Most people have never heard of this place, when the NCO Railroad designated it as a station in 1899. Some names stick, and others do not and that is the story of Smithon, known today by many as Wendel.

In the mid-1880s, Isaac W. “Doc” Smith located at what was when then known as Upper Hot Springs. In early 1899 there were rumblings that the NCO Railroad would finally extend its line north, after a decade of being stalled for numerous reasons. On April 25, 1899, Amedee merchant Sam Johnstone wrote to his brother with some inside information: “Well railroad business is somewhat at a stand still. Now think Amedee will be moved to Doc Smith’s place. That is where those warm springs are. They have built a side track there and have leveled it up. Will also build water tank that holds 42,000 gallons of water. Mr. Gest calls the place Smithon. They expect to move the shipping corral up there for fall shipping of stock and think the Depot for Honey Lake merchants will be there. The railroad is not doing much work now as they are out of steel [rails].”

Amedee was not moved to Smithon, but Doc Smith, in 1901, had a building moved from Amedee and then enlarged as a hotel. In 1910, the hotel was destroyed by fire, and the NCO designated the location as Boyd.

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