Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1920 — ANOTHER AGED CITIZEN DEAD [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER AGED CITIZEN DEAD

Joseph Smith Answered Death Summons Wednesday. Joseph Smith, who had been tn failing health for the past few years, died at 12:30 "o’clock Wednesday at the county hospital where he had been taken only a few hours before. Mr. Smith was born Feb. 22, 1837, in Tippecanoe county, Ind., and was therefore past 83 years of age. The funeral waa held yesterday morning at 10 o’clock at the late residence on south Van Rensselaer street, services being conducted by Rev. W. T. Barbre of the Christian church and burial made in the Johnson cemetery near Seafleld, White county. Joseph Smith was born in Tippecanoe county, near Lafayette, Feb. 16, 1837. He enlisted in the civil war in Company G., 63d Ind. Inf.,, and served until the end of the war. Dec. 22, 1867, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Catherine Wiley, who at that time was a widow with three children. To these children Mr. Smith was a true and loving father. These children have grown to maturity an% now reside as follows: John M. Wiley in Moravia, Mont.; William S. Wiley in Hartford, Mich., and Mary J. Summers, widowed, who makes her home with the parents in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of two children. A daughter died in Infancy. The other is a son, Charles F. Smith, of Salem, O. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Smith lived near Seafleld, in White county. In the spring of 1888 they moved to Jasper county, occupying a farm which he had purchased near Kniman. While living there he became a member of the Odd Fellow lodge of Wheatfield, in 1884. They moved to this city in 1912, and since that time had been residents here continuously. He was in poor health for some time and was taken very serious Saturday, April 16. Wednesday, April 21, he was taken to the hospital in the forenoon;'but lived only a few hours, passing away at 12:3w p. m. Mr. Smith was a splendid citizen, of a happy, jovial disposition, and was beloved by all who knew him.