The Republican journal., 1904-03-31
OBITUARY.

Capt Nehemiah Smart died at his home
in Swanville, March 23d, after short i'll
ness. He was born in Swanville, Dec Z,
1886, son of Joseph and Hannah (Staples]
Smart. His grandfather, Joshua, came
| from Newmarket, n. H., to Swanville and
built and operated the first grist and saw
mill in that section. He also built one OF
the first frame houses in the town. Joseph
Smart was a veteran of 1912, and rose to the
rank of major. Nehemiah Smart was the
| youngest except one of eleven children,
only one of whom survives, Mrs. Hannah j
Bachelder of Belfast. He attended the
district schools in Swanville and worked
on his fathers farm until 1862, when he
enlisted in Co. E. of the 10Th Maine In
fantry. He rose steadily by reason of
faithful and efficient service from orderly
sergeant, through the two grades of lieu
tenant, to captain. He received a severe
wound in the right shoulder at the battle
of Spottsylvania, May y, 1864, by which he
was kept from the front four months, but
returned to duty with his arm still in a
sling He was mustered out May 81, 1865.
He soon after bought farm in SearSmont,
on which he lived ten years, seven of which
he served as town treasurer. In 1875 he
sold his farm and engaged in the manufac-
ture of silver and nickel ware in Deering.
He moved the business to Portland and
continued un til 1890, when he sold out and
returned to Swanville. He was town clerk
of Swanville from 1855 to 1860 inclusive,
was State senator from Waldo county in
1871 and represented the Deering class two
years in the State legislature while living
in that town. In 1869 and 10 he was a
member of the State valuation commission.
lie was in the common council of
Portland two years and an alderman one
year He was a L. S. inspector at the
building of the Bar Harbor Breakwater,
and acted in that capacity at other points
on the Maine coast. He was a charter
member of Deering Lodge, F, and A.
NJ, and member of B0sworth Post,
G. A. R., of Portland He was married
in 1859 to Ellen ", daughter of Capt.
James Cunningham of Belfast. Their
one son, James c., died in 1856, aged %
years His second wife. who was Margaret
Cunningham, widow of Edwin Greeley of
Swanville, survives him. His brothers and
sisters, now deceased, were well known in
Maine. They were Col. Reuben S., Joshua,
Albert, Hannah j., Joseph, Mary NJ, Isaac
NJ, Elizabeth and George. Capt. Smart had
always been a staunch Republican, casting
his first presidential vote in 1860 for Abra-
ham Lincoln He was valued member of
Comet Grange of Swanville and was serving
his fourth term as master at the time of his
death He was also Overseer of the Waldo
County Pomona Grange, and had been Su-
perintendent of the Swanville Cnion Sum-
day school since March i, 1900. AS husband,
father, friend, soldier and citizen he was
ever kind, thoughtful. conscientious and
faithful His was noble life. The funeral
services were held at the Union church,
March 26th, Rev David Brackett of Brooks
officiating The G. A. r. services by Free
man McGilvery Post of Searsport were very
impressive. The last piece of music finely
rendered by the Monroe choir, "Rest till
the last Reveille, Rest, Soldier, Rest" seem
ed especially fitting. Generous floral tributes
from the Post, the Grange, the Sunday
school, near friends and the family, bore
their subtle testimony to the esteem in
which the deceased was held by the many
people present.