OBITUARY

On Thursday the community was shocked to hear of the death of Dr. J. G. Smith who passed away at an Omaha hospital that afternoon.

Jepthah Gay Smith was born at Malvern, Iowa and died November 10, 1921.

The deceased was married May 30, 1899, Miss Hester Hubbard was his bride. To this union were born four children, Edna, Wayne, Goldie (now Mrs. Petersen) and Mabel (now Mrs. Rutledge). Mrs. Smith, the wife and mother died March 21, 1913.

Dr. Smith was married again June 12, 1918 to Grace Wilcox. Two children were born to this union, Evelyn, now two years old and Jack Clifford who died in infancy.

Besides his wife and five children, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. W. J. C. Smith of Stansbury, Mo.; one brother, Guy E. Smith of Omaha, Nebraska; two sisters, Mrs. Daisy Kline of North Platte, Nebr.; Mrs. Bernice Bartlett of Silverdale, Washington, and one granddaughter.

Dr. Smith practiced his profession in Blair for more than 14 years. He was a man of many good traits, a good doctor, and will be greatly missed in the community. Thus ends the story of a man’s life, today well and strong and hopeful, tomorrow gone to the great beyond. How quickly death may come upon us! Life is so short at best, and now we stand in silence and awe, for death is here, death, that monster death which has no respect for persons, came this way last Thursday, and sorrow and crying and loneliness is in the home.

The funeral was conducted from the Blair Methodist Episcopal Church, Sunday afternoon, November 13th, at 12:30 o’clock, and was in charge of the pastor, Rev. J. A. Johnson, assisted by the Rev. W. H. Underwood, superintendent of the Crowell Memorial Home. Dr. Smith had many friends as was evidenced by the large attendance at the service in his honor, and by the large and beautiful floral offerings. Contributed.

#2-17 Nov., 1921 - The Tribune - Dr. Jepthah Gay (J. G.) Smith

DR. SMITH DIES FROM INJURIES RECEIVED IN OMAHA

Dr. J. G. Smith died in an Omaha hospital Thursday afternoon, November 10, 1921, from injuries received two days before by being pushed from the doorstep of a home in Omaha by a man named McDermott, according to reports published in Omaha dailies.

Dr. Smith went to Omaha, so it is said, to visit his daughter, Mrs. Golda Peterson, who was in a hospital, and to see his two weeks old granddaughter. He then started out to find the home of a friend, but went to the wrong house next door to that of the friend, and tried to gain admittance. The house was occupied by a Mr. McDermott and family and Mr. McDermott ordered Dr. Smith to leave, but as he did not go at once, McDermott, as it is said, pushed him from the porch to the pavement, Dr. Smith striking on his head. It is said that two men came along and said they were friends of Dr. Smith, and McDermott threatened to call the police and the two men fled. Different stories are told, one being to the effect that these two men were “hold-ups” and had slugged Dr. Smith and that the doctor was in a dazed condition when he tried to enter the McDermott home. Be that as it may, the coroner’s jury exonerated Mr. McDermott from any blame in connection with the doctor’s death.

His death was a shock to this community. He was a man who enjoyed good health and was of almost perfect physique. It was hard to understand that he was cut down in his prime, and his friends and patients can scarcely realize that he has gone from among them.

Dr. Jepthah Gay Smith was born at Malvern, Iowa December 26, 1879, and was nearing his forty second birthday at the time of his death. He was married May 30, 1899 to Miss Hester Hubbard, who died March 21, 1913. Dr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of three daughters and one son: Miss Edna Smith, who lives in Omaha; Wayne of Blair; Golda, now Mrs. Walter Petersen of Omaha; and Mabel, now Mrs. Rutledge of Herman.

On June 12, 1918 Dr. Smith and Miss Grace Wilcox were married, and to them were born two children: Evelyn, now two years old, and Jack Gifford, who died in infancy.

There also survives him his widowed mother, Mrs. W. J. C. Smith of Stansbery, Mo.; one brother, Guy E. Smith of Omaha; and two sisters, Mrs. Daisy Kline of North Platte, and Mrs. Bernice Bartlett of Silverdale, Wash.; and one granddaughter, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Petersen to mourn the death of husband, son, father and brother.

Dr. Smith had been a resident of and practiced his profession of osteopathy in Blair for more than fourteen years, and was considered one of the very best of practitioners. On every hand one hears good words for Dr. Smith. He was kindness itself and genteel in his handling of patients, and has won a place in the hearts of a host of people that will never be filled.

The body was brought to Blair on Saturday afternoon, and the funeral was held at the Methodist church at 12:30 noon, and was largely attended, many persons remaining from the morning church services in order to be sure of a seat, for the seating capacity of the large church auditorium was taxed.

The casket was covered with bright, sweet flowers, mute testimony of the respect and affection of which he was held.

A quartet consisting of Mrs. J. M. Kyde, Mrs. Anna Martin, Dr. C. R. Mead and Dr. W. F. Hemphill sang several appropriate selections and Rev. J. A. Johnson spoke a few words of comfort to the sorrowing family and Rev. W. H. Underwood, superintendent of Crowell Home, also spoke feelingly on the life of the deceased.

The body of Dr. Smith was laid away by the side of that of the wife of his youth to await the resurrection morn where all shall be reunited in a land where there is no night.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #36007207