Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-02
CHARLES SMYTH
IS DEAD At Is
Pioneer Leather Manufacture
er's Funeral Will Be Held
From the Cathedral.

Funeral services for Charles Smyth.
head of the Charles Smyth Company,
| a pioneer leather manufacturer of
] this city and one of the oldest men,
bers of st. Patrick's Cathedral parish,
will be held tomorrow morning from
his home at 4S2 Central avenue. A
solemn high mass of requiem will be
offered at the cathedral. Interment
will be in the Cemetery of the Holy
Sepulehre.
Mr.. Smyth died at 7:s0 o'clock Sat-
! urday night. His family was at his
bedside. On December 81 he suffered
an attack of apoplexy, followed by
| partial paralysis. Since that time he
| has been confined to his bed.
Mr.. Smyth was about seventy-f1ve
years old. He was born in the city of
| Drogheda, in Ireland When fifteen
years old he left his fathers linen
business at Cullen, Ireland, and came
| to this country on sailing vessel.
The trip across took thirty-two days.
After reaching New York, Mr..
Smyth came to Newark and obtained
work In the old Lyons & Son boiler
works and foundry. He worked there
only a short time. Later he learned
the leather tanning business in the
old Nichols Brothers tannery on
South Market street.
Mr. Smyth worked there until 1861,
when his brother, Hugh Smyth. came
to this country. The brothers then
started a small leather manufacture
ing plant of their own at $50 Central
avenue, the site OF the present large
tannery.
Shortly after Mr.. Smyth went into
partnership with his brother Hugh he
married Miss Mary Hutchinson,
daughter of the late Mr.. and Mrs.
Hugh Hutchinson, of Harrison. Mr..
Smyth and his brother only remained
In business as partners for few
years. Then, by mutual agreement,
they took up separate branches of
the business. Hugh Smyth estab-
lished a patent leather tannery at 210
Central avenue and Charles stayed
at $50 Central avenue.
During the Civil War a large duan-
tity of the leather used for shoes for
the soldiers and harness leather was
manufactured at the Charles Smyth
tannery. Mr.. Smyth gradually built
up his business from the manufactur-
ing of shoe and harness leather to
the making of leather for all pur-
poses.
Mr.. Smyth was member of the
Board of Freeholders in 1886. Ills
wife died in 1896, being survived by
her husband and seven sons and
three daughters. About a year ago
Mr.. Smyth retired from active busi-
ness, leaving the affairs In charge Of
two of his sons, Frank N. and Will
lam F.
Mr.. Smyth was a charter member
of the Young Mems Catholic Society
of this city and a member of the
Patent and Enamel Leather Manu-
facturers' Association. He was
member OF the Holy Name Society
of st. Patrick's Church.
He Is survived by three. sons. Ed
ward j., Frank N. and William r,
Smyth; three daughters, the Misses
Maria, Anna and Agnes Smyth, and
a daughter-in-law. Mrs. George r.
emyth, and two grandchildren,
Charles and Anna, the children Of
Mrs. George r. Smyth.
At a meeting held this morning,
members of the Patent and Enameled
Leather Manufacturing Association
of respect, love and esteem" to Mr..
Smyth. 1t was as follows:
The members of the, Patent and
Enameled Leather Manufacturers
Association, In meeting assembled
this second day Of February, 1914,
deem it fitting to pay "a tribute of
respect, love and esteem to one who
for many years was a business as
sociate, and in our association an
honored member. Mr. Charles Smyth.
He was genial in nature, sympa-
thetic In all his relations with his
fellowmeny a splendid type of the
American citizen and business man,
a devoted father and % gentleman of
sterling character.
His geniality, his loyalty and his
spirit of true helpfulness were char
acteristics ever to be cherished. and
he richly deserves to be remembered
with love and respect by all who were
privileged to claim him as friend and
associate.
Resolved, That the Patent and
Enameled Leather Manufacturers
Association, recognizing the noble
qualities of it's late member, Mr..
Charles smyth, pays this tribute to
his memory, and direct that this me-
mortal be spread upon It's records,
and copy thereof forwarded to his
family.
HERMAN B. GOOD,
WILLIAM KELLY,
JOHN F. CONROY,
JAMES B. REILLY