The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-12-15
id. SMALLEY
DEAD, CITY
MOURNING
Decedent Was One of Best
Officials City of Hammond
Ever Had

Hammond and IN fact every city In
the Calumet region where his fame had
spread was profoundly shocked this
morning when the announcement was
made that Ex-Mayor John D. snaIIev
one or the city's best known men ha5
oied suddenly after a brief Illness at
his home. 81 Detroit street.
Few, except Mr.. SmaiIey's closest
friends were aware of his illness ard
even these were not prepared for the
sad news which the morning brought
re was down town at his office on
friday and that day a severe cold de-
veloped 1t was felt there was ,e
cause for alarm and that n, woulo
soon be as well as usual again. Later
pneumonia set in resulting in death
this morning at O'Clock.
BORN AN oHIoAN.
John D. Smalley was born on a farm
near Upper Sandusky. o.. May 6. 1859.
When he was fifteen years old he left
the farm and finished high school AZ
Upper Sandusky. His father dieo when
ne was seventeen years old and his
mother was taken two years later
leaving the young man to make his
own way in the world.
His hrst employment was as clerk
IN the office of the treasurer Of Wv
andotte county. Ohio. He then spent
two years at Nashville Tenn. as book
keeper for lumber firm At the age
or twenty-three he commenced WORK
In a railroad office and he continued in
railroad work until the time OF his
appointment to the office of city con
troler of Hammond by Mayor Lawrence
Becker. May I, 1905.
HAMMoND'S ERIE AGENT.
While in the railroad service Mr.
Smailey was with the Pennsylvania co
Tor a number OF years. receiving on
promotion after another In 1892 he
came to Hammond to become agent for
the Erie railroad From the duties Of
local agent he was promoted in 1903
to larger duties as supervising inspec-
tor OF the joint rates inspection bureau
with headquarters in Chicago. How
ever. he continued to maintain his
residence a Hammond
While Mr. Smaliey was serving az
city controller, an eff ce in which he
made splendid reputation. Mayor
seeker was appointed superior court
judge by Governor Marshall Mr
smalIey succeeded to the mayors chair
March s. 1911 In November 1918. he
ticket. serving four more years. Manv
improvements in municipal affairs dur
Ing his administration may be traced
TO his energetic leadership and ster-
ling honesty
BECAME REALTY OPERATOR.
Following his retirement from OF
fee he had become interested in real
estate promotion and al the time OF hfs
death was secretary and treasurer OF
the firm OF Hargis & Moore.
In 1892 Mr.. Smslley was married 10
Julia Gioesser at Upper Sandusky. O..
and came to Hammond the same year.
Mrs. Smalley died April s. 1910. One
son. Bryant Smalley. Of Hammond
survives this union. His second mar
riage was to Bertha Hansen February
Il, 1912
He leaves the wife and son. three
brothers and one sister. The brothers
are William Smalley Of Cincinnati o.:
Abram Smalley of Keyser, West viz
ginia, and Issac SmalIey of Panama
The sister is Margaret SmalIey or
Portland. Ore. The brothers are ex-
oected TO arrive in time for the fun
sral.
PROMINENT IN FRATERNTTIEs
Mr.. Smalley has been prominent in
LIdlernal Work during his twenty
eight year in Hammond. He was the
'ecretary and treasurer OF Hammond
Elks for fourteen consecutive terms
and was a member of the Maccabees.
fe was affiliated with McKinIev lodge
2 & A. NJ and had taken the thirty.
second degree in Masonry On Novem-
'er 10 he was member of the largo
lass which took the Consistory at
Fort Wayne and on returning from A
meeting al Fort Wayne FRI
lay complained OF having taken cold
lie was unable to break it up and al
hough he continued about his wort;
is believed that this attack was the
orerunner OF the Illness which result.
ID in his death.
FUNERAL ON FRIDAY,
The funeral will be held Friday ar
ernoon at O'Clock from St. PauTs
Episcopal church on Rimbach avenue
4 which he had long been a member.
he body will lie in state at the home
ii day Friday UP to the time Of the
ervices. Burial will be in Oak Hill
emetery.