The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-04-18
IN MEMORIAM--RALPHS. SMITH.

s'I am the resurrection and the life
he that believeth in Ne though he were
dead, yet shall he live"
The christians hope and faith it
based on the above divine promise. It
further adds, "Whosoever liveth aud
believeth in Me shall never die"
How firm the rock, how consoling
the assurance to the OFT times weary,
dropping heart-..though he were dead
yet shalt he live" Then to the grief
stricken mourner, to the devoted wife
who, perchance, may have fingered for
days, months and years at the bedside
of sorely afflicted husband, to the
anxious child who has shared in the
vigils and cares-when the messenger
comes-to know, to feel that to the suf-
ferer tits but transition from pain on
earth to immortal bliss in Heaven; to
those devoted watchers how consoling
the assurance
"rho' grief endure through the night,
Joy will come with the morning."
These reflections are evoked In view
of the death of the venerable and esti-
mable gentleman whose name forms
the caption of this humble tribute to
departed worth Though not une1pec-
ted it was scarcely less sad. 1t occurred
at Waverley, the family homestead. in
this Parish, on the morning of the 18th
inst. An invalid for years caused.by
an accident, he fingered in pain and
suffering, borne with christian forth
| tude, for which he was ever so remark
| able, till the summons came that was
| to release him. Watched and minister
ed to as he had for so long been witt
all the s0licituie that fondest affection
could suggest he died calmly, surround
ell by large and endeared family. and
thus has ended the earthly pilgrimage
of man of no ordinary stamp, as a few
incidents of his life and career here re-
corded will amply attest.
Mr.. Smith was born in MildleEs,x
county, Connecticut, August 10Th. a,
d. 1906, so in years he had considerably
passed the allotted period of "three
score and ten" Completing his educa-
ton at the celebrated Partridge Mill
tary School at Middletown, Connect
4 cut, an institution as renowned in its
day as was ever that of the U. S. Mill
tary Academy at West Point, he adopt
ed the profession Of civil engineer.
His first official work was to aid in To-
i, eating the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, the first of any considerable ex-
tent constructed in the United States,
and now perhaps the richest, compile
ting which he took charge of and loca-
ted the Portsmouth, Va, and Roanoke
Railroad. We next find him officially
engaged in locating the New Orleans
and Nashville Railroad, now known as
the New Orleans and Great Northern
alias the "Big j Railroad" All these
works have become permanent and ia.
, nous, and vast must have been the tai.
ent of one so young to be placed in
; such prominent and responsible po
. sition in their construction. In the
year 1886 almost half century ago.
Mr.. Smith removed and settled perma
nently in this Parish, where he ha
since continuously resided. Here h,
8 constructed the Red River Railroad
extending as it did from Alexandria t.
! the Bayou Huffpower. In 1914 he tie
came the sole owner of the said roat
and continued successfully to operate
the same on his individual account til
$ its destruction during the late war
He built and owned one of the larges