John I. Smith Homesite - Barry County, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 36° 53.688 W 093° 40.445
15S E 439939 N 4083414
this was the Smith Tavern operated by John I. Smith, father of Granville, near Osa
Waymark Code: WMN1NP
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 12/08/2014
Views: 4
County of site: Barry County
Location of site: Farm Rd 2020, N. of MO TT, 7 miles SW of Crane,
Operated by John J. Smith.
Stage then Followed Flat Creek to Crouch's Station.
Today the foundation of the tavern and farm house remain, the spring house and that's about all
John I. Smith built a homestead here. His intent was to farm, and farm he did.
But opportunity came his way, when John Butterfield was laying out his Butterfield Stage Line in 1858, Mr. Smith was contacted and agreed to be a relay station. A few meals and feed for horses which were changed out here, was offset by the income for being a station and providing meals.
He had found a good spring on the property for free water
John Smith was also locally involved and became A Road Commissioner for the county