New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-20
OBITUARY..
kG>NNEIL SMITH

]
that time until the last few weeks. he felt keen
interest the publishing enterprises with which he
was connected although his health prevented active
participation in the companys affairs. lie lived to
see the great dictionary which he projected brought
| to a sful completion. 1t is nearly a quarter
Of a century since Roswell smith, DR.. j. G.. Holland
and the firm Of Charles scrbner & Go. founded the
magazine corporation which in 1881 after the pur
| chase by Mr.. smith Of the Scrbner interest became
the Century Company. Roswell Smiths best years
were given TO his work as business manager and
president Of that company, and tho history of its
success is the story Of his life
He was subject to strokes Of paralysis and since
his last stroke about eight weeks ago and not spoken
word. lie is thought. however, to have had oc-
casonal moments of ucdity. but he could not eX-
press any recognition Of members Of his family. Death
came quietly and without pain. Mr. smith had had
chronic Brights disease for long Time but was able
TO go about and attend to business until his last
stroke OF paralysis. which came while he was driving
with his wife. lie born In Lebanon, Conn.,
March 80 1929 His father Asher l.. Smith, who
for many years lived in the historic Trumbull mansion
at Lebanon, a brother Of Roswell {. smith, the
schoolbook author, some OF whose works. "sml'hs
Grammar" and Smiths Arithmetic" are well re-
mcmbered by the last generation and not unknown
today. A part Of the boyhood of Roswell smith
spent in the atmosphere Of books in his uncles
family, and fourteen he acquired his first knowledge
of the publishing business in the employ OF MS
| unclcS publishers. Paine & Burgess, Of Ncw-lorR
After three years he entered Brown University and took
the English and scientific Then he studied law
with Thomas c. Perkins, one Of the ablest members
Of the Hartford bar. lie moved to Lafayette, ma
and began the pTnctice Of law, and In 1852 married
the only daughter OF Henry L. Ellsworth the first
United states Commissioner Of Patents, known as
"The Father Of the Patent Office" 1t was Mrs
Roswell Smith who, as Miss Annie Ellsworth. sent
the famous first tclegraphic message What hath God
wrongful" Professor Morscs trial line between
Baltimore and Washington
In ls6s Roswell smith had acquired comfortable
fortune from law and real estate, including coal lands
and closing out his business in Indiana. The went To
Europe with his family, having In mind the posi-
bllty OF buying newspaper his return. or in some
way acquiring literary property In The East To be
identified with a business which had 10 do with books
and writers and into which entered the possible mould
ing Of public opinion had always boon his ambition
An acquaintance with Dr. J. q. Holland developed into
friendship and they travelled together In Europe for
many months. DIR. Holland finding I'm Roswell smith
the ar-hcadcd executive ability which, In bust
ness sense, was useful counterpart Of his own
literary faculty
one night standing together on a bridge at Geneva.
leaning over the parapet DR. Holland preached sub
jcct to Roswell Smith which had long been In his
mind. II project for monthly magazine OF
which Dr. Holland should be the editor. and which
should foster American literature and American art
Smith and This incident proved the turning point ~
his NE They returned The Tinted states and with
the firm of Charles Scrlbncr Is CO.. who at the time
were publishers Of DR.. Hollands books. formed the
corporation Of Scrbncr & Co., and I'm November 17'o
the first number of "Scribncr's Monthly sow the
light "Ininain's MAGAZINE" merged In the now
venture a. well Is Hours at Home which had for
merlv been published by the Scrbner honsc. and
Richard Watson Glider now Editor u Tho Century
who had been Tor a year the Ell,or II " Hours az
Home was associated with DR.. Holland In the
editorial management Of the new magazine.
Roswell smith posses, extraordinary energy ana
fertility Of resource lie had practically NJ expert
enoc as Publisher but this fact scryci To- keep 'hc
enterprise out Of time horord rlts He was Ina the
prime Of liie ne knew the world and rcosnlzod my
the boundess capabilities Of hs own country lie hah
lived IN the West and know that neither all the In
tclgcnce Of the country nor all the book buyers were
east of TIE Allegiance.
