Sam P. Smith Place
Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A good example of an East Texas farm home, this house originally had five rooms, four porches, and an enclosed dog trot. It was built in 1880 for Samuel Pharr and Mary Spencer Smith by Smith's brother-in-law Andrew B. Ireson. A local cabinetmaker and carpenter, Ireson also designed the woodwork and some of the furniture. Sam Smith, who grew up in Nacogdoches County, was a farmer. He and Mary had 12 children and lived here until their deaths in 1941. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1985
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This 1880 farmhouse is a fine example of the East Texas homestead, originally boasting five rooms, four porches, and an enclosed dog-trot passage. It was built for farmer Samuel Pharr Smith and his wife Mary by her brother, a local cabinetmaker who also crafted the woodwork and some of the furniture. Sam and Mary raised twelve children here and lived in the house until they both died in 1941, a testament to the rooted, self-sufficient life of a Texas farm family.
Why it matters
It captures the enduring world of the East Texas family farm, where a locally built home sheltered one family and a dozen children for six decades.
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Related people
- · Samuel Pharr Smith
- · Mary Spencer Smith
- · Andrew B. Ireson
Themes & tags
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