The railroad was essential to the growth of the county, The Missouri Pacific Railroad being one of the first railroads in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River. It broke ground on July 4th 1851 with the first section of track being completed the following year. In 1859 it came to Smithton which became the terminus of the railway for St. Louis, and a prominent shipping point to towns in eastern Missouri.

The town, formerly called Smith City, had been laid out by William E. Coombs and began to grow rapidly. By 1860 it included a flouring mill, wagon factory, six stores, a fruit tree nursery and four churches (Methodist, German Methodist, Christian and Baptist).

Smithton continued to flourish until the railroad extended to Sedalia in 1861. Although it was located less than ten miles to the west, the wholesale men began moving their businesses there, and Smithton's population was soon reduced to about 450 people.

The early schools of Smithon were primitive buildings with seats made of hewn logs, and stern teachers who taught “readin”, “riten’” and “rithmetic” to the few pupils that braved the winter weather to attend the two or three months school each year.

According to the history of Pettis County, Missouri, the first school  building had been erected in 1870. Almost square and two stories high, with a railing around the top, it is said that the oldtimers delighted the younger ones by telling them that they were living in Osage Indian Territory and that in case of attack, this railed-in area could be used as a fortress.

The two-story frame structure had been divided into three rooms to accomodate the students, and was the same school which was attended by E.O. Smith and his family, and a nice photo of the school and his class can be seen on its own page.

To make more room for the high school, the second floor was divided later, making four rooms. The school became the center of the community for forty-five years, until one night in 1914 it caught fire and burned to the ground. The school year was then completed by the students using public halls and private rooms, and in 1915 a brick school house was built. 

Pictured here is the "Colored School." At the time the Missouri Pacific Railroad came to Smithton, the black population was about 100, and a good school was maintained for the children. 

In 1882, the "colored school" was under the supervision of W.J. Boucher, and Professor Kelly was considered a worthy and efficient teacher, his services in constant demand. However, labor demands in Sedalia caused a great deal of the population to move there and this school was later discontinued.

The historical photo shown here is the blacksmith shop of Richter & Son in Smithton, Missouri. The shop was established by Adam Richter who was born in Germany in 1862 and came to the U.S. in about 1881. According to the census records, he married a woman by the name of Louisa, and continued to reside in Smithton until at least 1930 at which time Adam was listed as an implement dealer. At least two his sons, Carl and Julius, were also blacksmiths and are probably those included in this photo.

In 1900 the Richert family (which then included seven children), was living just a few doors down from Albert Pruess. Albert was also born in Germany but came to the U.S. much earlier - in about 1852.

A miller by trade, Albert was married to Lucretia Smith, the daughter of Samuel and Cornelia (Buck), in Pettis Co., Missouri in April of 1891 and were the parents of Eva, Viola and Cora Pruess.