The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-09-06
VOL. 80.
WILLIAM q. SMITH
ra,or o, the Benton argus" Dies Suddenly.

sce was received here last Friday
a, about one o'clock. This weeks
issue of the ArgHS gives the following
account of the occurrence:
"His death was caused by apoplexy.
He had been complaining for several
DAYS o. severe pains in his right arm
and shoulder, and thought that he had
slight attack of rheumatism. From
this pain he seemed to suffer more on
Friday morning than any time before.
At IL o'clock all the employees of the
Office went to dinner, leaving Mr..
Smith sitting in his Office char, as he
always was the last one to leave the
Office; no particular attention was paid
10 bin, as at that time he seemed to
be in as good health as he had been
for the few days before. When Mr..
Brewington, the foreman OF the office,
returned flom dinner at I2:4s, he
found Mr.. Smith lying on the floor in
front of the door of his private Office.
He at once summoned DR.. McHenry
who was at the Sde OF the stricken
man in a few minutes. He at once
pronounced Mr.. Smith dead.
The deceased is survived by a
widow, two daughters, Mrs. w. c.
Greasy of Mlffllnville, Mrs. Aaron
Batrof, of Watsontown, and one son,
Raymond, who is yet at home, also
one brother, Mr.. G.. N. Smith, of
0rangeville. He was laid to rest in
the Benton cemetery, Monday after
noon, September g."
The funeral services were held in
The Christian church at Benton, and
were conducted by the pastor, Rev.
W. H. Sawtell, assisted by Rev. Mr..
Martin, pastor of the Orangeville
Presbyterian church. The ceremonies
at the grave were in charge of the P.
O. S. of A. of which the deceased was
amember. The attendance was very
large, showing the high esteem in
which the deceased was held.
MIR. Smith was born in Fairmount
township, Luzerne county, on October
a. 1916, and was therefore aged S,
years, 10 months and 70 days. On
June IS, 1868 he was married to Miss
Mary J, Gibson, who survives him.
He was man of indomitable pluck
and energy, and he persevered in his
undertakings until success crowned
his efforts, where most men would
have given up in despair long before.
When boy, an attack of scrofula
made cripple of him, and that or
some other cause impaired his hearing
and made his vision defective.
As a boy he worked at the timers
and coppersmith's trade, and after
wards conducted the business for HIM
sell at New Columbus, and later had
tin store at Orangevllle.
Freezes History of. Columbia
County gives the following account of
what we believe was Mr.. Smiths first
venture in the news paper field:
vile Maependent WeekLy was start
Cd by William H. Smith and Edward
L. OrvlS, In Benton, April 1, 1874, as
ademocratic newspaper. 1t was con-
lnued by them until October I, 1875,
when 1t removed to Orangeville with
ne Messenger g. La6orer, when
and where Smith & Orvis dissolved,
ae hafPeNaem being continued by
emlth, On the first of April, 1876,
ne hdGbeRdeAt Weekly returned to
sSenton, where it was published until
september, 1877, when it was remov-
gu and established in Milton, North;
Gu,Oerland county, by the name of
Tie Argus."
tie remained at Milton until 1892,
aud then sold his paper and returned
70 Benton where he established the
argus He was a staunch Democrat
anu fearless in his denunciation Of
wong He made the Argus bright,
newSy paper, and built up for it
%se ,S'se patronage IN the upper end of
The county.
NJ Milton his office was greatly
s,alhased by flood, and again it was
s,'n0S' s1 totally destroyed by the great
r u's. After this he got together what
Ga G%a'eflal he could, and for a time pub
aaaea sa his paper in an old freight car,
'" suu mus worked along until he had
;u'. iurceeded in again equlping a print
us ,a plant. He was a progressive citi-
s ssn, and Benton owes much to him
Sa. WI MS push and energy in his ad-
io' iIueacy of borough organization, and
,M sn us giving them live and iuflu-
su sn.al newspaper under adverse cir
Moa. na'ns'ances that would have appalled,
Mr. Smith was member of Milton
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