The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-06-05

they moved to Hopeville, Mr.. Mint
oyne was ordained deacon. In 1853
they moved to Eddyville and helped
organize the Baptist church there. On
July 10, 1903, they came to Oskaloosa.
A. p. Mintoyne departed this life at
OAkaloosa on November Ia, 1904, and
three of the children have also Joined
the happy throng.
Funeral Thursday morning at $3.50
o'clock. from the residence. Inter
ment made at Eddyville.
SMITH--The funeral of the late
John II. Smith was held Friday, May
80, 1913, at the residence of his son,
George Smith, SIS NJ avenue west,
with Rev. J. M. McClelland in charge,
assisted by Rev. |. o. Kemble and
Rev. j. A. Spyker Notwithstanding
the rain of the early morning and at
the hour of assembling, the house was
filled by friends in attendance. Two
large set pillows and many other flor
al tributes were received from SYM
pathizing friends. Rev. Kemble fol-
lowed Rev. McClelland with history
of his personal acquaintance with the
deceased, commencing 4S years ago
when in his first year in the minis
try at Pella. He met Brother Smith,
the BENEFITS, Ryans, Hoovers, and
other pioneers of Black Oak town
ship for services in the school house
of that neighborhood. Music was
furnished for the services by Miss
Letha Peckham and Miss Ula Mitch
ell, with Miss Wayne Hockett as ac.
companist. Pail bearers were Eph
Smith, Ira Smith, Geo W. Smith, r.
B. ]. Ryan, Frank Porter and Robt.
Bennett
J. H. Smith was born in Elsass CAL
sace-Lorraine), Germany, Jan. %,
1926, and departed this life, after a
short illness of four days, at IL mid.
night of May q, 1918, at the home of
his son, Geo. w. Smith, S15 NJ avenue
west, at the ripe old age of 81 years,
4 months and days. When but two
years old his parents brought him
with them to the United States of
America, and located at Canton, o.
After a few years residence there
they removed to Elkhart Co., Indi.
ana, where Bro Smith remained UNI
til 1S49, at which time he came to
Iowa, which was the far West" OF
those days. 1t will give us of a
younger generation a characteristic
glimpse of pioneer conditions and lack
of conveniences for travel and will re-
veal to us the sturdy character of
this man of indomitable will and tire
less energy, to recall, that before set
Ting in Iowa, he made two trips from
Northern Indiana to Iowa and back
on foot. . ".t@. 2. 49, ta
On reaching this new country; he
settled in Black Oak township, Ma
haska County, bringing with him from
Indiana his young wife Their first
place OF shelter was the wagon bed
with its prairie-schooner covering.
In this they lived while the young
husband chopped and hauled the logs
out OF which was constructed the log
cabin-their first permanent home. In
that vicinity Mr.. Smith lived and
wrought for full half century com
ing to Oskaloosa about twelve years
ago, making his home with his son
Ephraim about a year and half, and
the balance of this period with his
son, Geo. Win all residence of
GO years in Mahaska county, q pio-
neer indeed, whose interest in the
progress and development of the coun-
ty never slackened. Up to the time
of his death, he had in all probable
ity cast his ballot at more elections
than any other man then living in the
county.
For a number of years during mid.
die life, his health was in precarious
nj
on the advice of his physician he be-
gan a series of ocean voyages by
which he was completely cured. He
crossed the ocean in all thirteen times
and visited while on the other side
many of the important European cen
ters and places of historical interest.
This afforded him fund of valuable
information which was always of in
terest to the stranger and friend.
October 5, 1S4S, the year before
they came to Iowa, John II. Smith
and Miss Polly Bennett were united
in marriage. Fifty years afterward,
October S, 1898, they celebrated their
golden wedding at Leighton, Iowa. A
little more than two years later, on
Nov. 4, 1900, his companion of many
years passed to her reward -l-
To Mr.. and Mrs. Smith were born
six children, one of whom, Eleanor
Jane, departed this life July %, 1901.
Five children remain, as follows:
Ephraim, OF Oskaloosa; Ira, of Mon
roe; Izora Ryan, of Oskaloosa; Geo.
W., of Oskaloosa, and Florence Porter
of Lenox, Iowa. Twenty-six grand
children. seventeen great-grandchil.
dren, one brother, Geo. H. Smith OF
South Bend, Indiana, and one sister,
Margaret Hoover of Niles, Mich, are
left to mourn their loss.
Bro. Smith was a man of deep re-
ligious convictions and strict religious
principles. He was lifelong men,
Der OF the Methodist Episcopal
church, loyal TO its doctrines and de-
voted to its welfare. The period of
his church activity covered many
years, in all OF which he rendered
valuable service to the church and
the religious life of tine community.
A few years ago he was stricken with
partial blindness. Ill health followed
which kept him at home rather close
~, and so deprived him of the priyi-
leges of the church and its public SER
vices. The outward man" was grad
ually failing, but the inward man"
was being constantly renewed. Faith
er Smith was ripening for the world
celestial, and naturally his mind was
upon the home where suffering and