Thomas Smith (1872 - 1943)

SMITH, KING, ARNOLD, NEWMAN, PROSS, SNIDER, RUBLE, POUSH, THOMPSON, MOORE, SANKEY, NELSON, PATRICK

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 1/1/2020 at 19:26:02

The Osceola Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa
December 09, 1943, Page 2

Thomas Smith

Thomas Smith, son of Sam and Elizabeth Smith, was born in Ballymena, Ireland, Oct. 17, 1872, and departed this life at his home in Lacona, Iowa, Nov. 12, 1943, at the age of 71 years and 26 days. He spent his boyhood in Antrim county, Ireland, where he proudly tended the looms, crushed rock for the roads, worked in the iron furnaces, but prided himself most in the building of British ships in Scotland yards. He sailed from Glasgow, Scotland to New York in May, 1892. He moved to Gilman, Iowa, where he lived until 1912. In that year he moved to Bethel Chapel community and spent the rest of his life. On Feb. 19, 1895 he was united in marriage to Minnie Mae King of Gilman, Iowa. To this union twelve children were born, Elizabeth Ellen and William James who preceded him in death, David, Tommy and Harry all of Minnesota, John H. of Washington, D. C., Mrs. Martha Arnold, Mrs. Marie Newman, Mrs. Grace Pross, Mrs. Irene Snider, Mrs. Vera Ruble and Mrs. Leota Poush, all of Iowa. Besides his children he is survived by his wife, four sisters, Mrs. Mary Thompson of Marshalltown, Mrs. Martha Moore of Gilman, Mrs. Lizzie Sankey of Independence, and Mrs. Jennie Nelson of Brooklyn; 22 grandchildren, Earl, Everett, Cecil, Gail, Roger, Calvin and Larry Smith, Mrs. Elma Patrick, Orval, Effie, Homer, Kenneth, Keith and Ruby Arnold, Joan and Joyce Newman, Nola Mae, James, Leota Ruth and Thomas Phoss, Erma Snider and Herbert Ruble; two great grandchildren, Duane and David Smith, and other relatives and many friends.

He united with the Congregational church at Gilman and has always shared in the responsibilities of the church in his community. He sought for his family the enjoyment of physical comfort, health, educational advantages, Christian faith and good citizenship. In his occupation as a farmer, Mr. Smith was a thorough and dependable worker, one who was happy in the things he could do for others. He was determined to the last to love others better than himself. He showed more courage and self-sacrifice than few could realize. In his death the community loses a loyal citizen and the home a devoted husband and a kind and loving father.
Transcribed as published by Karen Brewer