Portuguese Cemetery (Smith Cemetery)

Portuguese Cemetery is also known as Smith Cemetery.

Local legend tells that the original settlers of this area of Pulaski County were not Portuguese, but were of Native American blood, possibly mixed with Caucasian pioneers, and chose to identify themselves as Portuguese to avoid the negative sentiments that would likely be thrust upon them if the truth was known.

Smith Cemetery (Portuguese Cemetery)

United States Geographical Survey map of Smith Cemetery's location in Pulaski County, Missouri

The red box designates the most probable location of Smith Cemetery, based off the USGS map above.

Smith Cemetery, also known as Portuguese Cemetery, is located in Pulaski County, MO. Tombstone Inscriptions of Pulaski County reports that “it was on the Gasconade River below Portuguese Point but has been destroyed.". Comparing road maps to United States Geographical Survey maps, it is located in a field at the end of Holiday Lane Road, off Y Highway.

Information given to the Pulaski County Museum and Historical Society in 1984 or 1985, by an individual living in Dixon, Missouri reports the following grave sites at Smith Cemetery. It is unknown if these graves are marked.

Arthur Bradford
Relocated from Bradford Cemetery January 7, 1909

Berta Bradford
Relocated from Bradford Cemetery January 7, 1909

Everett Bradford
Relocated from Bradford Cemetery January 7, 1909

Moses Bradford
Relocated from Bradford Cemetery January 7, 1909

Joe Harmon
3 March, 1905-about 46

Elias Smith
21 April, 1905
Hung in Pulaski County

Infant Smith
No Dates
Son of Elias

Editor’s Note- It is unknown which Bradford Cemetery, James (Fort Leonard Wood), or William (H Highway) the four members of the Bradford family were relocated from, or why they were moved. It is known that Elias Smith was convicted of murdering James Smith (no relation) near Dixon. He was hung on the Courthouse Square in 1905.

Latitude: 37.9072622
Longitude: -92.0979435
Township 37-Range 11- Section 26