The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-04-01
DIR. JOHN R. SMITH
HAS PASSED AWAY.
Was One of COunty's Best
Men.
DEATH WAS SUDDEN.
Something of His Life and
Career.
He was an Able Physician and o Fiue
Type OF Patriot aud
Citizen.
DEATH WAS SUDDEN.

A few weeks after the battle of Get.
tysburg an aged pair in this county re-
ceived letter from Confederate cap
tain that their boy, member of his
company, had probably given his life
for his country, fighting in the fore
be found doing his duty and that his
body had not been recovered. Two
years later, after the surrender at APP
pomattox, the father was at neigh
boring railway station when train ar
rived. Out of it, hobbling on crutches
and on "peg leg" was the son, who
had been mourned as dead. The pa
rents were Mr.. and Mrs. Joel A. Smith
of Mt. Gallagher and the son was John
Robert Smith, who had entered the
Confederate Army just as young man.
hood was reached four years before and
had served as private in Capt. Wash
Culbertson's company, McGowan's bri-
gade. 1t was this John Robert Smith,
lovingly known sll over Laurens
| County as DR.. Peg-leg" Smith, who
passed away at his home last Wednes-
day night, at the age Of abont Ga. His
health had been failing a long time
but death was not xpected-although
DR.. Smith had himself said that the
summons would come suddenly.
After the War young Smith went to
the S. @. Medical College, Charleston,
and graduated, having read medi-
cine under DR.. Wait. Since then and
until his death he practiced medicine
at and around Mt. Gallagher. He was
at one time president of the county
medical association, he served in the
House of Representatives, was master
OF Beaverton Masonic Lodge and
grand pursuivant and grand junior and
senior deacon in the masonic grand
lodge of South Carolina.
He is survived by his wife and four
daughters and three sons. The daugh-
ters are Mrs. Joel Daniel of Summer
| Vile, Mrs. Robert Ellis OF Due West
and Mrs. G. A. Fuller of Alma and one
unmarried. Wilmot Smith of Alma Is
the Oldest son and there are two young
lads. Two of his brothers, G. p. Smith
and Fleming Smith live in this city.
| Laurens and South Carolina lose in
DIR. Smith noble gentleman and citi-
zen. He was brave soldier The leg
lost long ago in the first days fighting
at bloody Gettysburg tells that story.
His comrade, b. l.. Henderson, carried
him from the field but the next day he
was captured. The leg had already
been ampuated but in the federal prls,
on second amputation was neces-
sary. He was lying in the federal pri-
son the years that his family and
comrades believed him dead.
He was an excellent physician. Not
only was he a devoted earnest, sacri.
ficing doctor, who ministered to poor
and rich, but he was man of brains
and informatiop,-one of the best ply
sicians that this county has had. The
people of his neighborhood will sorely
feel the loss OF his professional ser.
vices.
In 1876 DR.. Smith and his red-shirt
from the Saluda Hills were heard from
time and time again. They were al
ways on hand when needed. He wa,
one of the men to whom the county ant
state owed big debt.
He was always active In politics
He was impulsive, outspoken ant
plain spoken. His position was alway
known. He was an intense Democrat
party man first last and all tie time
lie was frequently in the minority an,
3 he was always in the minority when h
believed the minority right. In count
conventions he was an infiuentia
leader, talking hard sense, boldly lik
the man that he was. His good hnmo
was unfailing. he was man one lovet
to meet and shake hands with and w
shall all miss him.
From the birth of The ADVERTISE
he was its friend. In the last cam
paign the editor had Kind letter fror
him in which he took issue with an ed
torial position but it was such q lette
from such friend as not every news
paper has.
! His brother masons and kindred an
3 neighbrs buried him at Kings Chape
where his fathers rest, Friday. H
was member of the Methodist church
unpretentious in that as i'm othe
= things and counted it as no thing to ad
+. ver:isc blatantly that he was servan
: Of God.
Truly, Laurenswill miss brave, loya
and true "Pcg-leg John Smith," L
other conditions and a larger field, hi
!. line intellect tmighthave made him NOR
conspicuous in affairs but he has live
8 the life of patriot ard left to his pee
, pie name and memory they they hay
right to value high.
MAKES A CLEAN SWEEP