The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-09-07

RESPONSIBILITIES Of Il journalist and i'll
tended L. have the influence OF the
EEraaIFK count on The right side q.
every questions Early i'll life he
iantd the Free Baptist Church oi
Holgdou. and later became member
If the Bethany Baptist Church of
SkoWhegau o. which he WAS a deacon
al the time OF his death.
Mr.. Smiths interest in politics con
stituted an important part of his lie.
lie was secretary OF the Republican
State Committee from 1876 10 lss0,
when Hon. james G Blaine was its
chairman. and considered it a privi-
leee to have been associated with
that great leader. From 1890 to 1902
he served continuously ON the State
Committee Us the member for Som
erset County. A an organizer of the
party work, he gave the same atten-
ton to detail as he was accustomed
to give in public or private business.
He never felt it safe TO consider a
campaign finished until election day,
and his efforts to maintain substan
tial Republican majority in Somerset
County have been rightly termed ID
defatigable. In the words of one who
had been politically associated with
Mr.. Smith, he was "a stalwart Repub-
lican, and neither he nor the paper he
so ably edited, ever wavered IN the
steadfast support accorded Republican
candidates and policies. He was loyal
man, devoted to the principles he es-
poused, and entirely without sham or
pretence." Even in the heat OF party
contests, Mr.. Smiths fairness did not
permit him to overlook or disregard
the rights and opinions of those of q
different political faith. On this
account, he enjoyed To an exceptional
degree the confidence and respect OF
his fellow citizens who voted the
Democratic ticket The last public
office held by Mr. Smith was that of
Presidential elector at large in 1900.
As the Maine electors met at an
earlier hour than those of other
States, and Mr. Smith was the first TO
vote, he considered that he had the
honor to throw the first vote ever
cast for Theodore Roosevelt as can
didate for a national office.
Mr.. Smith was man of scholarly
tastes, in recognition of which the
honorary degree of Master of Arts
was conferred upon him in 1873 by
Colby College, at the time when his
son received the degree of A. b. from
the same institution. As newspaper
writer, he possessed the qualities of
clearness and painstaking regard TOR
accuracy. In his business relations,
he considered promptness in meeting
every obligation as prime requisite,
and to this may be attributed his sue
cess in at once establishing the RE-
PORTER on business basis and max
ing it a model county newspaper in
many respects. For several years he
had been a director in the Second
National Bank, where his conserva-
tism and wise counsel counted TO the
credit of that institution.
Mr.. Smith was married March Il,
1860 to Cordelia Smith, who died IN
Richmond, Va, November 13, 1868,
leaving a daughter, Eda K, now Mrs.
Edward L. Pegram of Decatur, Ill
Nov. 81, 1868, he was married to
Emma MAYO, who survives him; she
was the daughter of Rev. Leonard
Mayo and Nancy Wilmington Mayo Of
Hodpdon. Their two children are
George Otis Smith, |. S. Geologist,
and Josephine w, now Mrs. William
B. Pierce of Beverly, Mass. His
four grandchildren, one of whom
bears his name, gladdened his later
years.
The death of Joseph o. Smith at
the age of sixty six was the occasion
of great sorrow throughout the town
and state. Beloved by his family and
intimate friends, respected by his po-
litical and business associates, ad :
mired and honored by his fellow
townsmen and large circle of ac-
quaintances, he was indeed a man
whose character must exert a lasting
influence on all who knew him.