The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1918-05-02
THOMAS ]. SMITH DEAD
Prominent Attorney Victim o
Pneumonia.

y
prominent attorneys of southwest
Missouri, died at his home just east of
this city Wednesday morning at 2:3o
o'clock as the result of an attack of
pneumonia.
Mr.. Smith had been confined to his
home for the past ten days with the
lagrippe and on Tuesday evening his
condition seemed to be improved. A
little after two o'clock Wednesday
morning he asked for drink of water
which was given him. A few minutes
afterward he passed away. Both Mrs.
Smith and his daughter, Mrs. Chas-
tain, were with him at the time OF his
death and had been in constant, un-
renting attendance upon him
throughout his illness.
For several years Mr.. Smith had
not been physically strong, and during
the past six months the extra-or-
dinarily heavy volume of practice
which had fallen onto his shoulders
when his son-in-law and partner in
the law firm, Lieut.. D. c. Chastain,
was ordered to France, taxed his
strength severely; and although both
friends and family urged less con-
fining attention to his practice, he
continued in the conscientious devo-
ton to his profession which has al
ways characterized him and which had
gained for him the reputation as be-
ing among the most successful and
the most conscientious of the bar in
the state.
His son, Gardner Smith, who is
serving in the Coast ARTILLERY at Fl.
Mckinley, Portland, Maine, was inn
mediately notified by wire of the
death of his father and has been given
leave of absence. Funeral arrange
ments have not been made and will
depend upon when he can reach
home.
Mrs. Robt. MeGraw, daughter.
whose home is in Fayette, arrived
Wednesday.
Thomas Jefferson Smith was born
in Edmonson county, Kentucky.
March "a, 1S4o, and received his edu-
cation in the public schools OF that
county, and the college at Glasgow,
Kentucky. Upon reaching his ma
jority he taught school for a short
time and later accepted the appoint
ment of deputy county clerk for his
home county, in which capacity he
served for two years and was later
appointed county clerk, serving one
year. During that time he devoted
his spare moments to the study OF
law and was admitted to the bar in
Kentucky where he engaged in the
practice until 1879 when he came to
Missouri, locating in this city where
he has since continuously engaged III
the practice.
Walter Stevens "History of Mis-
souri," says of him: "The years have
brought him prestige and prosperity.
He has been connected with much i'm
portant litigation before the local and
higher courts and has proven himself
a highly efficient lawyer he is at
present attorney for the Missouri
State Bank and the Walton Trust
Company and is also representing
other interests OF equal Importance.
Mr.. Smith is an extensive landowner
in Bates county"
He was united in marriage to Miss
Mary Allin, the daughter of DR.. II.
c. and Naomi Allin on January "a,
1882, and to this union were born six
three of whom, Naomi l.,
the wife of Robert MeGraw of Fay
cite, Mo-; Anna Day, the wife OF
Lieut.. Dewitt c. Chastain, and Gard
ner Smith of the Coast Artillery
branch of the U. S. Army, survive.
Thomas ]. Smith was a man OF
high ideals and strong moral charac-
ter. A public spirited citizen, his
forceful strength made him power
for good in the community and he
much to the progress OF
the county and his home city. He was
\ gentleman of marked ability and
look high rank in his profession. He
was a member of the First Baptist
church and devoted much time to the
church and to the Bates County Sun
5,,, Schoo1 AeeocisfiOn He was a ii