The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-16
JOHN B. Smith IS Dying
PHYSICIANS at His Bedside All Of
Last Night.
END is HOURLY EXPECTED
President of the Erie and Wyoming VAL
ley Road Has Been Dcmentcd for Some
Timc-Afflicted with Diabctis.
Sketch Of His Career.

At an early hour this morning 1t was
announced at John B. Smiths residence
i'm Dunmore that he could live, only
few hours. He was then slowly sink
ing, and his death is momentarily eX-
pected.
Mr.. Smith had been afflicted with dia-
belts for three years. but the disease
did not seriously affect him until about
ten days ago, and, although he has been
irrational for nearly a week, he was
not confined to his bed until yesterday.
On Sunday he was able to walk along
the porch and was up and about the
house during Monday. He had been
attended by DR.. n. Y. Leet for some
time.
Last night DR.. Leet went to Dunmore
to remain at Mr.. Smiths bedside dur
ing the night. In the early evening II
was thought tlrat the sick man could
not live during the night.
At 1.45 O'Clock this morning the fami-
" was gathered about the bedside and
waiting for the end.
sketch of Mr.. Smiths Life.
Mr.. Smith was born in Sullivan coun-
ty, New York, June II, 1915, and was a
son of Captain James Smith, native
of Connecticut, who served in the war
of 1872. The elder Smith was con
| tractor The son received MS only
| school education in the common schools
of Carbondale and vicinity. From the
| time he was 10 years of age he earned
his own living. He was first me-
| chanics apprentice and gradually
1t, until ft1 N
| years he has been known as one OF the
| most prominent railroad officials In thls
section Of Pennsylvania.
| Mr.. Smith entered the employ of thc
| Delaware and Hudson Canal company
| when but IL years old, and the follow
| ing year, 1881, began to learn the trade
| of machinist, which he continued foi
| five years. From 1SiS to 1850 he was
| employed as q mechanical draughts'
man by the Pennsylvania Coal COM
pany; from 1850 until 1886 he was the
| general superintendent of that com
pany's railroad. In May, 1856, he was
elected president of the Erie and wy.
oming Valley railroad and retained h!a
Office as general superintendent of the
coal company.
| Fame as On Inventor.
Although conspicuous as a railroad
and coal official Mr. Smith was well
known as an inventor. He devised
numerous patents, chiefly the three
cylinder locomotives. The idea iad
been advanced and tried by many, but
Mr.. Smiths invention was the first tc
be operated successfully. Several are
now in use on the Erie and Wyoming
| road.
MIR. Smith first resided in Dunmort
in 1850 and since then his administra
ton of the affairs of the Pennsylvania
| Coal company for forty-iive years ha!
contributed largely toward the de
velopment of Pittston, Dunmore ans
Hawley.
He took an active interest in public
affairs, especially as they related to tht
borough of Dunmore, and was the firm
friend of wise public Improvement. Ii
the future of the borough he had grea
| confidence, and for that reason via!
opposed to having it lose its identity
by becoming a portion of the city o.
Scranton.
When the Pennsylvania Coal com
| pdny ueclueu TO GDanuOn ltS plcluf
esque gravity road and the Erie ant
Wyoming Valley Railroad company
was organized to construct steam
road to supplant the gravity from
Pittston to Hawley, Mr.. Smith was Sc
looted for the responsible position o
president of the new company To til,
duties of that Office he brought tn,
same executive ability and genius fo
looking after details that had marked
his administration of the Coal com
pany's business, and the steady pro
gress the railroad company has mad,
was due not a little to the conservativ,
guidance that it received from Mr.
| Smith.
Interest in Charitable Work.
Mr.. Smith was recognized as the mos
public spirited citizen and was a mem
Der of the Dunmore Presbyterian
church, which owed much to his libar
ality. Charitable institutions of thl!
vicinity received many gifts of land ant
money from him.
HE &c IJEDE rpn S,,plV