NOLAND HOMEon Historic Register
Two of the earliest prominent Jackson County's pioneers were both named Smallwood. Smallwood Turner Noland and Smallwood Valentine Noland were related and, unfortunately, there is much confusion as to which Smallwood did what. One place where there is clearly a problem in related to the Noland Home that sits in Independence, Missouri. The Historic Register maintains that the home belonged to Smallwood Valentine Noland, but I maintain that their evidence is clearly erroneous and that it was Smallwood Turner Noland that owned the home.
Here is the link to the Registration Form which includes their evidence as to the ownership of the property and the reasons that it should be on the National Register of Historic Places. I definitely feel that the home should be on the Register, but the ownership attribution is clearly incorrect for the following reasons:
- While I do not have a Death Certificate I believe that Smallwood Valentine Noland died in 1845. That was my understanding when I started working on this issue; but, also, nearly every post in regard to Smallwood Valentine Noland on the My Heritage website lists his date of death as being in 1845.
- On the 3rd page, the Period of Significance in shown as c.1845-c.1858 and the Significant Dates are shown as c.1845 and c.1854 which is mostly after S.V.'s death.
- On the 8th and 9th page (shown as pages 4 and 5) of the National Register document Smallwood Valentine Noland date of death is shown as 1858 several times and that is the year of Smallwood Turner Noland's death.
- Also, on the 8th and 9th pages of the document, many of the historic accomplishments and activities of Smallwood Valentine are attributed to him after his death. They are obviously the accomplishments or activities of Smallwood Turner Noland. I need to add most of these to my post about Smallwood Turner Noland, but they could not possibly be attributed to Smallwood Valentine Noland, given that he was dead at the time they occurred. Specifically:
- Noland was a Santa Fe trader and merchant active in direct trail commerce from circa 1845 until 1854.
- Noland or his sons were the owners of a hotel which catered to travelers on the Santa Fe and Oregon-California trails from circa 1846 to his death in 1858.
- The period of significance coincides with the residence of Noland in the property, circa 1848 to 1858.
- The hotel is incorporated into a modern building on the square at the corner of Main and Maple Streets.
- Known wagon trains:
- In mid-July, 1845, Noland participated in a 27 wagon train
- August 18th, 1846, a 46 wagon train en route to Santa Fe
- Smallwood was known as “Uncle Woody”
- In 1849 and 1850, the proper Noland made expeditions into Kansas in search of gold
- By 1850, the Noland who owned 26 slaves was Smallwood Turner Noland.
- In 1854, Noland sold his hotel to his son Jesse, but later after his death his son Edward bought it. These are clearly the sons of Smallwood Turner Noland.
This page is under development, so there may be some other issues and I will be adding better evidence for my concerns.