Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 73, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1915 — JOHN W. SMITH VICTIM OF DISEASE [ARTICLE]

JOHN W. SMITH VICTIM OF DISEASE

Citizen of High Standing Passed Away Friday Night After Long Illness of Consumption. John W. Smith, well known as “Jack” Smith, a painter and paper hanger and a citizen of high standing, died Friday night at 11:16 at his home in the northeast part of this city, after an illness that dates back three years. He moved to Arizona once in hope of forestalling the threatened lung trouble, but his daughter, Marie, took sick there and they returned here in hope of saving her life, but she passed away the 18th of last June. With a determination to fight the disease as hard as possible John continued to work at his trade until last July, when he was forced to give up and he did not work any from that time on. He failed gradually and his many friends realized that he was not long for this world. He did not take to his bed, however, until thirteen days before he died. The end came peaceably. In his death Rensselaer loses one of its best citizens. Honest and conscientious in every walk of life, he was a mechanic of ability and coupled with it characteristics of his life that made him a popular man wherever he was employed. He was quite successful in a business way and was getting along well when disease shattered his life and brought hardships that only those who have had protracted cases of illness in their homes can appreciate. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to his wife and son, Floyd, who survive him, and theirs is the consciousness that he was a splendid husband and father whose life of devotion to them is an inheritance not estimated in a worldly way. Mr. Smith belonged to the I. O. O. F. and I. O. R. M. orders and the Redmen will have charge of his funeral, which will be held at" the Methodist church Monday afternoon. The Odd Fellows will also attend the-fun-eral in a body. John was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith and his father recently died. He was 40 years of age last October 31st and had spent practically his entire life in this city. Besides his wife and son, Floyd, who is 16 years of age, he leaves a mother, sister and several brothers, with whom the community joins in deepest sorrow at his death.