The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-24
WEALTHY CITIZEN DIES
JOHN J. SMITH sUCCUMBS TO THE
EFFECTS OF INFLUENZA.
A WeII-Known and Rather Eccentric
Character, Likened Unto the Late
John Herron-IsraeI COnklin.

John j. Smith died at his home, $50
North California street, Tuesday night, at
1880 o'clock. Last winter Mr.. Smith suf-
Tered from the grip and never entirely re-
covered, although his condition was not
regarded as serious until four weeks ago.
since which time ne grew rapidly worse
He suffered greatly the last few days of
his life. He leaves a widow and five chill
dren, David, Obie, Nellie, Julia and Marian,
none of whom is of age. He also has three
sisters Iiving-Mrs. F. w. Hamilton of this
city; Mrs. John Durby, of Chicago, and
Mrs Jacob Ewry, of Cincinnati, all of
whom are now here Mr.. Smith was con-
slant attendant of the First Presbyterian
Church and. enjoyed the esteem and friend
ship of his pastor, Rev. NJ l.. Haines, who
will conduct the funeral services at the
family residence at 10 o'clock tomorrow.
The burial at Crown Hill will be private.
Mr.. Smith came to Indianapolis from the
South about twenty years ago. Few men
are better known than he during the
years he lived here. He was born at Car
Isle, Penn, Sept. 80 1882, and received his
education at Dickinson College, IL that
State. While still young man he came
to Indiana and lived in Lafayette, where
he was representative of the Wels-Fargo
Express Company. AT the beginning of the
war lie elliISleu WITH d regiment OI Iueu
made up largely of Wels-Fargo employees
at Chicago. Later he established a hotel
at Vicksburg, Miss. and served in the
State Legislature as a Representative.
WI nile IN the South he was married to Miss
Ida Adams and subsequently came to In
dianapolis. For time he again iden-
titled with the WellS-Fargo Express Com
pany, but during the latter years of his
life he devoted his time entirely to the
management and supervision of his proper
W MI. Smith was a Republican, with
seldom intruded his IDEAS upon others. He
has been more or less actively identified
with the political organization and was
committeeman for his precinct for a long
time.
During and subsequent to the war Mr.
Smith amassed considerable means and it
was IN the South that the groundwork for
ms subsequent financial success was laid.
money some estimating his fortune as high
as 100000 invested mostly in real estate
IN indianapolis, although he owns property
IN chicago, kokomo and other places. He
was somewhat eccentric in character, and
It was no uncommon sight to see him driy-
tended for the repair of some of his numer-
Gus houses. A great deal of the work he
uid hlmSelf. In this respect he was much
IKE the late John Heron. Those who were
most intimately acquainted with Mr.. Smith
say that he was a man but little under
stood, as ne was a rare converSati onalist
was man of keen intelligence and of
kindly and charitable disposition. Most of
MS charitable work was confined to pri-
Vate giving and his right hand knew not
what the left was doing. 1t was in his in
innate home life. however, that the true
worth or the man Shone brightest and
Iriends or the family recall the loving care
with which he guarded and instructed his