Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-19
Platt A. Smith Brought First
Printing Press Into County
From Muscatine
OLD GREEN MOUNTAIN MAN
Settled in Vienna Township in 1855,
and Lived in County Until 1893,
Whom He Moved to Washington -
Death Due to Old Ase-!Wa. Deacon
of Baptist Church Hero Is Years.

|. For about forty years there were but
few farmers in Marshall county whose
names were better known than that OF
Platt A. Smith. A pioneer who braved
the dangers of this new country in the
early sos, lost his farm and homestead
while serving his country during the
civil war, and returned to make an
other. is dead at Dunlap, Wash, q
suburb OF Seattle, where Mr.. Smith
moved in 1893.
Mr.. Smith came to Vienna town
ship in 1856 from Michigan. Later
he lived at Green Mountain, and few
men were more prominent in the af-
fairs OF their communities than ne
Mr.. Smith brought to Marshall county
the frst printing press ever set up In
the county. He hauled the press from
Muscatine, where he bought it for the
Tripps. of Albion, then known as La
fayette.
Sprung From Sturdy Stock.
Platt A. Smith sprung from sturdy
York state stock, and was porn M
Franklin, Delaware county, IN 1919
In 1S4s, Just sixty years ago, on June
IS, he married Louisa Percy Carpenter
in Syracuse N. Y.
In 1851 Mr.. and Mrs. Smith came
west and settled in Michigan, st. Jo-
seph county. There Mr.. Smith began
the breaking Of the virgin soil IN the
famous coax openings" He thought
he would do better farther west, ana
in 1855 again yielded to the pioneer
spirit, with which he was imbued, ana
came to Iowa. He settled in Vienna
township, where he started to improve
a second farm. He had only got fairly
started when the ominous rumblngs OF
the civil war began to break over the
nation. He enlisted at the outbreak
Of the struggle, in Company 3, sec
ond Iowa cavalry. He served three
years, and returned home to find his
farm sold. Nothing daunted he bought
another. this time at Green Mountain,
and started to cultivate the third piece
Of land he had owned in the west.
Was Prominent Baptist.
Mr.. Smith was member OF the
Baptist denomination. and was af1h-
lated with the church in this city IN
an early day. He was deacon IN the
church here for twenty-five years, and
his wife and five children were also
members.
Mr.. Smith was man Of a quiet ana
undemonstrative nature, and unwilling
to push himself forward to those places
Of trust and honor that might nave
been his for the asking. He was, how
ever, repeatedly called to various posi-
tions of responsibility in his neighbor-
hood, which he always strove to serve
In an honest and conscientious honor.
His friends said Of him that he never
Intentionally wronged any man.
Was Dunlap Postmaster.
Upon moving to Dunlap, the Seattle
suburb, In 1893, Mr.. Smith engaged IN
the mercantile business for ten years.
He was made postmaster, held the OF
Ace for fourteen years, or from the
time the office was established until ne
died. 1t was principally due to the Ia
bors of Mr.. and Mrs. Smith that
Baptist church was founded at Dunlap,
and is now in fiourishing condition.
Death After Short illness.
Mr.. Smiths death resulted after
comparatively brief illness. He had
been ailing for two weeks by reason OF
heart disease. induced by his advanced
years. He was up and about the house
only few hours before his death. and
gave some instructions about the man
agement Of the postoffice.
Mr.. Smith Is survived by his VIE
and four children, Mrs. Harry l..
Thompson, Of Green Mountain; Rev.
Richmond A. Smith. Of Central City;
Mrs. s. r. Wagner, of Seattle, Wash;
and wallace p. Smith, of Missoula'
Mont. Mr.. Smiths oldest daughter
Mrs. Emma E. Blodgett. died In 1850
and her three daughters have MADE
their home with their grandparents
ever since.
The funeral services were conducted
by Rev. p. A. Klein, pastor OF the
Baptist church of Dunlap, and inter-
ment followed in the Mount pleasant
GENE tery, under the direction OF John
F. Miller post, G. A. r.