The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-01-20
able that private interests will finance
the undertaking.
Absecon MOurns The Loss
OF Two Respected Citizens.

the undertaking.
Absecon MOurns The Loss
of Two Respected Citizens.
Absecon residents were doubly
shocked early Tuesday morning on
hearing of the death during the night
of two of their most widely known
and respected citizens, Captain Wes-
icy C.. Smith and Obadiah Reed.
Captain Smiths death was very
sudden, occurring at LAO o'clock Tues
day morning, about four hours after
being seized by a stroke of apoplexy,
while considering with the members
of the Absecon Fire Company, of
which he had been reelected president
the week before. regarding the most
feasible means of hosting into posi-
| ton a windmill frame on which to
mount the fire bell now in the belfry
of the fire house.
Noticed by fellow members with his
head dropped, Captain Smith, who was
standing beside the frame adjacent to
the fire house on Station avenue,
shortly after $40 o'clock Monday
night, was semi-conscious when about
to be placed in Charles M. Kesler's
waiting automobile only a moment or
so later. While being helped toward
the auto the stricken man muttered
these words: II guess it's a stroke,
Kes." Immediately he lapsed into
Inconsistencies in which condition he
remained until the hour of his death.
Medical assistance was had as soon as
his plight was discovered, but nothing
could be done to save his life. He
was removed to his home in the auto
mobile.
Captain Smith was a native of Eng
lish Creek and during the early part
of his life he. followed the sea, being
the captain of several coastwise YES
sells. Later he settled in Ocean City,
where he engaged in the lumber and
mill business. During his residence
there he served that city ably as it's
Mayor. Selling out his business there
he moved to Absecon a decade and a
half ago and during the last ten years
he had carried IN a coal and feed bust
ness. He was a capable and accepta-
BILE official while Mayor of Absecon
and discharged the duties of that
Office in a c%reditable manner
He was a member of keystone
Lodge, No. 1853, F. & A. NJ, which he
joined in 1886, and had twice served
as its Master. He also served as the
first Master of Ocean City Lodge, No.
III, which he assisted in instituting.
He was also a member of the Consis-
tory and the Shrine.
Death has made severe inroads into
the Smith family in the last fourteen
months. Miss Nina Smith, daughter
of Captain and Mrs. Smith, died quite
suddenly on November A, 1915. De-
cember 10th of the same year their
younger son, Edmund S., succumbed
to a fatal malady. and now the head of
the family is the third member to be
removed by the Grim Reaper.
Wesley c.. Smith was 81 years of
age. All during the day on Monday
and even up to the moment of his
seizure he went about his daily duties
In apparently as normal condition as
ever, and no one had the slightest sus-
plcion that he was approaching such
a sudden and untimely end. He is
survived by his widow, Mrs. Caroline
F. Smith, and one son., Mariner, and
by eight grandchildren.
The funeral service, conducted by
Rev. c. M. Johnston, of the Absecon
M. E. Church, of which the deceased
had been an official for a period of
years, will be held this Saturday af-
ternoon at 2 o'clock in the church.