Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-06-16


GONE TO HIS REsr.-"One by n the
leaves are falling said the poei Bryant,
n never more sadly did this beautiful
sentence strike US than when we heard 2
lew days ago that William r. Smith,
oDe Of Oldest citizens, had gone to
that better world to meet his fathers ia
eternity. Well, indeed, NAV Memphis
mourn at the loss Of such a man. Pos
sessiDg all those attributes which make
the true gentleman, and q heart over.
flowing with the milk OF human kind.
ness, he had won q host OF friends who
will remember him as long as memory
keeps its seat, for we can never fOrgettbe
good and noble. Mr.. Smith was a kind
husband, gentle father, true friend, and
a bold but generous enemy. Well may
II be said OF him that "none knew him
but to love him, none named him but to
praise" The most Of those who knew
him will mourn his loss, and all viii
miss his familiar face, for he was the
life OF those who associated with
him. His genial smile will no more be
seen, but his many jokes and pleasRn-
tries, his good natured replies, and most
Of all, his generosity TO the poor, will
live in the minds Of those who knew him
as long as the heart beats to the mem
ory Of the good. Mr.. Smith came TO
Memphis in 1885, and built for Mr..
Hezekiah Cobb the first saw mill that
was ever started in this section of the
country, for which he was paid in those
times the good wages Of 81 . per day.
He was not only the first undertaken
who had settled in Memphis, but estGb-
lished the first cemetery in this city,
the old and well known Winchester
aurying grounds" His death occurred
on the 18th Of June, he being ffiy-nine
years, six months and twenty days old
when he breathed his last. He was also
one of the oldest and most respectable
members of the Masonic fraternity. He
has been gathered to his fathers, but he
leaves behind him a family, whose
high standing in this COM
munity reflect credit on the heart and
soul of the father. The present popular
and efficient alderman rom the seventh
ward, Thomas o. Smith, Esq iE a son
of the deceased. The esteem in which
William II. Smith was held in this city
could not be shown in a greater light
than to state that at a recent election he
was chosen over several prominent citi-
zens to the Office Of msgistrate by a very
large majority. His remains were taken
10 " 4uGlEoltA GElAEANAJ bA GAAAoA Ae1tf
and although ii was a very rainy and
stormy day, they were accompanied bya
large c%oncOurse of our most prominent
citizens, among whom was quite a num-
Der Of the civil authorities. In conse-
uuence of the inclemency Of the weather
the body was placed in a vault,
and will be inferred at four o'clock
this afternoon with Masonic honOrs.
As we give our thoughts a loose
rein in remembrance of him who has
left us, it brings back ouy boyhood's days,
and sad indeed is the psnsiVepess that
memory falls into, when the truth
flashes across our mind that we shall see
him no more. The waters roll by and
are lost in the ocean, the leaves fall, the
rose and laurel minRling together decay
again into dust, but the souls Of the good
will all meet again in the bright place
where the spirit Of the departed has
taken its fight. We muse in cur sad
ness, Of his many acts Of kindness, of his
genial smiles, and Of his words Of cheer
and comfort, and our lips invOluntGTiiy
breathe, as we think Of w. r. Smith,
the words of the familiar ballad
1--WE shall meet but We shall miss him,
Tharewiu be one vacant chair,
We sbElI finger to caress him
49, M Hra.H#a an aEnmHnW nEW 81 ~