Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-23
DEATH OF EARL SMITH
One of waterbuy's Pioneer Manuiac- tuIers and Prosperous Citizens.

the busy manufacturers of Water bury, died yesterday afternoon at his home, 134 Hillside avenue.
 Mir Smith was born in Oxford on August 8, 1929 He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at the academy at Leicester. Mass. In 1850 he went to Naugatuck where he remained couple of years when he went to New Haven, re- maining there until 1855, when he came to Waterbury and resided here continuously since.
 During all these years he was practically the head of the Water- bury Buckle Go and under his man agement it grew from very mod est frame building to one of the fin- est plants of the kind in the coun- try. He was no slave driver, but he did want fair days work and if a man did that he was willing to give him good wages. He didn't believe in changing hands without cause, be- cause he believed that it was not only unfair to faithful workmen, but an injury to the concern, and as a consequence few factories retained the old hands as they have been kept there and the success that has at tended the business shows that that kind of treatment pays. Until recent ly he knew every man in the factory and could call them by name and if one or more of them happened to be away from work he rarely neglected to inquire the reason why. Where are you going?" he inquired of man who was passing out through the of flee one fine morning. Being inform ed that. he was going home because there was nothing for him to do, he became furious and wanted to know how it was that several hands that had come in later than he were work ing. "Go back!" he exclaimed "and tell the foreman to give you some- thing to do, and if somebody waits let it be one of the new hands" He took an interest in the help and was always pleased to hear of their sue cess and kept them in mind even to the extent of recognizing them on the streets long after they had ceased to be employees of that company.
 In politics MT Smith was an un- compromising republican, but no man could have been more liberal with those who differed from him. Once or twice he talked with the hands about such matters, but then only as friend and with the assur- ance to all that he was not trying te exercise any undue influence over them. On one of these occasions the late Henry c. Griggs was running for representative, and he recommended him to his acquaintances as an old friend of his own and stockholder in the Waterbury Buckle Co. One of them said he couldn't vote for MT Griggs because he was on the wrong ticket, to which Mir Smith replied with a great laugh that he had no fault to find about that, adding that any man who had vote and didn't know what to do with 1t never should have been admitted to the franchise. The same thing might be said of him regarding religious matters. He was sincere Congregationalist, but that made no difference with reference to his treatment of others.
 MT Smith served as alderman from the Second ward for eight years. was a member of the road, sewer and po- lice boards, acted on the committee that prepared the present city char ter and was for years one of the most active men in the community in all things that pertained to thewell being of the community. With F. B. Rice, George w. Beach, R. R. Stannard and e. P. Goss, a committee from the First Congregational church, he se- lected the Rev C. A. Dinsmore, D. D., as successor to Dr Anderson at the First church. It will be noticed that Mir Goss is now the only surviving member of the committee. He was prominent in church matters and an enthusiastic admirer of the Y. M. c. A.
 Mir Smith made several tours through the old world. the first about twenty years ago. His health was poor for some time past, although at the time of his death he was presi- dent of the American Mills Co. the Smith & Griggs Go, the Waterbury Buckle Co. the Marrow Fabric Co of New Haven and a director in the Wa terbury National bank. and member of the board of agents of the Silas Bronson library fund.
 In 1851 he married Ellen Sarah Scott of Naugatuck, who died a couple of years since. He is survived by one son, Archer J. Smith of the American Mills Co, and Mrs Alice Lucille Swift.
 Mir Smith is almost the last of the manufacturers and employers of la bor that were largely instrumental in making Waterbury what 1t is. He and his colleagues gave working men heart to secure land and put homes upon it by the assurance that so long as they remained faithful they should not be forced out on account of re- ligion, politics or family connections. He will be missed. just as others of his kind have been. and what makes those who were close to him weep all the more is the fact that they know he is not leaving many like unto him. self behind.
 The funeral will be held at 2:3O o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
 It made no difference how busy they might have been. the girls. and the men, too. never found any difi- culty in attending divine service on or on other occasions when special was going on.
 Where are all the girls2" he de- manded one morning of Foreman