.
.....Here on this high point overlooking the valley of Thirteenmile Creek, they built a log church which stood just inside the fence in the old part of the cemetery. This log structure served as their meeting house until about the year 1900 when it was razed and the present structure was built. Samuel Stewart, a grandson of William and Mary P. Stewart, a carpenter, constructed the building.
