The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-06-12
Alvin ]. Smith Died Shortly Aft
er 96th Birthday
WAS ILL ONLY THREE DAYS
Was Out for Daily Walk on Thursday,
Taken Sick Friday and Died Last
Night---Was One of Oldest
Men in Vermont.

alvin r. Smith, a long time resident
Of Barre, the oldest man in the city, as
well as in Washington county, one
Of the oldest men in the state, passed
away suddenly at the home Of bis
son, Edwin F. Smith, 10 West street,
last night at II o'clock Mr. Smith
was 96 years old on May 25 He had
been troubled only slightly with
stomach trouble for the past few
months but had retained much Of his
old time vigor and alertness until last
Friday morning, when be was stricken
with pneumonia and was confined 10 the
led The day before he was in his
usual health and left home in the fore
noon for one OF his occasional trips up
the street
He is survived by q sister, Mrs Mary
Newton of Montpelier, who is nearly
So years old and by five children as
follows; Emory L. Smith, the first
mayor Of Barre and a present resident
of the city, Sanford S Smith of Barre,
Mrs Julia Bailey of Royal, Ia, Edwin
+ Smith, with whom he had made his
home lately, and Alvin J Smith of
New Bedford. Mass. Two other chill
dren, Gilbert A. Smith and Miss Amelia
Smith, have been dead for some years
The former died in 1907, while the
death OF the latter occurred twenty
years ago He also leaves a large
number of grandchildren, nieces and
Hephews Surrounding him at the time
of his death were two of his sons and
Other members of the family. Emory
L. Smith was attending the g A r.
eneampment at Bennington and was
unable to reach his fathers. bedside be-
fore death
Mr. Smith was born in Brookfeld
May 25. 1915. the oldest of family Of
nine children, Of whom his sister, Mrs.
Newton is the only survivor His
parents were din and Lydia Waterman
Smith His grandfather came to Yer.
mont from Connecticut and was one of
the earliest settlers of Randolph Mr.
Smith came from long line Of fight
ing ancestors. men who were among the
first to respond to their country's call
fer help His grandfather served in the
Revolution and his father in the war
Of 1912. Four of Mr.. Smiths brothers
left home in the stormy days Of '6l and
only one ever returned from the war
His oldest son. Emory j, Smith, also
served in the Rebellion
MIR Smith was twice married His
first WIFE Susan Lewis Of Cabot. whom
he married in Mortified in 1871, died
In 1854 Six children were born to
them His second marriage took place
IN Williamstown in 1861, when Miss
Ivania NJ Williams became his wife
One child resulted from this union,
Mrs. Smiths death occurred in 1881
During his life, the larger part of
Mr. Smiths time was spent in four
towns in this vicinity, Northfield, Rox-
burx, Williamstown and Barre He was
first and last, a tiller of the soil and
carried on farming operations sue
cessfully in the first three of the towns
named Eighteen years ago he came
to Barre from Mortified and had since
made his home here with his sons. In
religion he was affiliated with the
Methodist church aud in the carrier
days of his life was closely connected
with the work of that body
For the past several years. he had
made it point to quietly observe each
anniversary of his birth May %, the
last which he ever saw, was passed at
The home Of his niece, Mrs, Dan A
Perry, who resides on the Montpelier
road He was with his sister at this
time. Memorial day he took his usual
active interest in the observance of the
occasion and marched with the vet
erans to the Congregational church for
the dinner and exercises which fol-
lowed
The death of "Unele" Alvin Smith,
as he was familiarly known, removes
not only the oldest person in the city
but a figure familiar to young and old
alike. Although few OF the younger
generation were intimately acquainted
With him, all We're accustomed to see
him on the street, taking his usual
walk and chatting with acquaintance
lie possessed a remarkable memory and
was close student of the seasons.