The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-09-07
DEATH OF Hon. JOSEPH O. SMITH.

in the NIayaoWer. Cap. smith wa. one Of the
early settler, o. Macnias ard -erved in the War
OF the Revolution. being associated with other
officers Of the IN Itia i'll the defense 4 the settle
ments in Eastern Maine
The grandfather of the subject Of this sketch
Wa DR.. Joseph Otis Smith. physician in general
practice IN Maehias. Addison and other towns in
Eastern Maine. X j. u interest note that the
middle name 0ti- was given bx capt. Stephen
Smith also to another u his children. There was
no connection Win tue Oh, family OF ReYOIu-
tionarl fame other than that they neighbOrs
Of the family en- cape cd. before stephen re
moved Maine BarHaba- { Smith the second
son Of DR.. Smith. Was born in Addison Me.
where ne remained about twenty five years,
after that residing in Weston. HodgdOn and
Linueue His busY lie was devoted 10 farming
and numbering ard his son~ early trained
to assist in the varied duties Of such life.
Although B. G. Smith never held public Office. ne
was a public spirited !nan and most earnest in
his interest in the church and moral reforms, the
cause of temperance being especially near his
heart. Maria Louise, The devoted wife and
mother died in ls64. while three OF her sons were
absent at the front. She Was refined Christian
woman, with calm nature, yet possessing great
decision OF character, qualities which ner son
: also possessed. The father died Al Linneus in
ISL.
The boyhood and early manhood Of Joseph Otis
Smith were spent in the towns Of Weston and
HodgdOn. He was educated in the common
schools of those towns and al Houlton Academy.
now Kicker Classical Institute. Previous TO the
outbreak of the Civil War. Mr. smith taught
country schools in Houltou, Hodgdon and Lin
neus and among his pupils was Edwin c. Bur
leigh, the present Representative to Congress
from this district. The warm friendship thus
formed continued throughout the succeeding
years, and Gov. Burleigh's appreciation of it has
been expressed in the following words:
"Iie was a sterling man AM my s;eadtast and loyal
friend from the time ! ms became acc tainted with
him, when l attended his school IN Linneus down
the time Of his death No less outside tie immediate
circle Of my own family could aaeet me more deeply
Joseph otis Smith entered the Union service
As private, August II, lob3 and was on detached
! service until the following May, when he Joined
Co. G.. 1lth Maine Infantry al Gloucester Point.
Va. He was promoted to Corporal Sept. l, 1864
and First Sergeant OF that company Dec. l, and
received his commission As 2nd. Lieutenant OF
Co. F.. May ,, lse5. rs private and non-com-
missioned officer. he participated in all the bat
ties OF the regiment during "a and IS. including
Bermuda Hundred. Deep Bottom. Deep Run and
Appomattox He also was stationed in New y ork
City during the presidential election OF 1851. A.
Lieutenant, he was assigned TO duty as Provost
Marshall and Assistant superintendent of Freed
men for stafford County. MAS subsequently de
tailed As Assistant Adutant General for the sub
District of Essex. with headquarters at Iappa-
hammock, Va, and mustered out with The
regiment at City Point, Eel. .. l>66 Although
never wounded in battle he Wis sick with fever
and in the field hospital during the greater part
of October, 1864 Like so many other veterans
III several campaigns. Lieutenant smith had his
constitution permanently weakened by t.' pr.-
vati0n- If army life and the exposure in the ser
Vice OF his country.
comrades and esteemed il NJ small honor 'o De-
a~~a.tatrl with them in 5heir organ. a;uu~. As
often .- possible he attended lis ge1.n..ta re-
unions. and he WIS devoted u Ire Interests .t the
Grand Army posts al both Aa-a~.J and ~6ow-
hogan. He Wa Past-eomMaaatr " Russell
Post, O.. a. r., Colonel of the ~ Lincoln Com
mau0. &. y. L.. and conf ai5ou in ,Ee Maine
tomWtul,U Of LOYAL Legion II America. He
WAS ll~. d h Aal Arch Mason. being member of
Somerset Chapter and alse ~ Somerset Lodge.
For a period of five years immediately follow
ing his rctur1 from the south. Mr.. Smith was en-
gagged i'm Jruie In HodHdou The part he took iu
local affairs j~ shown hz the offices he held In
hi, town prior 10 1s72 namely: Town Clerk
experimenting school Committee, Town Treas
urtr. and Postmaster. In ls69 and $50, ne was
a member of the Maine House OF Representa-
tiyo> from the town of Hodgdon, and later. In
l>72 and l~73. he the assistant clerk of the
House. taking up his residence in Augu~ta the
latter year. He continued a resident ~ tina. city
until lo~5. except two years, 1s74-l,o. spent in
Sk0WhcEau. His service a State official In-
cluded TWO Years, ISL 1875, chief clerk i'm the
Secretary of States office, four years between
ls7t and $50, as Deputy Secretary OF State, four
years, ISS1-lSS4 a. Secretary OF state. and nine
years, 1SN5-1s93 as Insurance Commissioner OF
Maine. Regarding this service tine kenuebec
Journal makes the following editorial comment.
1t has been given few men = satYs aar STATE Longer
In responsible positions than Mr. Smith, am. both
or.cal and 5jtisea be e5pman lea ..c erce
Continued on tortl page.