When Humphrey and Nancy Smith brought their family to settle on the Little Platte River, then the western boundary of the United States, they would experience the growing pains and conflicts of a nation eager for expansion but torn apart by the issue of slavery. The 1800's were a time of progress and upheaval. It created the foundation on which the town of Smithville was able to thrive in the 20th and 21st centuries. Events covered include Indian removal, adventurers bound for the Mexican War and California Gold Rush, the Border War, the Civil War, local crimes, culture, economic growth, and much more.
