Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1908 — JOHN L. SMITH DIES SUDDENLY. [ARTICLE]

JOHN L. SMITH DIES SUDDENLY.

Prominent Marion Tp. Farmer Drops Dead Sunday Morning. Vjohn L. Smith, a prominent farmcy residing, northeast of town about two miles, died suddenly Sunday morning at about 5 o’clock. Being Sunday morning the folks did not get up as early as week days, and Mr. Smith told his wife to lie abed a little longer while he would get up and do the milking. He raised up on his elbow to arise, when he suddenly fell back on the bed with an exclamation of pain. Mrs. Smith seeing that something serious was wrong, got out of bed immediately and called to the hired hand, but in a moment he had breathed his last. A doctor was summoned from town but he had been dead some time before his arrival. V The doctor made an examination of the body, and found all the organs in fairly good shape. Smith had doctored some through the winter and a slight flutter .of the heart was observed when he was recently examined for life insurance, but the doctor thought it was nothing serious, although he reported it to the insurance company, and said he thought he would live out the allotted span. The doctor’s certificate of his death says “Cause of death unknown,” although it is generally believed to have been heart disease. Mr. Smith was born in Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1854, and was therefore 54 years of age at the time of his death. He has resided iff this county for twenty years or more. A widow and one son, Roy B. Smith, operator on ,the P. Ft. W. ft C. Ry., at Hebron. He was a respected member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. lodges and a mighty good man. The funeral is to be held to-day at 10:30 a. m., from the Christian church, conducted by Rev. J. L. Brady, and interment be made in Weston cemetery..