I, ,s7a M h. suggestion. "st Ncholls- WIS cs-
raLllshcd and I'm the fare % financial p'u.c "our
Young ForSs.7 "Thc Little Corporal and several
other Juvenile magazines were purchased ana merged
I'm the new venture. The result. ~ Indeed All The
results Of Roswell smiths ontrpi-'' Justified b. iir
seeing policy.
In 1--1 Dr. Holland. who had broken down In
health sold his Interest In the company 10 W.
smith and 81 some Of hls Associates. aud 80 Nr enh
was shortly aftcrwari offered tire ~crihncr intcr'~'
which was then in the hands oi Charles Scrhn"r'
sons the successors TO the firm Of Charlie HrlbIcT
O. whose founder had died during INC early YEAR
80 the magazine Roswell smith acquired the entire
Scrbncr interest IN The magazine finn. although The
financial load WA considerable.
II was a grave question then whether Ieri"dical
could survive radical change. but the re'lt asa'h
Justified Roswell smiths foresight, nnd although Dr'
Hollands death and the first issue undr the new nam"
~ ..,rbc ccui1u,7 came simultaneously not the
slightest diminntion occurred I'm the circulation of Inc
magazine From time 10 time lie gave his associates
IN tle management II the business aud literary an"rN
u the company opportunity TO arlnr' STOCK, VIII
the aim OF Strengthening and perlnua'ing the OF
gnnizatOn and hc adopted liberal Ppl'l ""a'u III
the employees Of the company.
Roswell smith was the first publisher 10 express a
lcIef that American magazines could win recognition
bevcud tho sea, and twenty years ago ne p'rsothy
arranged for the sale Of "Scrbncrs Monthly anu
aferward OF 81. Nicholas IN England. The maya
z,ues won not only recognition, but lucrative sale
and hearty commentator from English critic. l"day
many american magazines clrcuai" extensively !"
| England. -, I'LL. 49,, t, ,,,.,,iv
totar".,ed in the mailing Of The Century Dictionary.
a project which had originated WIN hun No Sntr
l.. R,swell smith embarked In was started WI
| he thought Of competition. Unless he saw held
before him not already occuped or 1T lcn,i no' o'u
ui.d I'm hc way he proposed to fiji II. nothing would
iempt him to enter ii. The DICTIONARY wa begun
on incs different from any other II gIc" Jar be{ru
| he proportions Of the original plan but Mr. smiths
ur H., If never wavered from The hr~t He had no
thought Of economy or rircnclncnt III any impol'an.
nndcItobing Ills idea always 10 strive Tor The
,oe, to nav ,Int wa, necessary 10 obtain II and 10
,rst in the American peopie 10 appreciate the rNun
| Eoh IN his business and private HE Roswell SInlt
~ -. strongy aciuated by Ia. religious nature" when
had crn fully awakened Ia early manhood lie VIZ
| fnr many years "A prominent WORKING nlcmOrr Oh lhc
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, althpugh l'N
| ,r,r. AGO he became attendant al Tie 'olcgal'
,yIrch under the passionate Of the Rev. Dr. 'oc ne
| ,avc largely 10 charitable objects and was esPchlN
| IT,, reetd in educational WO.k III the south, Lincoln
| u,II al Isoica College, Kentucky, having been bht
| by MS lcncfactOns. 49,. o.,
I6 was for several years the president Of tic Con
| fsui,. Np.y lDTk
trnilon many remarkable men we're brought together
et The club meetings. and many important dirn,'iohS
I.Id lie was n director Of the American Tract 80
| cctv and member Of the Union L:igne and 'r"her
clubs lie leaves a widow and one child, YRS. "corE'
| rnness jr Of Mnniclair, The wife N the artist. 90
| The funeral will be held 10 morrow morning ~ ~
| o'clock In the Madison Agcnnc lre'by"rian Church'