Word has been received by Mrs. J.G. Smith of the death of her son, Phillip Smith, which occurred at Whittier, California, on Monday of this week of diabetis (sp). Mr. Smith had been in poor health for the past two years and the trip to California was made in the hopes of helping him. Enroute to the west he met with an accident and suffered a fracture of the knee cap and he survived the accident but a short time. The body is expected to arrive in Blair Saturday or Sunday when funeral arrangements will be made.

#2 Printed in the Nov. 8, 1918 Enterprise, Blair, NE

Report of the death of Phillip Smith came to Blair relatives on Monday last. His death occurred in California when he had recently gone, hoping to benefit his health. He was a native of Blair, born and reared here, the son of Mrs. J. George Smith, a pioneer resident of this city, and a brother of Will Smith, still living here. The body will be brought here for burial.

#3-Printed in The Tribune November 14, 1918

John Philip Smith Died in California

Philip Smith of this city, died at the home of his brother, George Smith, at Whittier, Calif., at noon, Tuesday, Nov. 5th.

John Philip Smith was born in Blair, Nebr. Nov. 25, 1876, and grew to manhood here and was educated in the public schools of this city.

When he was sixteen years of age he was converted and united with the Baptist Church here, of which he has been a consistent member. He assisted his father, the late Geo. Smith in farming and, with the exception of a few years which he spent in Oklahoma and Idaho, had lived his entire life among us. For a short time he was proprietor of the White City restaurant in Blair, but failing health made it necessary for him to give up the business and return to out of door work.

On July 4, 1898, he was married to Miss Birdie Freeland, of Blair, and they reared a family of four children; they are, Edna J.; Philip Clifford, who is now in the United State Navy, Olive J., and William Burdette.

Two years ago he was injured in such a manner as to cause his health to fail rapidly and he sought a change of climate in western Nebraska, thinking it might prove beneficial but gradually grew worse, and he then went to California about a month ago, and after being with his brother, the Rev. George Smith, at Whittier a short time he passed away, aged nearly 42 years.

Besides the bereaved wife and children, there are left to mourn their loss, his widowed mother, Mrs. Olive J. Smith, four sisters, Mrs. W. T. Cox, of Farragut, Iowa, Mrs. J. A. Hawkins, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Frances and Grace who resided at home; there are five brothers, W. F. Smith, of Blair, George A. of Whittier, California, Burtis B. of Omaha, and Raymond O. of Fredonia, Kas.

The funeral was held at the home of his mother, in this city on Monday afternoon, Rev. C. M. Foreman reading the burial service and interment took place in the cemetery here. He sleeps near the place where he first saw the light of day; near where his friends now live who can truthfully say, “He was a good man.” Deepest sympathies of all who knew him are extended to the sorrowing relatives.

#4 Printed in the Nov. 15, 1918 Enterprise, Blair, NE

Phillip Smith

The body of John Phillip Smith, whose death at Whittier, Calif., was noted in last week’s Enterprise, arrived on Sunday P.M. and funeral service was held at his mother’s, Mrs. J.G. Smith’s home on Tuesday at 3 o’clock P.M.

Deceased was born and reared in Blair and had lived here the greater part of his 42 years of life. His wife, to whom he was married twenty years ago last 4th. of July, and 4 children are bereft of his love and tender care. His mother, five brothers and four sisters are surviving near relatives.

Last week we made note of the death of Philip Smith, which occurred at Whittier, Calif. At the home of his brother, Rev. George Smith, at noon on Tuesday, November 5th. The body arrived here Sunday afternoon and was taken to the home of his mother, Mrs. Olive Smith, on west Lincoln Street, where the funeral service was held at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon, Rev. C. M. Foreman, of the Baptist Church officiating.

John Philip Smith was a son of the late George Smith, born in this city November 25th, 1876. Had he lived twenty more days he would have been 42 years of age. He grew to manhood here, receiving his education in the city schools. He was united in marriage to Miss Birdie Freeland, of this city, July 4th, 1898, and to them were born four children, Edna J., Philip Clifford, who is now serving in the U. S. Navy, Olive J. and William Burdett. Besides his wife and mother he leaves four sisters and five brothers, Mrs. W. T. Cox, of Farragut, Ia., Mrs. J. A. Hawkins, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Frances and Grace, of this city, William F., also of this city, George A., of Whittier, Calif., Chester S., of Colby Wis., Burtis B., of Omaha and Raymond O., of Fredonia, Kans.

Philip was interested with his father in farming for several years and had spent most of his life in this community, all but a few years spent in Oklahoma and Idaho. After farming for himself for several years he engaged in the restaurant business. While in this business he received an injury two years ago that cause his health to fail rapidly. He went to the western part of the state hoping that the change would be good for his trouble, diabetes. He seemed to improve for a time but when he began to grow worse he started to California. On the way out he missed his train and starting to run for it, fell and broke his knee cap. The injury so affected his nerves that death followed Whittier. His surviving family have the memory of his great love for them and kindness to them that was lifelong. The rest of us have lost a true friend and the community a good citizen. He was a member of the Modern Woodman Lodge and carried a policy for $2,000 in that order.

#5 Published in the Pilot November13, 1918

Last week we made note of the death of Philip Smith, which occurred at Whittier, Calif. At the home of his brother, Rev. George Smith, at noon on Tuesday, November 5th. The body arrived here Sunday afternoon and was taken to the home of his mother, Mrs. Olive Smith, on west Lincoln Street, where the funeral service was held at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon, Rev. C. M. Foreman, of the Baptist Church officiating.

John Philip Smith was a son of the late George Smith, born in this city November 25th, 1876. Had he lived twenty more days he would have been 42 years of age. He grew to manhood here, receiving his education in the city schools. He was united in marriage to Miss Birdie Freeland, of this city, July 4th, 1898, and to them were born four children, Edna J., Philip Clifford, who is now serving in the U. S. Navy, Olive J. and William Burdett. Besides his wife and mother he leaves four sisters and five brothers, Mrs. W. T. Cox, of Farragut, Ia., Mrs. J. A. Hawkins, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Frances and Grace, of this city, William F., also of this city, George A., of Whittier, Calif., Chester S., of Colby Wis., Burtis B., of Omaha and Raymond O., of Fredonia, Kans.

Philip was interested with his father in farming for several years and had spent most of his life in this community, all but a few years spent in Oklahoma and Idaho. After farming for himself for several years he engaged in the restaurant business. While in this business he received an injury two years ago that cause his health to fail rapidly. He went to the western part of the state hoping that the change would be good for his trouble, diabetes. He seemed to improve for a time but when he began to grow worse he started to California. On the way out he missed his train and starting to run for it, fell and broke his knee cap. The injury so affected his nerves that death followed Whittier. His surviving family have the memory of his great love for them and kindness to them that was lifelong. The rest of us have lost a true friend and the community a good citizen. He was a member of the Modern Woodman Lodge and carried a policy for $2,000 in that order.

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

FindaGrave memorial # 10179722 Note: the tombstone spells his name Philip