The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-01-20
C. EMORY SMITH IS
DEAD OF HEART
DISEASE
Ex-Postmaster General and
Minister to Russia
DEATH CAME SUDDENLY
Was Well Known Newspaper Mar
and Noted Figure Among
American Diplomats.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan 20.-Charles
Emory Smith, editor of the Press. for
mer minister TO Russia and postmaster
general. died suddenly ut his home in
this city yesterday, aged sixty-iive
years. Death was caused by heart
trouble.
For about month Mr.. Smith had
been in poor health, but his condition
had not been regarded as serious. Fol-
lowing a dinner in New York on Nov.
30 he suffered an acute attack of indl-
gestiOn, which, according to his physi-
clan, gave Indication of heart trouble.
Shortly before Christmas he attended
dinner of the New England society
In this city, though advised by his ply
stefan not TO do so. He was toastmas-
ter at the banquet and laughingly re-
f@red to his illness and his embar-
nsSment at finding himself seated al
most opposite to his physician at the
affair.
Before he had recovered from the eff
fects of his first attack Mr.. Smith con-
tracted the grip. which aggravated his
heart trouble One week ago he was
ordered to Atlantic City to recuperate.
He was accompanied by Mrs. Smith.
and when he returned to his home
here on Saturday night he appeared to
be bright and cheerful. except that he
felt somewhat fatigucd by his journey.
Mrs. Smith went to church in the
morning, and on her return to the
house Mr.. Smith was found dead lying
across the bed. He was partly clothed
and had apparently been stricken while
dressing and had thrown himself on
the bed.
Mr.. Smith was born in Mansfield,
Conn, on Feb. II, 1872. He received
his early education at Albany IN. "
academy and subsequently graduated
from Union college. During the period
when troops were being organized at
Albany in 1861 Mr.. Smith was APP
pointed military secretary by General
John Il. Rathbone. Later he was made
judge advocate general, with the rank
of general Subsequently he was at
tached to the office Of adjutant general
of the state of New York until Horatio
Seymour became governor. He resign
ed and for time was teacher in the
Albany academy, place which he lief;
to accept an editorial position on the
Albany Express. In 1870 Mr.. Smith
went to the Albany Journal, of which
publication he later became editor In
chief. In 1880 he was given the post
his services rendered TO various admin.
istrations through his editorial aud po-
litical labors he was appointed minis
ter to Russia in 1890.
In the spring of 1898 he was given
the portfolio of postmaster general in
the cabinet of President Mckinley, a
post which he held through the period
of the Spanish-American war and
through part of President Roosevelts
| administration.
| The practical establishment Of rural
free delivery and the creation of mail
service in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines marked his tenure of Office
as postmaster general.
Mr.. Smith was twice married, his
second wife being Miss Henrietta Mich
OILS of New York, whom he married al
the home of her mother, Mrs. Washing
ton Romaine Nichols, at Elberon, n. j..
on Oct. last Besides the widow he
is survived by a brother and sister