Obituary printed in the March 29, 1916 Pilot, Blair, Nebraska

Portrait printed in newspaper.

LEE SMITH DIES SUDDENLY

Expires Early Tuesday Morning While at Home Doing His Chores.

The sad news reached Blair early yesterday morning of the sudden death of Lee Smith, of heart failure, at his farm home in DeSoto township. He left the house at about 6 o’clock and went out to do the chores. Not having returned about an hour later his son, Roland, went out to look for him and found him dead near the feed yard with a bundle of corn fodder in his arms that he was evidently about to lift. He had been bothered slightly with heart trouble but the family didn’t consider it serious, as he was so well and robust otherwise. All the family were at home except Miss Arline, who had come to Blair on the early train, expecting to return on the 8:50. Clyde Allen came up in a car for her and took her back to one of the saddest homes she will probably ever enter. Mr. Smith’s aged mother, 82 years of age, is very feeble and the shock was very hard on her. His wife is also afflicted with heart trouble and was in a serious condition for a time. The funeral will be held at the family residence at 2 o’clock tomorrow, Thursday, Rev. Roy Werner, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Ft. Calhoun, officiating. Burial will take place in the Blair cemetery under Masonic auspices. Mr. Smith was born near Camden Centre, Steuben county, Ind., July 27th, 1863, and came to this country with his parents, the late M.H. Smith and wife, in 1879, settling on the farm upon which his sudden death occurred. He was married to Miss Victoria Seltz Oct. 7th, 1889, and of this union three children were born, Seymour, aged 23 who is a student at Bellevue college, Miss Arline, 20, who is also a student at Bellevue, both at home because of spring vacation, and Roland, 18, who was graduated from the Blair High school last year and is living at home. Mr. Smith was one of the pioneer seed corn men of the state in partnership with his father, whose death occurred 13 years ago. He served as a member of the board of county supervisors, was precinct assessor for many years and had filed as a candidate for county assessor on the democratic ticket this year. He was one of the prominent democrats of the county and stood high in the councils of his party. He was also president of the Farmer’s Co-Operative Union and had taken a deep interest in the move to build an elevator in this city. He was a member of Solomon lodge No. 10, A.F. & A.M. , of Ft. Calhoun and of Adoniram Chapter and Jordan Commandery of this city. He carried $4,000 insurance in the M.W.A., W.O. W. and Maccabee lodges, of which orders he was an honored member. Besides his aged mother and family as above described, he leaves an only sister, Mrs. Jas. Wild, also of DeSoto township. Mr. Smith has just purchased the J.E. Markel place near his old home and was preparing to move there next week. This is a modern house and he was greatly pleased over his purchase and the prospect of living in such a fine home. His acquaintance was country wide and his many friends extend heart-felt sympathy to the bereaved family, mother, and sister in their sudden and unusually bitter grief.

#2 Tribune 29 March 1916

A Well-Known Citizen Gone

Lee Smith, one of the best known men in the county, was found dead in his feed yard at his country home in DeSoto yesterday (Tuesday) morning, probably of heart trouble of which he was a sufferer. Mr. Smith was born in Steuben County, Indiana, where he resided with his parents until he was ten years of age when, with his parents, he came to this county and settled on the farm where the family now resides.

About twenty-five years ago he was married to Miss Victoria Seltz and to this union three children were born, Seymour, Arline and Roland, all of whom are living.

Mr. Smith was a successful farmer and made a name for himself by breeding pure bred seed corn, originating distinct varieties by cross breeding. He made the subject a study and came as near reducing it to a science as is possible.

He was considered one of the best corn judges in the state and figured largely in all state agricultural meetings where his word was the last appeal.

Mr. Smith was not only a good farmer but a good citizen as well and many are the remarks of sympathy heard on all sides over his untimely death.

When found in his feed yards he was lying with his arms full of corn fodder showing that his death had been sudden.

The shock to the family is very great and his aged mother is so grief stricken that nothing can comfort her.

The funeral services are to be held tomorrow, Thursday, at 2 p.m. at the house conducted by Rev. Werner, of Calhoun and the body is to be interred in the Blair Cemetery where the Shriners, of which organization he was a member will have charge.

He leaves to mourn him a wife, an aged mother, three children and a sister, Mrs. J. M. Wilds as immediate relatives and hosts of more distant relatives and friends.

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

FindaGrave Memorial # 9921939