Connecticut western news., 1912-05-02
DAVID L. SMITH.
tCo1tinued from TIrst Page.)

early years were spent on his fathers farm In summer. and teaching in winter.
 In 1871 he left the farm to accept a position in an extensive numbering oper. ation in Saratoga county, New York, offered him by the late Hon. Theo. s. Gold, of Cornwall. Returning from there he entered the service of Pratt & Foster, who for more than thirty years conducted a large mercantile business in West Cornwall, remaining with them until their failure, when he was ap. pointed one of the trustees for the settle mcnt of their affairs. Immediately upon closing up this matter he organ. lZed and became the head of the firm of smith X Sons, which had done a profit able business i'll general merchandise. with large outside interests in grain and feed, lumber and coal, at West Corn. wall, In the same building, with the same fixtures and office furnishings of their predecessors, for the past thirty. three years, and Mir. Smith was recently heard to remark that the past year wit. messed as large business and as profit. able a,,one as any of the preceding years, which speaks highly for his executive ability, these times not being as pros. porous as the good old days.
 MT. Smith was Democrat in politics. but not radical, and had many warm friends in both parties His first legis. lative experience was as representative from the town of sharon at the age of 25, and in 1899 he was elected State Senator from the old nineteenth district, and was Chairman of the Committee on Claims.
 Since that time he had not engaged actively in state politics. although he had held every office in the gift of his town. and at one time was selectman for twelve years in succession.
 He was also senior director of the First National Bank at New Milford, and Treasurer of the Second Congrega- tional Church of Cornwall, having held the last office for more than thirty years.
 He had recently been actively en- gagged in settling the estates of the late William Fox and Geo. H. Crandall, be. sides that of his wife, Mrs. Mary l.. Smith. whose death occurred only about a year ago, and which has especially taxed his endurance. Mrs. Smith was Mrs. Mary l.. Gregory, only daughter of Icabod 8. Everett of Ellsworth, to whom he was married in 1879, just at the beginning of his business career.
 In the death sof Mr. Smith the oom- munity at large sustains 8 loss which will be impossible to regain for many years to come, if even one is found who can fill his place-a successful business man, a friend to whom to turn for ad- vice on any subject and in any line, always posted, in touch with all matters of town interest and welfare, able at moments notice to talk intelligently on any subject, from some trivial matter of village importance, or town interests, to important deals in the world of finance, heIhAs exemplifed the meaning of a selt-made man, proving what sturdy stock and will to do can accomplish. Not content with simply doing business we'll, but ever demanding of himself as we'll as tn ose about him, the utmost, he had literally given his life for his suc- cess, and the active brain and teeming energy have suooumbed to the enemy, at least score of years too soon, but he said that he was ready to go. and that the Lord had prospered him in every thing he had undertaken.
 The funeral was observed from his late home, Tuesday at o'clock p. m., with. .interment in the family cemetery, known as the Sharon East.Side Ceme- tery, which was founded by an ancestor in 1913, aud in which MT. Smith had been the prime mover for incorporation and Identification. having himself se- cured its charter when in the Senate, and where beautiful shaft of Scotch granite marks his last resting place.
 MT. Smith was ohildless. but leaves two brothers, John B. Smith of Sharon. his partner in business, one Ransom F. Smith, also R merchant in this place two sisters. Mrs. Sarah k. Read and Miss Ellen R. Smith of West Cornwall, and nine nephews and neioes, among whom ara Judge Geo. R. Smith a mer- chant at Cornwall Bridge. and David F. Smith, @ merchant at Hawleyville. |