The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-12-17
Mrs. John A. Smith.

Jane Mcdowell Smith, who on the
evening Of Friday, the 11th Of December,
1891, passed TO another and better
world, was born in Colunbus, o., April
22d, 1920. She was the second daughter,
Mrs. Judge Price being the first, Of
John Adair Mcdowell and Lucy Todd
Startling, who came from Mercer county,
Kentucky, to Ohio in 1915. Her father
died in 1923 and in 1929 her mother
married Judge Samuel Bell, of Hillsbofo.
Mrs. Smith attended the school of DR..
Joseph Matthews at Hillsboro until she
was fifteen years old, when she went to
the famous school OF Miss Edwards at
New Haven, Connecticut, where she re-
mained two years.
On the 18th OF November, 1887, when
she was seventeen years OF age, she was
married to John Armstrong Smith, who
is now bereft of one who had been his
devoted wife for fifty.four years. Be.
sides her husband she has left three
sons, James Wadman, Lyme Startling and
Irwin Mcdowell Smith. She joined the
Presbyterian Church in 1855 and re.
mained consistent member of it
throughout her life.
There are very many reasons why her
memory should and will be cherished by
those who knew her. She was an I'M.
usually cultivated woman and an orna.
ment to society, not only at her own
home, but at Washington, where she
spent four years while her husband was
a member of Congress and wherever
she might have been she was recognized
as having no superior in culture, refine.
ment and graces of character and pure
and true ideas and aspirations. Her
husbands home was one ofopen handed
hospitality for very many years, and
she, the central figure, welcomed all her
friends, not only manifesting, but feel.
ing the deepest interest in the welfare
of each one.
She never failed to enter with Joyous
enthusiasm into all the innocent plans
and pleasures of the young as we'll as OF
the old. In her later years she was de-
voted to the study of science and litera.
ture. Books of the best authors were
her constant companions and friends
from whom she derived the greatest
pleasure. AS companion, she was not
only exceedingly pleasant and gracious,
but interesting and instructive, so that
she aroused in all who were acquainted
with her, feelings of both admiration
and respect. Her love of flowers
amounted almost to passion, and one
OF her greatest enjoyments during the
three years she was an invalid was to
have her chair placed in the midst of
her flower garden on bright days and
watch them budding and blooming
around her.
Tt is probable that no one ever lived
in Hillsboro who had stronger attach
ment to the place. 1t was the home of
her girlhood, her womanhood and her
affections. She has frequently said
There is not spot or stone in it that
do not love-" And she took the
deepest interest in the churches and
schools and everything that was for the
benefit of the place. She was always
unselfsh and generous in aiding every
cause for its advancement and improve.
ment. No gentler spirit ever breathed,
and tenderness was part of her nature,
Her sympathies were easily touched and
she Immediately sought to aid those
who needed assistance.
She will be particularly remembered
with affectionate gratitude by many
young girls, now grown to admirable
women, whom she aided in every way
she could to obtain an education. She
vas woman of unusual vigor and health
Ill her life until within about three
'ears of the time when its beautiful
light was extinguished. During these
'ears she never uttered complaint or
nurmur, but always calm, patient and
was interested not in her
'wn suffering but in the happiness of
hose around her.
In all the relations of life she was an
of noble and tender woman.
'ood. AS daughter, sister, wife and
mother her life shone with peculiar
uster.
What she was to her husband is
lmost too sacred to be referred to here.
"a boat at midnight sent alone
To drift upon the moonless sea,
lutte whose leading chord is gone,
A wounded bird, that hath bat one
Imperfect wing 10 soar upon,
Are like what am without thee"
The loss to her children and grand
hildren also cannot be spoken-itis is un-
peakable. From the happiest OF earthly