SMITH, Arthur Willis

SMITH

Posted By: Sharon R. Becker (email)
Date: 3/24/2015 at 19:38:00

Obituary ~ Arthur Willis Smith
October 17, 1902 ~ July 05, 1914

Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, July 09, 1914

LAD DIES FROM FALL

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Arthur Smith Died Sunday Morning From Injuries
Received a Week Ago in Falling Off a Horse.

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Arthur Smith, the thirteen year old son of county road foreman George Smith, died Sunday morning, at the home of his parents six miles southwest of Decatur, the result of injuries received in falling from a horse the previous Sunday.

At the time of the accident Arthur was returning to the barn from the well, where he had taken his father's team to water. He was riding one of the horses and leading the other one, and one of the horses reached for a bite of grass by the roadside, and Arthur either lost his balance or was pulled off by the horse and fell headlong to the ground, striking his head and injuring his spine. Some of his brothers saw him fall and ran to his assistance and found him unconscious. He was carried to the house and Dr. Brittan, of Decatur, summoned and he was given every attention. Later Dr. McDonald of Creston, and Dr. Quigley were summoned, but during the seven days he lingered he never regained consciousness.

Arthur Willis Smith was born in this county, Oct. 17, 1902, being 12 years, 8 months and 18 days old at the time of his death. He was the youngest of a family of ten children and his death was the first to break the family circle. He is survived by his father, mother, six brothers and three sisters. He was a bright little lad, a general favorite in the neighborhood, and his death is deeply regretted by many friends. The entire community extend their sympathy to the bereaved family in their hour of trouble.

Funeral services were held at the family home on Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. M. H. Brinker, pastor of the Decatur Christian church, the choir singing several appropriate hymns. Six little boys, all about Arthur's age, acted as pall bearers, and his body was tenderly laid to rest in the Elk cemetery.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015