SMITH, R. D.

SMITH, BROWN

Posted By: Nettie Mae (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:29

From the Clinton Herald, Sept. 12, 1913, Page 10

FIND R. D. SMITH DEAD IN HIS BED
AGED COLORED RESIDENT OF CLINTON PASSES AWAY DURING THURSDAY NIGHT.
DEATH WAS SUDDEN
Had Attended Salvation Army Meeting Thursday Evening and Returned Home Singing as Usual -- Dead Body Discovered at 11 O'clock Friday Morning.

On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of his reception in the church, probably the greatest event in his life next to his liberation from slavery. Dr. C. F. Kellogg, county coroner, attributed his death to heart failure and it is not likely that an inquest will be held. The body has been removed to the Cass Estabrook undertaking rooms.
Clinton's most picturesque colored resident was found dead in his bed about 11 o'clock Friday morning at the home of his step-daughter, Mrs. Arthur Brown, 218 Elm street, by Mrs. Brown with whom he had lived for the past three weeks. Thursday night he appeared in his usual health and attended the Salvation Army meeting giving his religious experience, as had been his practice in recent weeks.
Friday he had planned to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his reception into the Methodist church and his religious fervor makes it doubtful whether he viewed that event with less happiness than the freedom granted him by President Abraham Lincoln. For years, Mr. Smith was a member of the First Methodist church of Clinton and was one of the most devoted followers of his religion.
When Mrs. Brown left the house at ?:20 o'clock Friday morning to go in the home of a friend, Mr. Smith was not yet awake. She was not particularly alarmed although he was an early riser as she remembered that he came home Thursday night singing as was his custom one of the traits which marked his daily life on the streets. About 11 o'clock, however, she says she felt impelled to go home and investigate her (several illegible words) apparently sleeping man, ?? in the discovery that he was dead.
So far as can be discovered, Mr. Smith was aged 75 years last May. He was born in slavery and came north shortly after the civil war, coming to Clinton forty-two years ago from Polo, Ill. for years he was employed in various capacities about the city and had worked for many families. He had been married three times and leaves two step-daughters, Mrs. Brown and one living in Seattle Wash. to mourn his death.

The Clinton Herald, Sept. 15, 1913
Page 6

Funeral services for the late R. D. Smith were held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the A. M. E. church. One of the Clinton families for whom Mr. Smith had worked for a number of years and by whom he had been cared for in his last days put the arrangements for the funeral in the hands of Mr. and Mrs. M. O. Culbertson who arranged the whole service beautifully and to the entire satisfaction of all.

When the body arrived at the Bethel A. M. E. church, it was met at the door by Rev. C. L. Nye of the Methodist church and Rev. G. W. Slater of the A. M. E. church, beautiful selections were sung by the choir and Rev. C. L. Nye offered prayer. Rev. Mr. Slater then read the scripture lesson and delivered a short sermon. Rev. Mr. Nye spoke of Mr. Smith as being a character that was (article just ends)