Mrs. Olive J. Smith Rites Held Tuesday-Early Blair Settler Dies at Age of 92. Burial in Blair Cemetery

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Mrs. Olive Josephine Smith, a resident of Blair since 1870, died at her home on West Lincoln Street on December 30, 1939 at 10 o’clock p.m. at the age of 92 years.

Mrs. Smith was born in Union Springs, New York, on April 6, 1847, where she spent her early years. At the age of twenty-three she was married to John George Smith in Blair on May 8, 1870 and they at once established a home in Blair.

Here they spent their married life. The husband, who was a stock buyer and farmer, passed on some years ago, but the family continued to make their home in Blair. Three sons also passed on leaving the mother and four daughters, Mrs. W. T. Cox of Farragut, Iowa; Mrs. J. A. Hawkins of Klamath Falls, Oregon; and Frances M. and Josephine Grace, the latter two at home and three sons, R. O. Smith of Los Angeles, California; W. F. and B. B. Smith of Omaha.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were known to their friends for high ideals. They were the best of neighbors and both had a circle of friends limited only by their acquaintanceship.

Funeral services for Mrs. Smith were held Tuesday afternoon, January 2, with Rev. C. D. Hamilton of the local Baptist Church officiating and interment was made in the Blair Cemetery.

#2 Printed in the January 4, 1940 Pilot-Tribune

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MRS. OLIVE SMITH, 92, A PIONEER IN BLAIR, IS BURIED

RESIDENT OF CITY SINCE ITS FOUNDING SUCCUMBED HERE SATURDAY

FUNERAL IS HELD AT BAPTIST CHURCH

WIDOW OF J.G. SMITH DIES; FOUR DAUGHTERS, THREE SONS SURVIVE, IN ADDITION TO 21 GRANDCHILDREN AND 22 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN

Mrs. Olive J. Smith, the 92-year-old Blair pioneer who had resided here since the beginning of the city, died Saturday night at her home, 328 west Lincoln street. Although she had been in failing health for more than a year, Mrs. Smith had always been mentally alert, and frequently entertained with her daughters. Mrs. Smith had resided in the same home the past 62 years. She was the widow of John George Smith, preeminent early-day Blairite, who died June 10, 1915.

As Olive Josephine Flinn, daughter of James s. and Luvia A. Flinn, she was born April 6, 1847 at Union Springs, New York, later going with her parents to Belfast, New York, where she grew to young womanhood.

She was the youngest child of a family of 11 children, all of whom have preceded her in death.

When 18 years old, she moved to Montour, Iowa, and while there joined the Congregational church. Later she moved to Onawa, Iowa, and while there had the honor of being the only woman passenger on the maiden trip of the first railroad passenger coach, between Missouri Valley and Sioux City.

In 1868 she came to what is now Blair to live with her sister, Mrs. H.B. Dexter, and family. While living here she met John George Smith, and they were married May 3, 1870 by the Rev. Marshall Tingley, then pastor of the Congregational church here.

Four daughters and six sons were born to the Smiths. Surviving Mrs. Smith are the daughters, Mrs. W.T. Cox (Luvia Eva) of Farragut, Iowa, Mrs. J.A. Hawkins (Edith Myrtle) of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Misses Frances May and Josephine Grace Smith of Blair; and three sons, William Frank Smith and Burtis Byron Smith of Omaha, and Raymond Oliver Smith of Los Angeles. Three sons preceded Mrs. Smith in death: John Phillip in 1918, George Andrew in 1927 and Chester Stanley in 1937.

Also surviving Mrs. Smith are 21 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at First Baptist church, which she joined in 1892. Gifford L. Dixon sang two solos during the services, with Miss Gertrude Mead as accompanist. The Rev. Charles E. Hamilton officiated. Burial followed in the Blair cemetery.

Pallbearers were B.B. Smith Jr, Frederick Smith and Carroll Bobbitt, all of Omaha, Howard F. Smith of Council Bluffs, and P.S. Moore and Robert McMillan of Blair. The first three are grandsons.

Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska. ~~~

Find a Grave Memorial # 87806125