The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-07-15
John E. Smith Passed Away
Last Night, Aged Sc
HAD BEEN ILL LONG TIME
Came to Barre as Poor Boy and Worked
His Way Until He Became Pres
ident Of E. L. Smith & Co, One
OF Barre's Big Firms.

granite dealers Of Barre, president and
treasurer Of f. /. Smith 4 Co, treasurer
Of the Wells, Lamson company and
prominent in the Barre Quarry Owners
association, as he formerly was In the
Barre Granite Manufacturers associa'
tion, passed away at ll:4O last night at
bis residence, l3 East street, after long
Illness. He had not been in good health
for several years and two years ago,
when first taken seriously III, be relin-
quished most Of the active duties con-
nected with his business Since taen he
has been gradually failing, the cause Of
decline being abscess Of the lung, fol.
lowing indolent ulcer Of the stomach and
resulting infection Of the lungs Of two
years duration
The funeral will be held from the resi-
dence Sunday afternoon at o'clock, and
Il * expected that Rev 7. A. Poole,
former pastor Of the Congregational
church. viii ofiiciate, assisted by Rev. J.
w. Barnett. Interment will be in the
family lot in Elmwood cemetery, and
the Blue lodge service will be used there,
with the commandery as escort
In the death Of Mr.. Smith, Barre loses
one Of its best citizens. as well as one
Of the most progressive His career IS
that Of poor boy forcing his way to the
front through perseverance, industry
and common sense. When ne came %
Barre thirty years ago, his capital M
life consisted chiefly Of his knowledge OF
the granite cutting industry, and with
that as a beginning he worked his way
10 the head of one Of the best known
and largest granite concerns Of the conn
try, controlling large part q the great
deposit on Milestone hill in Barre.
lie was born in Bury p. O., The eldest
81 eleven children of Angus and Eliza.
beth McTver SMITH, whose ancestry bad
come to the American continent from
Scotland. The date of his birth WAS
November 81, 1883 Upon him as the
oldest child Of large family deyolyed
considerable responsibility. and through
Dat hls life he has heen The leaaeE and
guide of the family lie came to Yer
mont IN 1919 starting work On tHe I. &
o. railroad aud remaining there for some
months, when he went to numbering IN
Groton, on the land of which be is now
part owner.
Wishing to learn a trade, he went %
st. Johnsbufy in 1877 and began cutting
granite under Robert Laird From there
he went to Montpelier, working under
Sumner Kimhall In 1850 be came to
Barre, entering the employ or Smith 4
Wells. II was not long before his indus
try asserted itself, and "a 1888 he was
n business fer himself, having formed
a partHership with Emery l. Smith, Mar
tha smith and Ed. Smith, under the
name of H. Il Smith & Co In 1886 that
firm sold to Forsyth & Ingram, and
Jonn Z. Smith started in business single
handed in a plant just back Of w. A..
Boyce's residence on North Main street.
That business developed rapidly, and
On October /. 1887, the present firm of
e. 4. smith 4 Co. was formed. Donald
smith younger brother, entering the
firm. and they together, buying a half
interest IN H t. Smiths quarry business,
and the two branches being consolidated,
with JoIn E. Smith acting as superin-
tendeut. The firm had az many as 100
men at their plant on Burnnam's mead
ow which ia those days was one Of the
best hereabouts.
In 1895. Emery L. Smith retired from
the business. his interest being pur-
chased by the two brothers. John f. and
Donald. The former acted as manager
for the concern and superintended the
cutting plant. Two years ago. on &C.
count Of the poor health Of the senior
member, the company commenced TO
close out its manufacturing interests,
and one year ago the plant WAS pur-
chased by the Smith Bros Granite com,
pany, which, though Of the same name,
Il made up Of members Of another fam
ily. From that time the firm Of +. l..
Smith & Co. dealt in the quawying end
of the business, employing a large mum
Der OF men and with the business stead
ilv growing The firm has been among
the most progressive in Barre, constantly
adding to It's equipment and being the
first at the quarries to use compressed
air IN driving drills and working quarry
machinery.
Besides being president and treasurer
Of this company, Jonn =. Smith was
treasurer of the Wells, Lamson company
was part owner Of the Groton rond Lum
her company and was interested IN
Che smith Marble and Construc-
tion company Of Montreal. He was
formerly director Of the Ma
tional bank Of Barre. He Formerly served
ON the business committee Of the Con-
ereaational church, with which religious
denomination he was associated as a
member lie was a member Of the first
board al license commissioners in Barre.
IN club and fraternal life he was prom
inent. being member or the Nincitia
and Canadian clubs of this city, the St..
Bernard club of Montreal and the Lake
Mansfield club Of Stowe. Mr. Smith was
a 32d degree Mason, having membership
In the following orders: Granite lodge,
No. 35, f and A. NJ; Granite chapter,
No. 20. r. A. M; Montpelier council, No.
4. r. and S. NJ; St Aldemar command
cry, No. III, Knights Templari Gamaliel
Washburn lodge Of Perfection, four
teenth degree, A. A. S. r.; Mount Cal
vary council, Princes Of Jerusalem six
teenth degree, A. A. S. r.. Delta chapter
Rose croix. eighteenth degree, A. A. s..
r.; and Vermont consistory, s. Z. Il. y.
thirty degree
Mr.. Smith always held a warm place
In his heart for Barre, and he was anx
ious to see the community progress; and
be himself contributed largely toward
that progress. He was generous toward
the projects for the upbuilding Of the
city, and he gave freely. His integrity