John Jackson Smith (1799-1867) and his wife Margaret (1802-1881) migrated here from Mississippi in the 1850s and founded the Smith Bend community. They gave land for this cemetery after the death of their son Burton (1832-1856). Their daughter Ann and her husband Silas McCabe started the nearby settlement of Coon Creek. Residents of the two communities, descendants, and friends help maintain the burial ground, which was enlarged by later land donations and contains over 500 graves.