Imperial Valley press., 1913-01-28
END COMES SUDDENLY TO
HON. SYLVESTER c. SMITH

Hon. Sylvester CLARK Smith, lawyer.
journalist. congressman from the
Eighth congressional district, and for
figure in the. development OF Bakers
field. died Sunday morning at his Los
Angeles residence, 5107 Carlton way.
Hollywood. Death was due to com
plication Of ailments. chief among
them an affection Of the heart. Dr.
George Hunter. his physician. was
called. but arrived too late.
Although an illness cXtendin@ over
the past two years had obliged him Ia
leave Bakersfield for the more cqua-
bile climate of Los Angeles, Mr.. Smith
struggled hard against the inroads
upon his health and was actively in
charge nf his affairs until the end.
Saturday morning he read his mail
and mapped ont his course to he pur-
sued on Legislation now before con
gress. Several times a week for months
past his secretary. Lawrence Allen. has
taken his dictati0n, substituting the
mails for the close personal attention
the legislator would have bestowed up
on his work had he been able.
After living here for time two
years ago Smith rallied and in De
cenlbcr. 1911. went to Washington.
NlIflf Nv ltItlfltttt'I tllIti4 lIit IblltiNlllG
May. transacting all business at his
office and managing to pay several Wis
lis 10 the house. Last fall, after com
ing here again, he recovered partly
from z had relapse and took a few
automobile rides about the city Ei,
last official act Of importance, one thai
had long been dear TO him. was To-
secure for Bakersfield an appropriation
of S135,000 for pasiofIiCe.
,F 81. 4
school. friend and adTnirer Of "Unclc
Joe" Cannon.
ITc leaves d widow and two daugh-
ters. Mrs. Z. :. Larsen Jr., who lives
at his Washington residence, 1896 on
tariU place, and Mrs. A. w. Mason of
Bakersfield. There are also brothers
and sisters. as follows: George Dexter
Smith, Norfolk, Neb.; Ethan Smith.
spokane: Edward p Smith of Omaha,
Mrs. Frank Cook and Mrs. George Cook.
both Of Ventura. An aged aunt. past
her eighticth year. is Mrs. Sarah Al
eNander. 236 East Thirlieth street. this
city.
Smith was born on farm in Wayne
township. Henry county, Iowa. August
26, 1888. His father was one of six
brothers prominent in the early devel-
opment Of the township, men of eX-
emplary life and deep religious feeling.
Cinllli NdS tluCdJcu tt HOWE Itcdu-
emy, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and later, at
the age of II, taught school at Win
field. near his home, where he sue
ceSSfully managed cOntumaciOuS pupils
larger and older than himself
He soon came to California attend
ed Sacred Heart College at San Fran
cisco, and then taught school again,
this time at Glenville, Tehachep. and
in Ventura county. May 7, 1882, he
married Maria J. Hart Of Colusa, and
three years later was admitted to the
bar. Since then he has practiced law
at Bakersfield, although inactive in 1t
since his elevation to congress.
lie was president Of the Echo Pub
ilshing Company, proprietor Of the Ba-
kersfleld Morning Echo, which he
founded August 6, 1856. In 1895 he
went to the state senate, where he
stayed for eight years, doing excellent
service in sane, constructive legislation.
Smith is described by his associates
as Of an active, virile disposition, de
termined and tenacious of purpose
When his paper at Bakersfield was
burned out in 1889 he refused to aban-