The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-26

by Mrs. Smith and st. Louis relatives,
would leave that city at $50 o'clock
this morning and would reach Scran-
ton at 1.30 a. m. Monday.
Mr.. Smith left here late in February
for Palm Beach, Fla. He was in good
health and went away for only the
purpose of relief from the usual fatigue
of business. Mrs. Smith was with him.
They followed their original plan, which
was to spend several weeks in Florida
and return home by easy stages via
New Orleans and st. Louis. At the
latter city Mr.. Smith had relatives and
resided during part of the year 1869.
1t was expected that Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith would visit Chicago on the final
stage Of their trip east. None of his
employees, business associates or other
connections here who heard by letter
from him or Mrs. Smith had been in
formed that he was ailing. So in the
absence Of information to the contrary
it is presumed he died of heart dis
ease.
Mr.. Smiths death has been as a blow
to many persons closely identified with
him in business and philanthropic
work. In both Of these branches he
was one of the best known personages
in this part of the state. Few men of
Scranton We're interested more extern
sively than he in banking, charitable,
church, coal and commercial work.
SKETCH OF MIR. SMITH.
Mr. Smith was a prominent figure in the
| city's financial, philanthropic and coal
| circles. He was an eX-president of the
| board of trade and the board of health,
president of the Lackawanna Trust and
and Safe Deposit company and proprietor
Of the Mount Pleasant colliery.
He was born November 80. 1884. His
father and mother, both natives of Mas
| sachusetts, belong to the old families Of
| that commonwealth and traced their de-
| scent from the early English settlers VINO
| came to the new world in 1892 The for
mer, Reuel Smith, removed in early life
to Vermont where he engaged in busi-
ness and in 1910 to Rhode Island, where
! he died in 1860. His widow, a woman of
remarkable strength of mind and charac-
ter, whose maiden name was Judith n.
Haskell, died in 1863
Mr.. Smith, after receiving his educa-
ton, entered upon his business career as
a clerk in the general store kept by his
brother at Woonsocket, r. /. In 1851 he
married Annie e., daughter of George
w. c. Jenckes, esq, of Woonsocket and
/ 1.
| was in business for three years. BY this
union he had two children, both or whom
died young, and the mother died in 1861.
on leaving Providence Mr. Smith en-
tered the service of the Harris LIMERICK
company and took charge of the large
limestone quarries in Rhode Island owned
by that company In 1862 he obtained a
temporary release from his engagement,
and. enlisting in the Ninth regiment of
| Ig1p, fp,fa afafP xHiVh
during its three months campaign in the
defense of Washington. Returning to
| Rhode Island at the expiration of his
term of service, he resumed charge of the
quarres and continued thus engaged un-
I'll the latter part of 1865, when he went
TO Texas on a prospecting tour remain
ing there several months.
Again Mr.. Smith returned to Rhode
Island. but in a short time was appointed
secretary and treasurer of two silver
mining companies in Nevada, and spent
three years i'm that state looking after
their interests. When this connection
was severed, he went to ST. Louis, Mo.
remaining nearly a year, but not engag'
ing permanently in business.
GALE HERE IN 1870.
MIR. Smiths first Identification with
Scranton was in the fall of 1870 when he
was offered the superintendency of the
Mount Pleasant Coal company, of this
city, a corporation organized in Boston
Mass, and holding the mines under lease
He at once removed to Scranton and as
sumed full charge. In 1871 the compan.
failed and forfeited its lease. Mr.. Smitl
secured lease OF the mine and operated
It since 1877 and at the time OF his deatf
had perpetual lease of the valuable
property.
In 1871 Mr.. Smith married Miss Abby ii
Richmond daughter of Lorenzo Rich
mond, esq, of Woodstock VI,
Mr. Smith became interested as
stockholders in the Third National banl
in 1872 and in 1883 was elected a director
an Office he held up to his death. II
May, 1887. he. with others, organized tn
, Lackawanna Trust and Safe Deposit com
pany. the institution which was the sue