Miami Union

June 6, 1874

SMITH, JOHN L. - From the Des Moines (Iowa) Daily Journal - Another Pioneer Gone. "To-day we add another to the rapidly increasing list of pioneers of this city who have gone to their rest. As briefly announced yesterday, John L. Smith, died at Stuart, from the injuries received by being thrown from a carriage on Saturday last. Mr. Smith was born at Cazenovia, New York, Dec. 12, 1814. He afterward went to Piqua, Ohio, where he married, May 3, 1843, Mary A. Garard, who with four children survive him. He then removed to Rock Island, Ill., thence to Des Moines, in October, 1864, where he has since resided, during which time he has been an active citizen, and highly respected by all. At the age of fourteen he united with the Baptist Church, and through life has been an earnest worker therein, and by his personal effort and means he has contributed largely to the prosperity of that denomination in this city. For several years he held the position of Indian Agent for the Otoe tribe in Nebraska filling the trust in a highly commendable manner. During the past year he has been traveling for Mills & Co., of this city, and it was on one of these trips he met with the accident which caused his death, so sudden as to nearly crush the hearts of his family and many friends with sorrow. Mr. Smith was a member of the Old Settlers Society, and took an active part in its affairs. Only a few weeks ago, he informed the Secretary that he would be pleased to have the Society follow his body to the grave, when his hour of departure arrived. When the men arrived where he lay, after the accident, he refused to be moved, until one of them could write down what he had to say. He then and there on the open prairies, amid intense suffering, dictated his wishes in regard to all his business affairs, conscious that he might not be able to bear the effect of removal. Soon after he arrived at the hotel in Stuart he became unconscious, though with a few lucid intervals in which he recognized his wife and children." We take occasion to add to the above an expression of our own sincere regret at the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. Smith. For many years Mr. S. was a resident of Piqua, and was our neighbor and our friend. He was a man of great energy, and possessed many good qualities of both head and heart. That he was a valuable citizen where he has resided the past twenty years, is fully attested both by the paper from which we have copied and by others we have seen. His family and friends have our sympathy in this day of their bereavement.