Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-09-02
Ws||-known Skowhegan
Citizen Died on Friday.
Editor, Publisher and Well
known in Political Circles.
Had Been III for Some Time...FuneraI
Probably Sunday Afternoon.

Skowhegan, Me-. Sept. 1.-(SpeciaD.
Hon. Joseph Otis Smith, editor and
publisher. loyal citizen, and one of the
tCst and most favorabIy known men in
Somerset county, died at his late home
on Water street. Friday morning.
He had been troubled with rheuma-
tsm for the past year, and during that
time his health was in delicate state;
but his pei severance kept him about
his duties until two months ago when
he was compelled TO take his bed. For
the last few weeks it has been thought
at times that his condition was i'm
Iroving and that he would recover. The
end came unexpectedly at about
o'clock, yesterday morning, as shock
to both relatives and friends.
Mr. Smith was born, April "a, 1885
i'm Weston. AroCstOOk county, Maine,
and was the son Of Barnabas c. and
Maria /. Smith. He was a direct des-
cendant, on his fathers side, of Rev.
John Smith who care from England tc
America and settled at Barnstablc.
Mass. in 1880.
The subject of this sketch received
his education at Houlton Academy.
For several years thereafter. he divid-
ID his time between teaching and
farming. In 1868 he enlisted in the
Union Army. and in April 1865. was
commissioned lieutenant i'll the 18th
Maina Regiment, in which capacity he
served his country until mustered out
IN 1865 For the next five or six years
he was engaged in trade. During the
last 27 years he had been interested
IN the printing and publishing busl-
ness. and was at the time OF his deat?
the editor of tie Somerset Reporter
the principal newspaper of the county
owned and published by Mr. Smith and
Elmer f. McNeeley.
In olitics he was always a Staunch
Republican, and in religion he was of
tho Baptist faith.
II were hard to find a more patriotic
and public spirited citizen, one of high
r ideals or more lofty purposes as re-
CARDS the public welfare.
His zeal has hetn rewarded many
times by his State. county, and town,
md by his political party. and he has
been selected to fill many public Off
CcS.
He WAS clerk of tho Republican state
Committee for five years when James
g. Blaine was chairman; and served
- consecutive years as the member
from Somerset county on the Republi-
can state Committee. He was Il mem
her of tn" state Legislature in the
House of Representatives in 1869 and
lNi0. assistant clerk of the House in
1872 and 1873: deputy secretary of
State from 1876 to 1850: secretary Of
State rom 1881 to 1854 inclusive; ard
insurance commissioner of Marie from:
1855 10 1894. While citizen of the
town Of lIodgdon. prior to 1872. he
reid several positions, among which
were tcwn clerk. superintendent of the
school committee, town treasurer, an:
loStn ISter.
In 1923. the honorary degree of Mas
Yer Of Arts was conferred OH him by
colby college
lie was tWic" married first to Cor
Heha Smith who died in 1865, one
"auSnt,r surviving. The second mar
nag" was in 1858 to Emma Mayo of
Deer Isle Two children were born OF
'his marriage. Besides the widow. his
'hrce children. George Otis Smith oc
Washington. d. c., Mrs. w. Il. Pierce
~ beverley. Bass. and Mrs. E. l..
f'Gram of Decatur. ILL.,. survive.
me funeral will probably be held.
SUNDAY afternoon although it has not
IS Yet been fully decided.