Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-05-07

A Leading Citizen and Pioneer o.
Brysn-A Man OF Character
and Universally
Esteemed.

yesterday morning, Capt. Geo. w.
Smith died suddenly at his home
in this city yesterday at 6:l0 a. 10.
Capt. Smith had been in failing
health for some time and was re-
Gently very seriously i'll. He had.
however, recuperated In q measure,
and lately had been up and attend
ing to business, and apparently
much stronger. His death there.
fore came as a severe shock to the
family and the community and has
occasioned most profound sorrow.
His last evening, spent at home
with his family and few friends,
was one Of in which there was no
tinge Of sadness, no cloud Of sor-
row until the shadow Of the death
angels wing fell across the thresh-
hold. Music and social conversa-
ton engaged the company, and late
in the evening Miss Hettie Smith,
his youngest daughter, sang with
much sweetness and tenderness a
beautiful number, "Dry Those
Tears" Captain Smith seemed to
be much affected and remarked
with feeling, 'Isn' I that a beauti-
ful song" Soon after he walked
out Of the room into the yard, the
fsmily thinking he had gone up
stairs. There he was stricken
and fell. When found was un-
conscious and soon expired.
The most interesting and impor-
tant personages of any town are
those who havewitnessed it, growth
from infancy and contributed to
its prosperity. They are identif-
ed with the place inseparably, and
history is incomplete without their
names. These facts are notably
apparent in the present instance,
when We consider the life Of Capt.
Geo. W. Smith in its relation TO
Bryan.
Capt. Smith was born in Lees
burg, London county, Va, Feb. %,
1910, where his boy hood was spent
in school and clerking. At the
beginning of the war he enlisted in
the Confederate artillery service
and was afterwards with Col. John
5. Mosby. At the time Of the sur
render he was in prison at Fort
Mass. and was not releas-
ed until two months later. He
then returned to Virginia, remain.
ing a year, after which he came to
Texas, in 1867, and stopped at
then the terminus of the
II. at. c. railroad. About a year
ater he came with the road TO Bry.
IN and has lived here continuously
ever since, engaged part of the
lime in merchandising and the re.
in buying cotton. He has
been engaged regularly in the cot
on business since 1880, and was
ienior member Of the firm Of Geo.
W. Smith Il Co..
Captain Smith has probably
bought more cotton than any man
n Bryan, or than any, for that
natter, who ever lived here, and
40 man knew more about the staple
han be. He has always been a
riend to the producer and in favor
# maintaining high prices as much
IS possible.
He was a man Of great energy,
Enterprise and perseverance, and
'ichly deserved the measure Of
uccess he has attained. He has :
.lways been among the foremost in .
movements having for their object
he welfare and advancement Of {
he city, and by his energy and
bility acquired valuable property
Iere and in the country which all :
he more closely identified his in
erests with the place.
Capt. Smith was a gentleman in
be truest, fullest sense ofthe word 3
-one in whom the virtues Of kind
ess, courtesy and hospitality we're I
Inherent. He was a member and d