 Smith purchased a 120-acre parcel of land, and was elected Huron County Surveyor in 1866 and county register of deeds and clerk in 1868.In 1870 he purchased the plot of land on which this house sits, and likely built the house in about 1871.In 1873, the Huron County seat moved to Bad Axe, and Smith, still serving as register and clerk, moved with it.