began as a government homestead in 1887.  Robert T. Smith and his brother
Charley came from southwest Georgia seeking a new life after the ravages of the Civil War.  They
were farmers and raised beans, sweet potatoes (yams), collards and later citrus.  Their produce was shipped to the White House during the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Robert bought out his brother's interest in the homestead, married a Missouri gal named  Elizabeth (Bessie) Wells, built a cracker house in 1899 and started raising a family.  Honest John was the third child of eight.  He disliked farming and became a commercial fisherman.  He holds the Honest John's Fish Camp trout record of 13 lbs. 4 oz.  Honest John died in 1994, but his legacy lives on.  His daughter, Barbara Smith Arthur holds seven IGFA world records for sea trout and one for black drum.  Barbara and her husband, Roger, have three sons who operate the fish camp today.
 

  This two story house was built by Robert T. Smith in 1899 as documented in paperwork housed in the National Archives.  It is built from heart of pine and has sustained minimum damage from termites.  Located on its original site, this is a typical cracker "I" house.  A centennial celebration and Smith family reunion was held in March 1999 with four generations of Smiths attending including the oldest child born to Robert and Elizabeth Smith in 1900.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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