Eatonville celebrated it’s 50th anniversary in 1959. The Dispatch printed an entire section dedicated to towns 50 years of history. This came from one of the pages published, July 23 1959. You could read it, but I’ve typed it as well to make it a little easier.
Many Descendants of the Samuel P. Smith in Eatonville Areaany Descendants of the Samuel P. Smith in Eatonville Area
Most communities think of cough drops when someone mentions Smith Brothers, but not in Eatonville where Mr. and Mrs. Samuel P. Smith of Wilkesboro, N.C., came to take up a claim on the Stringtown Road north of town. There were eight sons, seven of whom grew up in the West with their parents. It was noted recently there are 31 descendants of Samuel P. Smith living in or near Eatonville and, together with eight Mrs. Smiths, makes a total of 39 Smiths to confuse newcomers.
This family gathering many years ago, taken at what is now the 100 block of Rainier Avenue South, shows front row (left to right): Sam Smith, Scrivens Smith (sons of Mr. and Mrs. Brown Smith), Agnes Smith, Vera Smith, Harry Smith, Elizabeth Smith (Mr. and Mrs. Nate Smith’s children). Second row: Brown Smith, Mrs. Brown Smith, holding Eugene; the mother, Mrs. Samuel P. Smith, holding Brown with sons, Lawrence and Vivian, Samuel P. Smith, father; Nate Smith, and Larry Smith with his eldest son, William D. Smith (Eatonville’s present marshal).
Back row: Mrs. Clint Smith, Milton Smith, Mrs. Milton Smith, Lee Smith, Mrs. Noch Smith, Noch Smith, Mrs. Nate Smith, the Nate Smith’s other daughter, Anita, and Mrs. Larry Smith, holding her very young son, Orval, who operates Eatonville’s barber shop. Six of these Smiths were among the signers of petitions requesting incorporation of the town in 1909. they were Samuel P., Larry, Lee, Clint, Nate and Brown Smith.
Images courtesy of Pat Van Eaton.
Click on image to enlarge.
Eatonville To Rainier 