New-York tribune., 1874-12-29
GERRIT SMITH.

dENhll DDll l. H.
The death Of Gerrit Smith took place yesterday at
the residence of his nephew. John Cochranc. No. 90
CInton.place, in this city. His illness came sud-
denly, after many years Of continued health. Last
Thursday evening he came to this city from his resi-
dence in Peterboro, Oneida County, on Christmas
visit to his neice, and seemed to be in remarkably
fine health and spirits He continued to enjoy the
festival time with his friends after Christmas night
rcmarking TO his wife that he had had refreshing
nights Sleep On Saturday morning it was found
that his mind was wandering and he soon after
ward lost consciousness. The attack was apoplectlc
i'm character, and Dr. Bayard, who was Immediately
called prepared his patients relatives for tho most
serious results. Mr.. Smith never regancd con-
sciOusncss again sufficiently to express by sign OF
word any recognition Of the anxious kinsincn ana
friends watching about his bedside. After sunday
morning he seemed TO be in peaceful sllmbcr'
His eyes were closed, and his breathing was easy
and regular Up to the moment of his death, when
occurred ut twenty minutes before one O'Clock yoS-
tcrdav afternoon, there was no change In his
condition, and when he suddenly ceased to
breathe his face retained the expression
of quiet rep0se which had ofersprean
it at the beginning of his brief sickness and II was
evident that his last hours had been entirely Win
out pain. Though many friends had visited his bed
side during the two days previous at the time OF his
death his sister, daughter, and Gen. Cochrane only
were present.
There will be no funeral ceremonies in this city
and the remains will be removed on Wednesday
night to Pcterboro, where. Oh the afternoon OF the
following day. the last Offices will bo performed
They will be simple and unprctcndiDg. in accord
ance with his often expressed desiic.
The ranks of those who were early engaged in our
antIslavery struggles are rapidly thinning. 10 the
roll of those who have passed away and are fast be-
coming the majority, is now to bo added name
for fifty years associated with words and deeds
of fervcnt, disintcre5tcd philanthropy. Gerrlt
Smiths ancestors came from Holland; they acquired
property at Tappan Zee the Hudson; on this farm
of the Smith family, Major Andre was executed.
Peter Smith. the father of Gerritt, whilc young
man, was for while in partnership with John
Jacob Astor in the fur business; but subse-
ouently engaged in land spcculatons in tho western
mart of this State whcro lie bought tract OF SOOO
acres of land from the Indians and settled upon 1t in
1905 naming the township Smithiclh and the village
Pctcrboro Here he largely entered upon the business
of buying property at tax sales and at one timo pos
scSscd more land than tho State ITSELF, being the
owner of over 100000 acres As an evidence OF tue
scale of his acquisitions of land it may be mentioned
that he gave his son Gerrlt. on attaining ms major
itv. n dcrd for the entire town of Florence.
now in Oneida County. AT his death. Potter
Smith left three children. Peter Gcriit. aud Cor
nclia. tho last named marrying Capt Coclranc, the
father Of Gen. John COchrano OF this city. 1De
property was divided between these three children
Gcrrit Smith, as executor of the will. was brought
into some business relations with his fathers late
PARTNER John Jacob Astor, and formed an acqIi;lin-
tance which subsequently became valuable.
Gclrit Saith WAS born at Utica. n. l., March D,
17D7 he was educated at Hamilton College. Clinton,
n. Y, under the late President Azci Backus. and
was graduated in 1918 with the highest honors at
tho aye of 81. During his collcglto term he gained
n high reputation as student aud orator. He has
made two donations to the college of $4,000 each.
After graduation ho married tho daughter Of Presi-
dent Backus but before tine year expired he lost
both his wife and mother. Subsequently he married
the daughter of Col. Fitzhugh of Maryland, who
survives him, and by whom he has had two children.
Greene Smith now of Pctcrboro. and Mrs. Elizabeth
Miller, the wifo of Col. Miller of Geneva.
Gcrrit smith was brought up in the occupation of
managing the landed estates of his father. lIo was
placed in charge of the property at Pctcrboro very
early IN life under the direction of his father who
was so satisfied with him that lie surrendered the
business entirely into his hands. He gave his attcn-
ton largely 10 milking llEeSbHlOlto III
while husbandng the original estate. A largo
portion of the property thus acquired has been
parted with either by sale gift. purchase made
at OswcgO in 1923 is regarded as remarkable evil
dence O. his foresight; the portion known as tho
canal, Water and dock property, which he bought
for Sl4 OOO now brings i'll gross income of not less
than $4,000 per annum. During the panic of 1881
tho fluctuations in property and other causes
led him into desperate straits, and ho mar
rowly escaped bankruptcy. In his emergency
he applied to John Jacob Astor.
That careful merchant exhibited confidence in
Mr. Smiths integrity that is almost without par
allel. Mr Astor let him have S9jOOOO on his mere
verbal promise to give mortgages on his homestead
at Peterboro gld the property at OSwego. Beyond
Mr. Smiths word there was nothing to secure tho
return of the money. On returning homo ho exc
cuted tho mortgages the property aud had
them duly recorded; but through tho delay
of the County Clerk the papers were pecon-holed
forgotten and not forwarded Abont six months
afterward Gcrrit Smith received "a letter from Mr.
Astor. stating that he thought it was time that the
mortpnpes wero sent on, and for the first time Mr.
Smith learned that for over six months Mr.. AstOr
had not held even scratch of the pen III tho way
of security. The loan enabled Mr.. Smith to save
his landed property, and was aitcrward: fully
repaid
During 1924 Gerrit Smith attended political con-
yention of which ThurlOw Weed was Il member,
and there made his first considerable public speech.
For many years lie and ThurlOw Weed have been the
only survivors of that convention. Mr.. Smith was
also present tho same year. with Lafayette, Gov.