John Layton was the first postmaster of the town, and he named the post office "Laytonsville" after his family in 1850. They owned the brick house at the corner and built a saddle shop across the road. This saddle shop was also the post office for the town. The town continued under two names, Cracklintown and Laytonsville Post Office, for some years. When it was incorporated as a town in 1892, the name Laytonsville became official!

In addition to providing saddles and harnesses for the Cracklintown area, John Layton was also a farmer. In 1868, his net worth was listed as $8,000.00, making him a wealthy man for his time.  

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Cracklin Town? Why "Cracklin" Town?

The Cracklin Tavern, which was located not far from the current intersection of Rt. 108 and Sundown Road, was known for its cracklin bread -- cornbread made with cracklins.

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So where was this Cracklin Tavern?

There are two possible locations, and maybe there were even two taverns.

1. James Christopher wrote that he had heard it was one mile east of the intersection, near a spring, one of the head waters of the Hawlings River. That would put it near the tennis courts and ball field of today.
2. The other possibility is that it was the "old brick tavern" mentioned in documents from about 1850. That would put it in the fenced pasture next to the open lot on the northwest corner of the intersection. The old brick tavern was operated by J. Hilton in 1827 and later by his brother-in-law Charles Crockett.

What is the Layton House?

It was built by Alexander Case for the owners, Henry and Margaret O'Neal, in the Federal style. At a time when most buildings were made of wood, this house and the tavern across the street were constructed of bricks. According to tradition, the bricks were made from clay dug on the property and fired on the premises. Margaret O'Neal left the house to her sister. John Layton inherited it in 1847.

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