The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-02-07
THE OBSERVATORY.

Some of Our citizens will remember
that several times in the last six years
Rev. w. S. Hawkes. has introduced
to them his old army chum, DR..
Franklin L. Smell of Kolamo, Mich
igan. l met the gentleman several
times in the way of business and be-
came much interested in him, and have
asked Mr.. Hawkes. to tell me more
about him; for he passed from this
earth on Sunday, the 10th of January;
Mr.. Hawkes. feels his death keenly,
as they were very much attached to
each other, having slept under the
same blaket in the army. DR.. Smell
was from a northern Vermont family,
four brothers of which served in the
army, and afterwards all of them
studied and three became doctors and
settled near each other in central
Michigan, in and near Charlotte; while
the other brother became lawyer;
it illustrates how so many of the
northern army, even of the rank and
file, for three of them were privates,
had no love for soldering but had the
instincts of the peaceful citizen. As
soon as out of the army. and they had
earned enough, they all went to school
and adopted professional life. Mr..
Hawkes. friend, DR.. Smell, served two
separate terms in the army, and while
with Butter in Louisiana, from drink
ing Mississippi river water contracted
disease which never left him, and has
now caused his death; and this again
shows how many who came out of the
army, have lived on for fifty years,
yet have suffered all the while; what
they experienced in the field was only
a small part of the price they paid for
their patriotism. Their exposures and
sufferings gave us the vast blessings
and opportunities, which we, as Am
erican citizens, enjoy today. DR..
Smell had wide country practice, and
was successful physician, for one
hing having never lost a case of
pneumonia, in all his over 4O-years'
Practice. He was delighted with the
IDAHO climate, bought a part of Mr..
Hawkes. homestead on Canyon Hill.
md planned to come here for a home.
and declared this his legal residence.
and was only waiting to close up his
r. ,...siness before coming. He was tall.
slim, courtly and Uell-read. one whom
t was delight to meet even for the
Driefest time; one remarkable fact
that Mr.. Hawkes. tells that may we'll
be remembered by the youth is, that
all through their army life and else
where he was clean of life and speech,
in the freedmen of armv life no word
passing his lips lady might not hear.
Dr. SMELLS story of the sea-trip from
New. York to the Gulf of Mexico in
the winter in an unseaworthy boat.
the awful storm off the Hatteras coast.
the straining and leaking vessel, the
lie on Ship Island, near the mouth of
the Mississippi, in New Orleans, the
of Baton Rouge and Port Hud- |
son, wefe graphic. From the con-
1ersations l have had with some of
our old soldiers l know that among
hem are memories of events in which |
hey participated which if written
would make fascinating book. as wit
less that of Capt. Wells, which we
commended in these columns a few
months ago; many a private soldier
las a whole volume stored in his
memory if he would tell it or write it.
What an experience was that of our
Dr.. Maxey, who was with Sherman
al! MS bloody battles and on his
March to the Sea. and who for months |
commanded his company, though only
sergeant, his superiors being dead
,r in prison.
was in one of our churches last
sunday and heard the notice given
hat all the womens' missionary So
'ieties of the town were to hold a
ONT meeting this week. Why not?I
t not convert made by Baptist as
.aluable as one made by a Methodist
)ne OF the great effects of the last
hundred years of missionary work in
oreign lands has been to draw the
,arious denominations together: thew
imply could not emphize their dif.
eerences among native converts. and
hey could not but be drawn close to-
either away from home and friends.
nd their spirit of fellowship has at,
ected the home land. The Young
copies societies hold joint gather,
ngs; frequently. and may the good
FORK go on; we outsiders cannot see
ne need of so many separate congre-
atoms.