Arizona republican., 1903-07-16
JOHN Y. T. SMITH DEAD
A Pioneer Whose Life Was Devoted
 To Upbuilding ofArizona.

Dr. R. E. Light5urne of this city re- ceived telegram yesterday from Der
 tram Smith, in Los Angeles, saying that his father John Y. T. Smith, died yesterday morning. The telegram also said the family, which went to Los
 Angeles few weeks ago hoping that Mir. Smiths health might be benefited, would return home on Sunday morn ing's train, accompanying the body. | and asked that arrangements be made | for the funeral for Sunday afternoon. The funeral will very likely be held
 under the auspices of the Masonic or der and the G. A. R., as MT. Smith stood high in the councils of both or | ganiZations. George Buxton of Bisbce, son-in-law of the dead man, it is ex- pected will arrive here Friday morning.
 MT. Smith was well advanced in years. having retired from active busi- ness life two or three years ago. For
 some time his health has not been
 good, an affection of the heart seeming
 to be his functional disorder. For sew | eral months past he has suffered oc-
 casional sinking spells when his condi-
 tion would become critical and oEcc
 or twice his death was hourly expect
 ed. But he regaiEed a portion of his
 strength and the family went to Los
 Angeles in the hope of prolonging his days. a hope which was realized in but slight measure.
 John Y. T. Smith was one of the
 earliest pioneers of Arizona and be- came a leading citizen in commercial
 enterprises, in the civil government of
 the territory and in political councils.
 There are few men more widely known
 in Arizona and none who were more
 universally respected in life or whose
 memory will be longer cherished. He
 was a member of an old family of New
 York state and was born near Buffalo
 September Is. 1881. Adventurous even
 in youth, at the age of 10 years he be- came a cabin boy on a river boat and
 for three years travelled up and down
 the Mississippi. Missouri and Ohio riv-
 CTS. In 1s45 he left the river and for
 eight years pursued farm work in Ma
 Coupin county, III.
 In the spring of 1853 he started for
 California with a company oi young
 men who drove herd of 800 cattle across the plains from St. Joseph up
 the Platte river and via Shasta. reach
 Ing their destination after journey of six months. For a few years he en- , gagged in mining and prospecting, and / in 1858 went to British Columbia at the time of the Fraser river discovery. He
 returned to California and resumed mining there the next year.
 At the beginning of the Civil war Mir Smith enlisted in Company H. Fourth !. California infantry, and with his regi- ment proceeded to Yuma, Ariz.. where 7 he was stationed for a year, going from there to the barracks at Camp Latham,
 near Los Angeles. In 1864 he was sta toned at San Luis Obispo and later at . Dunn barracks. near San Pedro. Dur ing this service he was promoted to second and later to first lieutenant of t his company. In the fall of 1865 he
 started for Arizona with the Four z teenth regiment of United States in- Il fantry. and continued for two years at
 Fort McDowell after which he took
 charge of the government farm. Two years later he was made post trader a
 position he retained for five years
 Meantime. about 1872, he opened 2 store in Phoenix, his goods coming ur f the gulf of California and from Yuma - by wagon. Tn 1876 he built the second " flour mill in the valley and operated il 2 till 1887. when he built the mill sold ir Q 1899 to and now being run by tn, . Phoenix Flouring Mills Co., conducted !, by De Mund brothers.
 s MT. Smith was always impressed .t with the need of a good irrigating Sys- o tenn in this valley, and has laboret
 earnestly to that end. He was in tn,
 valley when the first canal was dug ant
 before tEere was a house in Phoenix
 having been closely identified with tn, n progress of the city ever since ana a
 the time of his death owning a fin,
 residence property on East Adam " street He was married in Prescott {, = Miss Ellen E. Shaver. who in 1ST n, taught the first school in Phoenix " Their children are Mrs. George Buxton r Bertram Smith and Miss Mary E . Smith.
 10 Politically, MT. Smith was always ,t staunch republican. and in days whe ,s republicans were almost a curiosity | IF these parts. He served in the Phoeni m city council in the early days. and i mn 1868 was elected to the territorial legis . lature. serving in the session of 1S6!
 He was elected again in 1886 from thi
 county and in 1888 was reelected, serv
 ing in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth as
 semblies. During the latter he was in ,r huential in the enterprise of movin ,s the capital from Prescott to Phoeni1 5 He was also speaker of the Fifteent of assembly. In 1889 he was appointe territorial treasurer, a position he hel ,d for two years. and subsequently, he wa m member of the territorial board ( ot equalization.
 no Prominent in Masonry. MT. Shit IT. was past deputy grand master of tn " grand lodge of Arizona. and as mem w Der of the G. A. R. was a past con pd mander of J. w. Owens post of tn rr city. He was also connected with tn ld California commandery of the Loy; ,lr Legion and was a member of the Sc as ciety of California Volunteers.