Bisbee daily review., 1903-07-16
DEATH OF A PIONEER
HON. JOHN Y. T. SMITH, OF PHoE-
 NIX, DIES IN LOS ANGELES.
He Went to Salt River Valley Before Phoenix Was Star.ed-Prominent in Politics for Years.

George Buxton received a telegram yesterday from his wife. who left here Tuesday morning for Los Angeles, an nouncing the death of her father, Hon. John Y. T. Smith, of Phoenix. in Los Angeles.
 Mir Smith went from Phoenix with his family two weeks ago. to spend the ssummer on the coast, as has been his custom for years. and Mrs. Buxton left this city to join the family. Mir Buxton expecting to go there later for vaca- ton. Mir. Buxton stated last night that a recent letter conveyed the in- formation that MT Smith was in his usual good health However. the de- ceased had been subect to heart trouble. ard MT. Buxton attributes the sudden death to this trouble. MT. Buxton leaves this afternoon for Phoe- nix to attend the funeral. which will occur in that city on Sunday Mir Smith was a partner in the Buxton Smith company of this city. This business will be closed until next Monday.
 Hon. John Y. T. Smith was 73 years old, having been born in the city of Buffalo September 16. 1851 He went to California with pary of young men in 1853, driving a herd of 500 head of cattle across the plains, being six months on the trip. He engaged in prospecting and gold mining. In 1858 he was in the Frazer river gold ex- citement in British Columbia, but soon returned to California.
 At the opening of the civil war Mir. smith enlisted in company 1T, Fourth California infantry. and with his regi- ment came to Yuma, Arizona, where he remained year. D uring his mili- tary service he was promoted from the ranks to be first lieutenant.
 In the fall of 1865 he started for Arizona with the Fourteenth United States regiment, as master of trans portation. and continued for two years at Fort Mcdowell. Afterwards he re- ceived the appointment as post trader at Fort Mcdowell.
 About 1872 he started a mercantile business at Phoenix Besides mer- chandising. Mir. Smith had mining and other interests. In 1876 he built the second flour mill in the Salt river val ley. and this he operated until 1887. when he built one of the best mills ever erected in the territory. This mill he operated until 1899. when he sold it. He was closely identified with the early work, of canal building in the Salt river valley. At the time the first ditch was started. in 1866. not house stood on the present site of Phoenix. and it was two years later before the town came into existence. With its subsequent growth and pro- sress he has been closely associated.
 The republican party always had a staunch friend in MT. Smith. For years he has been chairman of the county central committee of Maricopa county. In 1868 he was elected to the territorial legislature; again in IsSo he was elected to that body this time from Maricopa county, and in lsSS was reelected, serving in th fourteenth and fifteenth assemblies and during the latter he was. with others, successful in securing the re. moval of the capital from Prescott to Phoenix. In 1889 he was appointed territorial treasurer, which office he filled for two years. During the two Following years he was a member of the territorial board of equalization.
 Prominent in Masonry, Mir. Smith was past deputy grand master of the grand lodge of Arizona He was past com mander of J. ". Owens post No. 5 c. A. R.. and was connected with the california commandery of the Loya, Legion; also was a member of the Society of California Volunteers.
 Few men in Arizona were better known throughout the territory than Hon. John Y. T. Smith, and none more universally respected.