The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-04-24
SuCcumbs to Brief Illness at
the Age Of Eighty
DOMINANT FIGURE IN STATE
Highly Successful Business Man, Build
ing Fortune AS Lumber Mag
nate-Funeral To Take
Place At Snow Hill.

from 1900 to 1904 and dean" Of Mary
land Democrats, died at 1880 o'clock
Sunday night at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Arthur D. Foster, $50
University Parkway.
The end came peacefully to the
man, who, since the death of Arthur
Pue German, had been the dominant
figure in Maryland politics.
Eighty years old last February 5,
his heart was unable to stand the
strain of kidney affection, from
which he suffered for the last two
weeks. He had sinking spell Sun
day morning and failed gradually until
the end.
At his bedside, besides physicians,
were Mrs. Foster and Samuel X. Den
mis-, his former secretary and his de-
voted friend. The former Senator'S
mind was clear until few hours be-
fore the end, when he lapsed into
semi-coma.
Frank A. Furst, four months Senator
Smiths junior and for AZ years his
friend, was one of the last callers at
the Foster home before Senator
Smiths death. He recognized the end
was near.
Senator Smith will be buried beside
his wife at Snow Hill, his birthplace,
Wednesday afternoon. Services also
will be held at P. M. Tuesday at
Mrs. Fosters home.
The life of Senator Smith was the
romance of country boy of old Mary
land stock, early left an orphan with
slender means, who rose by business
and political acumen to fill, in turn,
the highest offices in the gift of the
people of his State. He has been pres
ident of the State Senate, Governor,
member of the House of Representa-
tives and United States Senator, as
we'll as National Committeeman.
At his death he was, and had been
for 25 years, the recognized leader Of
the "State wing" of the Democratic
Party. 1t was about his leadership
that opposition to the growing polit-
ical strength of Governor Richie GEN.
tered unsuccessfully in late years.
john Walter Smith was born Feb
ruary 5, 1915, at Snow, Hill, Worcester
county, the son of John Walter and
Charlotte (Whittington) Smith. His
ancestors lived there for generations.
some of them being large landowners
and judges.
His mother died four weeks after
his birth, and his father five years
later, after he had moved to Balti-
more, suffered financially in the hard
times from 1870 to 1850, and had re-
turned to Snow Hill.
The early death of his parents
brought young Smith under the charge
of United States Senator Ephraim X
Wilson, under whose tutelage he grew
up in political atmosphere. He re-
ceived his early education in the
county primary schools and later at
Union Academy in Snow Hill. His
first employment, at the age of Is, was
as clerk in the firm of George S.
Richardson & Bro. in which eventual
ly he became partner.
When twenty-four years old and a
Junior partner in the firm he married
Miss Mary Frances Richardson, sister
of the senior partner. Two daughters
we're born to the union, of whom Mrs.
Arthur D. Foster survives. Mrs Smith
died in Baltimore in 1910. aged sixty.
The future Senator's business en-
terprises rapidly expanded and soon
extended beyond the confines of his
home town and into other States, but
he never lost his love for the old home
place. In 1887 he was active in or
ganization of the First National Bank
Of Snow Hill. He became interested
in clustering. insurance, canning, farm
ing and financing, but it was the lum-
her business in which he made his
biggest success.
He helped organize and became an
official of the Surry Lumber Company
OF Virginia, and of the Surry, Sussex
and Southampton Railroad Company.
He retained his lumber interests until
the end, becoming reputed multi
millionaire. Until recently he at
tended daily to business at his office
in the Union Trust Building.
1t was in 1889, when Mr.. Smith was
A years old. that he made his first
serious entry into politics. He deter
mined to be candidate for State
Senator from his county. He was
elected in 1890 and reelected in 1892,
1894, 1895 and 1898. During this
period he suffered the first of his few
political reverses. When his guardian,
United States Senator Wilson, died,
while Senator re-elect in 1892, Smith
sought to succeed him, but was de-
feated by Charles H. Gibson. A sim
liar disappointment occurred in 1894,
although he might have had the nomi-
nation to the House of Representa-
tives, had he desired.
The First Congressional District
rant Ropuhlfoan n, fha landsIiSa nf