The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-19
DEATHS DEMAND.
WICHITA GIVES UP ONE OF IT'S BEST
BELOVED CITIZENS.
Frank B. Smith Died Yesterday Morning
at an Early Hour-A Short Sketch
of His Short but Use
full Life.

the dark valley OF the shadow of death to
find rest: to be free from the pangs and
pains and trials and hardships OF life and
of earth.
The sweet angel of peace lowered over
his couch as the thread of life was sew
cred aud he died surrounded by the most
loving aud sympathetic hearts.
Shortly after his demise the news spread
throughout the city, where it had been
expected for nearly forty-eighG hours, and
everybody, regardless of condition,
mourned it with the most sincere express
sions OF sorrow.
The star of hope that was family glim-
mering in the distance the previous night
faded away and died as the morning ap-
preached, and when death came it was
expected.
A singular coincident of his death was
in the fact that he died on the twenty first
anniversary Of the establishment
of the Beacon; the paper through
which he became known more
thoroughly to his fellow citizens
and in the success and continuity of which
he was such material factor. 1t was his
custom every year. on the Beacon's ami
versary day, to hunt up ID. 6. Millison, its
founder, and both of them would celebrate
the event by having little supper and
pleasant retrospective converse. About a
month ago he met Mr.. Millison on the
street and cautioned him to be with him at
the coming anniversary. The anniversary
came; Mr.. MillIson was with him. but alas!
it was at the side of his deathbed. There is
something pathetic and sad in this pecu-
liar coincident.
Frank B. Smith was born at New Rich
mond, O., in the year 49,, and consequently
was at the meridian Of life when the angel
of death LAID its icy hand upon him. He
was one of seven children, four boys and
three girls, one of whom, Oscar, is we'll
known and highly respected citizen of this
city. After spending his boyhood at
Marysville lie entered store, as clerk.
while still youth, and characterized him.
self as an honest, industrious, energetic
and faithful boy. He was so highly es-
teemed for his ability that upon the death
Of the owner he carried on the business
for few years very successfully for the
widow. Like many other boys of that
place and period, lie yearned for a
wider field. whore the chances for
a young man were wider and more prom
Using, and before he had reached his
twentieth year be came to Topeka. He
was ambitious always, and in selecting
vocation he decided to EN-
brace journalism; to become part of the
great machinery which molds public
opinion. He accordingly applied for and
was given an apprenticeship by +. P.
Baker in the Topeka Record, afterwards
The Topeka Commonwealth. That was
really the school which formed his charac-
ter and fitted him for the battle of life
which he SO successfully waged after
wards. After time spent in learning the
rudiments of the art of printing he
fnally succeeded in getting a salary of
81 per week, and in addition to this
he would make dollar or two extra
by staying up late at night and Throwing
ia cases" for printers who wanted to go to
The theater, and for this he received the
muuifcent O. sum of cents per thousand.
By practicing rigid economy and free
Iuently sleeping on pile of newspapers
n the office. he managed to get along
fairly well until 1872, when he came to
Wichita with D. &. Millison, who started
the Beacon. Mr.. Smith didn't have his
trade learned when he came to Wichita,
but he was such remarkably indus
rious and faithful boy that Messrs. Mil
ison & Sewers made him foreman OF their
news room. Franks predominating trait
was faithfulness TO duty, and, by the
way, this is the very key to success.
he never left the Office with work undone,
md many were the nights he burned the
midnight OF! i'll the gloomy print shop set
ing up ads or cleaning up and taking
are of the type. while be was not a
iout boy he always pulled the hand press
himself SO as 10 be sure the paper was
printed nicely and this was such hard
work that the powerful lever of the ''old
would many times jerk him
IF his feet. Fred Sewers and Mr.. Milf
on still say to this day that they never liz
III their experience found more indus
rous boy than Frank Smith. Up TO the
ime of his death he always stoutly
insisted that poverty was n fault
md that no hearty boy need
emain poor. He always remained hard
worker, but he was methodical, and While |
e accomplished good deal in days |
abor he did it comparatively easy. When |
sewers and Mllison sold out their inter |
st in the paper to Gable. Mr. Smith still |
ontinued with it, but in the spring of 1875 |
liable failed and Mr. Smith and Frank |
Usher bought the paper and operated il |
n6er the editorial management of Fred !
lowers till 1876. Fred Sewers resigned |
is position in the spring of 1876, and |
Ir. Smith cast about to find an |
Gitor suitable to the situation. Cap |
ain White was then running
arm on the Niunescah and Mr.. |
mith went to see him to offer him the /
ltuation. and this was another example Of |
is shrewdness, for Captain White proved
o be remarkably forcible aud popular
ritter and in addition to that be was of a
opposition that harmonized with that OF
ir. Smith TO a remarkable extent. About
his time Mr.. Smith had got control OF
nree, fourths interest in the paper and
sptaiu White one-fourth. Both held the
anne views in everything. even to their
Jews OF that great hereafter which both
t them have now realized.
Everything Frank Smith touched turned
ITO money. and with all the varied ex-
eriences Of the Peerless Princess, it Is
aid of him that he never lost cent in anv
a.erprise.
In 1894. on the suggestion OF Mr. Smith.
De Beacon was published permanently as
daily, aud Mr.. Smith remained its tinan-
al and business manager till 1886. when
e was appointed postmaster by President
leveland, and upon assuming his duties
e sold the paper to ex-senator Farwell Of
lirois, who placed Messcs. Hotchkiss
nd Eaton in charge OF II.
AS postmaster he was a model and as
10 city grew rapidly in those days be