Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1924-01-24
Volume 81
e. EDWARD SMITH DIES
AT HIS HOME IN MALTA

AT HIS HOME IN MALTA
Charles Edward Smith, aged 56
years, well known resident OF
Malta, and former business man of
that place. died Friday morning
about 1870 at his home on Main
street, there. While his family
knew of his serious condition, his
death to many came as distinct
shock. Heart disease with rup-
tured aorta, was the cause of his
death, and he had been ailing for
about a year. Up until within the
past five or six weeks, the nature of
his disease was not fully under
stood, until after an X-ray reveal
ed his, serious condition. He con-
tinued to be up and about the
house some until his death. Thurs
day afternoon, he became very
much worse, the end soon follow
ing as above stated.
Mr.. Smith was the son of the late
William and Eliza Jane Smith. The
years, and resides on the old home
place a mile and half south of
Malta, ON the Ringgold road, where
the deceased was born. After Sc
curing common school education,
he taught term of school; then
took business course at the Mere
dith business college, GAINESVILLE.
Returning to Malta he purchased
the hardware stock of the late
James Rogers. on the river bank;
also the hardware store of the late
Frank Burckholter, in the lodge
building, where the Malta Hard
ware Co. is now located, and com
bined the stock in the latter loca-
tion. This was about the year
1894. The other member of the
firm was Link Wilson. The busi-
ness was carried on under the firm
name of c. E. Smith & Co. While
in this business Mr. Smith was man
ager of the Home Gas Co. of Malta.
In 1901 he and Mr.. Wilson sold out
10 the present owners, Messrs. G.
B. and e. F. Smith. After retiring
from the hardware business he was
road salesman for fertilizer COM
pany, then for the Pittsburgh Plate
and Glass Co., for time. Then he
accepted a position as road sales
man with the Briar Hill Steel Co,
which was later merged with the
Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.,
which he held for IT years He
was a very successful salesman, and
had a wide scope of territory which
Included this state, the Virginias,
Kentucky, and south as far as the
gulf. It is believed that such close
and strict attention to duty as he
gave to his business, was partly re-
sponsible for the break in his
health. Although in poor health he
continued his duties more or less
up until as late as October of 1923.
when he made a business trip TO
Kentucky.
On Sept. 28, 1899, he was united
in marriage to Miss Florence Mat
son, who survives. They had three
children, Charles Earle and Francis
M. who died in infancy, and Miss
Frieda May Smith, pupil in M &c
M. high school. Ever since their
marriage, in the same household
has also been Mrs. Smiths father
Mr.. A. H. Matson. and the latter's
wife, up until her death a few
years ago. Mr.. Smith also leaves
the following brothers and sisters:
Seth A. Smith of Penn vownshll.
Mrs. Mary Thissell of near Eagle
port; S. +. Smith, Eli W., and Clar-
ence, all 81 Malta township; Mrs
Clara Barkhurst, wife of T. D.
Barkhurst of Casey, H., and Mrs
Sadie Parker, wife of Harrison
Parker, who makes her home with
her mother. One sister, Florence,
the Oldest of the family, is deceas-
ed, dying at the age of two years
Mr.. Smith was prominent Ma
son. His Blue Lodge membership
was with Valley lodge, No. 145,
Malta. He was a member of Nc
Connelsville Chapter No. 1856, and
of McConnelsville Council No. 106;
of the New Lexington Commandery
X. T., No. 81, and of the Aladdin
Temple Shrine, Columbus. He was
initiated into the latter in Novem
ber, in the same class with the late
President Harding. He was also a
member of the U. c.. T. at Zanes-
vile. Mr.. Smith was a good, up
right, honorable citizen, who had
many friends.
Funeral services were held Mon
day at l: 80 at his late home, under
the auspices of Valley lodge F. &
A M, and burial was made in the
Malta cemetery The pail bearers
were G.. S. Martin, c. e. Dougan, B.
S. Harris, S NJ Manly, J. A. Ham
bleton and Fred Smith.