Peytonsville

Peytonsville. . , Settled around 1800, the community was named Snatchit. attributed to the snatching of $10 from a debtor's hand. Renamed Peytonsville in 1835 with the opening of the post office, which closed in 1908. Early settlers were Revolutionary War soldiers Daniel Crenshaw, John Secrest, and the children of John S. Smithson, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse, N.J. in 1778. On the hill, the Shelburne Smithson house was built ca. 1832 in the Greek Revival-style and the porch was added by Nathaniel N. Smithson in 1870. The house was purchased by J. L. McGee in 1922 and became home to Sam McGee from 1944-1956. Area churches include Cool Springs Primitive Baptist, 1818; Peytonsville Methodist, 1851; Peytonsville Church of Christ, 1884; Peytonsville Baptist, 1959. Peytonsville School, located on Gosey Hill Rd., closed in 1962. (Continued on other side), (Continued from other side) , In 1901, Mathis Brothers built the Peytonsville Store, which was sold in 1925 to Marshall Warren. In 1937, R. R. Glenn bought the store, which passed to Tommy and Mae Ellen Glenn. The original store was torn down in 1987 and rebuilt. The Peytonsville Volunteer Fire Dept. opened in 2002. WSM radio star, Sam McGee joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1926. Sam created a unique picking style that influenced guitarists for decades. Sam was killed in a farm accident in 1975. Brother Kirk McGee joined the Opry in 1928 and died in 1983. Rachel Veach was an early Opry performer as a member of Roy Acuff's band. Familiar area names include Bennett, Bruce, Garner, Gee, Gentry, Glenn, Gray, Harrison, Helm, Holland, Johnson, McGee, Meeks, Parks, Poteete, Reed, Smithson, Tomlin, Vaden and Veach.