Needham Township near Franklin in Johnson County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Smiley Mill

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 2, 2025

1. Smiley Mill Marker

Inscription. Cemetery, 1822, & school, 1839,both on John Smiley land at the corner of Sections 27, 28, 33, & 34: the cemetery is excepted from the deeds but the school ground was deeded to the inhabitants of District 5. The first burial was that of Rachel Smiley in 1822. Here are found many pioneer family names: Burnett, Gribben, Hendricks, Rutherford, Shaffer, Smiley, Springer, Taylor, etc. John William & Nancy Rutherford came from Washington County, Ind. in 1821 to build the first cabin in Needham Township on the quarter section now at the southeast corner of Rds. 250 S. & 600 E. Nancy cooked the noon meal for the first County Court held here at the Smiley cabin, Oct. 16, 1823.

Known soldiers buried here are: John & William Rutherford; John, Mac, Samuel & William Smiley; Alban & Alvin Hendricks; John H. Fitzpatrick; John A. Taylor and Russell O. Boucher.

Erected 1975 by Ray Adams • Katheryn Beeson • Margaret Beeson • Kenneth & Willia Brown • Chester Burnett • Elizabeth Bush • Helen Campbell • Margaret Carder • Robert & William Dollens • Ora Fishback • George & Kenneth Hardin • Grace & Maurice Johnson • Marcia McClain Lovell • John A. McClain • Martha S. & Edwin S. McClain • Thelma Morgan • Thelma Richardson • Gertrude Shuck • Clarence Taylor • Laura B. Webb.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

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in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.

Location. 39° 27.063′ N, 85° 58.148′ W. Marker is near Franklin, Indiana, in Johnson County. It is in Needham Township. It is on South County Road 700 East 0.1 miles north of East Greensburg Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Franklin IN 46131, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana

and specifically in Greater Indianapolis.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Barnett Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away); Second Mount Pleasant Baptist Church (approx. 3.7 miles away); Site of Young’s Creek Christian Church (approx. 4 miles away); Holloway Hall (approx. 4.4 miles away); Indiana Masonic Home (approx. 4½ miles away); Franklin Wonder Five (approx. 4½ miles away); Home of Columbus Horatio Hall (approx. 4.7 miles away); Kittie Palmer School (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

Also see . . . Smiley Cemetery. Find a Grave entry on the historic burying ground. (Submitted on December 7, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 2, 2025

2. Smiley Mill Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 62 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.