Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-13

1901.
The boyhood and early manhood OF
Joseph Otis Smith were spent In tne
towns of Weston and Hodgdon. he
was educated in the common schools
of those towns and at HouItoii
Academy, now Kicker Classical IN
stitute. Previous to the outbreak OF
the Civil War, Mr.. Smith taught coun-
try schools in HOultOn, Hodsdon ana
Linneus and among his pupils was Ed
win c. Burleigh, the present Repre-
sentative to Congress from this dis
trict. The warm friendship thus
Toned continued throughout the
succeeding years, and Governor Bur-
leigh's appreciation of it has been eX-
pressed in the following words:
He was a sterling man and my stead
fast and loyal friend from the time hrs'
became acquainted with him. when at
tended his school in Linneus. down to the
time of his death. No loss outside the I'M
mediate circle of my own family could
affect me more deeply.
Joseph Otis Smith entered the
Union service as a private, August IA,
1863, and was on detached service un-
til the following May. when he joined
Co. c, nth Maine Infantry at
Gloucester Point, Va. He was pro-
moted to Corporal, Sept. l, 1864, and
First Sergeant of that company Dec. /,
and received his commission rs End
Lieutenant of Co. f, May 2, 1868.
AS private and mono commissioned
| officer, he participated in all the bat
ties of the regiment during GA and 60,
including Bermuda Hundred, Deep
Bottom, Deep Run and Appomatt OX.
He also was stationed in New York
city during the presidential election of
| 1864. AS Lieutenant, he was assigned
| to duty as Provost Marshal and AS
sistant Superintendent of Freedmen
! for Stafford county. was subsequent
| ly detailed as Assistant Adjutant Gen
| eral for the Sub-District of Essex,
with headquarters at Tappahannock,
| Va. and was mustered out with the
regiment at City Point, Feb. ., 1866.
Although never wounded in battle. he
| was sick with fever and in the field
| hospital during the greater part of
| October, 1864. Like so many other vet
| Grams of several campaigns, Lieutenant
| Smith had his constitution permanently
weakened by the privations of army
| life and the exposure i'm the service of
| his country.
Mr.. Smith had a special regard for
| his army comrades and esteemed it no
small honor to be associated with
| them in their OrganiZa lions. AS often
as possible he attended his regimental
| reunions. aud he was devoted to the
| interests of the Grand Army posts at
| both Augusta and SkoWhegan. He was
Commander of Russell Post, G. A.
| r., Colonel of the A. Lincoln Command,
| u. V. u, and a companion in the
Maine COmmandery of Loyal Legion
| Of America. He was also a Royal
Arch Mason, being a member of
| Somerset Chapter and also of Somer-
| set Lodge.
For a period Of fiva years immediata-
ly following his return from the South.
M. Smith was engaged in trade i'm
HOdgdon. The part ne took in local af-
fairs is shown by the officers he held in
this town prior to 1872, namely: Town
Clerk, experimenting School Com
mittee. Town Treasurer, and Post
master In 1869 and 1870, he was Il
member of the Maine House of Rep
reSentatives from the town of Hodg-
don, and later in 1872 and 1873, he was
| assistant clerk of the House. taking up
his residence in Augusta the latter year.
He continued Il resident of that city
until 1885, except two. years, 1S79-1S8O.
spent in SkOWhcgan. His service as a
State official included two years, 1874
1875, as chief clerk in The Secretary of
States office. four years between 1876
and 1880. as Deputy secretary of state.
four years lSSllSS4 rs Secretary of
State. and nine years lSSJ-1S93. as In
surance Commissioner of Maine. Re
garding this service the Kcnnebec
Journal makes the follow editorial
comment:
1T has been given to few men to serve
our State longer or in more responsible
positions than Mr.. Smith. and both as
an official and as citizen he command
ed the confidence and respect OF all who
came in contact with him. He was man
of clear mind and sound Judgment who's.
view never failed to have weight In party
councils and with those who went to him
for advice. His tendencies were all con-
servative. He reached his decisions only
after calm and careful thought, but hay
ing once made up his mind rs to the right
course to pursue. he adhered with cour-
age and tcnacity TO his convictions. A
citizen of the finest type. his loss will be
felt not merely in the community in
which he resided and whose intrr,s: he.
had decnly At heart. but also in o"cry
section of Maine. for there was no town
within its limits in which ne could not
number his friends. his long and honora-
bic career as an official. q journalist, and
q member Of the Republican State Com
mittee having brought him in personal
contact with representative men from
every part OF the State.
In his official life as in his private
life. Mr.. Smith was faithful to every
trust. In several instances his duty as
an executive officer led him counter to
personal preference. but with him the
trust Of office was too sacred TO permit
any compromise. The decade 1876
1855 was one when notable changes
were required in the cleri, al methods in
the Secretary of States Office and Mr.
Smiths decided preference for the prac-
teal FASTENED many OF these needed in
novatiOnS. This conscientious attention
10 every detail Of even the routine
work was the important clement in his
successful career as public official.
September %. 1873. Nj. Smith pur-
chased the Somerset Reporter from
Kilby & Woodbury.. Ten years before.
hic hrother Col Ze,nro A Smith had