The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-27
THE LATE WILLIAM sMrra.

His Funeral VIII Take Place Thursday
Afternoon-A Sterling Citizen--Facts
About His Long and Useful Career.
The funeral of the late Willis M.
Smith OF the firm of Smith, Sperry &
Treat, the mason builders, will take
place from his late residence on Orange
street tomorrow afternoon and there
will no doubt be large attendance
of business men and others prominent
in this city, the deceased having been
for so many years prominent builder
and citizen much esteemed. Mr..
Smith was a native of, Woodbridge, born
April s, 1919, was the son of Daniel
Treat and Rebecca Sperry Smith. He
was the ninth in family of ten chill
dren, five sons and five daughters. His
father died when he was fourteen years
of age, having been suddenly killed by
the falling of tree.
Mr.. Smith worked on his fathers
farm and attended school until 1885 when
he came to this city and was appren-
ticed to the firm of Hine, Peck & Per-
llins, to learn the mason's trade. The
late Stephen 2. Perkins, also Wood
bridge man, was junior member of this
firm. That year he worked on the San
ford building, now known as the Union
Trust company building. He was also
employed on the Hallock residence at
the "Hallock Place." this side of City
Point, and the Free church on Church
street, afterward the American theater
The following year, 1885, after the great
fire. he went to New York and took
part in rebuilding the burned district
Returning to this city he served out
his time and after working severaI
years as a journeyman formed a CO.
partnership in 1S47 with Hon. N. d.
Sperry. The firm still exists under the
| name of Smith, Sperry & Treat. Ar
thur B. Treat, who has been for years
past prominent factor in all the firms
large building contracts, having been
taken in as a partner about five years
ago. In 1S49 they built the o. E. Maltby
residence in Fair Haven. Among the
buildings they erected was the Hall
block in Orange street, Judson building
in State street, fremont house in 1862,
Farnam college in 1869, Durfee, the In
surance building the White building
on Church and Center streets, Tyler
building in Chapel street, Garfield build
| ing in Chapel street, the new English
| building in Chapel street, Kensington
| fiat, Lawrence hall, VOLTS Head build
| ing at Trumbull and Prospect street,
Sloane Memorial laboratory, the Win
chester observatory, chancels Of ST.
Paul and Trinity churches. Besides
these they built many fine residences
| in this city and scores of buildings in
| Massachusetts, New York and other
| states.
| One of their most important contracts
was the soldiers and sailors monu-
ments at East Rock. Throughout the
work and wherever a basis of opera
tons had been established at new
altitude, he was the first person to
mount and occupy it. On one occasion
when the highest position for a derrick
was reached he climbed to the cross
beam and assuming an heroic position
remarked to those below him: Boys,
there's a fine view up here"
| When the time for closing the top of
| the shaft arrived a single derrick in
the center, supported by timbers, was
erected, the frame being in the form of
triangle, 1t was a difficult job-a
| hearty cheer went up when the job was
finished.
| Mr. Smith devised an adjustable der
rick for raising stones, suited to greater
or less heights. He also perfected a
| formerly unknown method for laying
building stone in the winter season.
| He married, November rs. 1874 Mary
E., daughter of WHY'S Sperry, a prom
| inent resident of Woodbridge, who sur
wives. They celebrated their golden
wedding two or three years ago, the oc-
casion being attended by large num-
Der of prominent people. Mr.. Smith
also leaves daughter, Mrs. Edward w.
Dawson OF this city.
Mr.. Smith was distinguished for his
modest and retiring disposition and for
his love of home life. He had been a
member of the Church of the Re-
deemer many years
Hon. N. D. Sperry has come on from
Washington to attend the funeral of his
| aged partner. They were ever the
warmest of friends and for many years
We're near neighbors on Orange street
Mr.. Sperry will return to Washington
directly after the funeral. important
business at the national capital calling
him back at once and the close of the
session being now near at hand. He
was much affected on hearing the news
of the death of Mr.. Smith and in speak
ing of him yesterday added his testi-
mony to that of many others as to the
blameless and honorable life of this de-
ceased townsman and their many years
of intimate relationship in business life
and socially, during all of which his
high estimation of the deceased was
never altered, but ever more than sus-
toi