The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-07-17
Sketch Of John A. Smull.
From the Harrisburg Patriot.)

(From the Harrisburg Patriot)
John Augustus Smull was born
September l, 1882, and consequently at
the time of his death was nearly forty
seven years of age and in the prime
of life. He was the second of the three
sons of John Smull and Harriet PAUL.
who were of German ancestry. The
father at the time of his death was
proprietor of the Washington house,
which stood on the site now occupied
by the Jones house and was so called
because General Washington had
spent night under its roof. John A.
Smull whose death is now chronicled
received public school education and
in his fourteenth year was apprenticed
to the printers trade in the office of
the Harrisburg Telegraph, having de-
clined the appointment ofmidshipman
in the navy at the desire of his parents.
At the age of seventeen he succeeded
| to the position of page in the House of
Representatives made vacant by the
death of his brother Levan, and be-
I came the sole support of his mother.
The appointment was made by the
clerk of the house w. d. Jack, of
Westmoreland county. From this
position he rose by the faithful and eff
ficient performance of his duties to be
bill clerk, bill and petition clerk, and
at length created for himself the posi-
ton of resident clerk, an office which
has now become a necessity to Penn
sylvania legislatures. This position
he filled with marked ability and sue
cess until his death, save during the
session of 1875 6 when Major Elbridge
McConkey occupied the desk. Not
the lease considerable work of Mr..
Smull's life was the yearly compilation
of "Smull Legislative Hand book" a
remarkably clear, condensed, yet full
manual of all that pertains to parli-
mentary law and the business of the
state legislature.
Mr.. Smull was for many years prom
inently Unidentified with the Masonic
fraternity of the state and held num-
ber of positions of trust and response
bility. He was also one of the found.
ers of Robert Burns lodge No. AGA.
Owing to his long connection with
the legislature there is no man in the
State better known or more highly re
spected for warm courtesy of de-
meanor and genuine ability in the so
luton of intricate parliamentary diff
culties than John A. Smull. and it is t.
be doubted if there has been a speaker
of the house within the last twenty
years who does not owe to him mucl
of any success attained as presiding
officer. AS a generous brother anC
devoted son Mr.. Smull has had few
equals. To his friends he will alway
the kind, courteous, willing friend,
! friend whom everyone sought ant
everyone valued. AS citizens he will
: be missed in many ways. No man wa
more ready than he to give his time
energy and mems to the furtherance o
any philanthropic scheme or any plal
for the improvement of the city. Tn
tears which will be shed when tn
last duties are paid to him and he /
, laid to rest in dreamless sleep foreve
beside his mother, whom he loved s.
well and cared for so faithfully, will
not fall from the eyes of his relative
alone, but will come from q wild
circle of our citizens, who have felt hi
i benefactions, known his heart an
e loved his fellowship.