Oscar Otto Smith

SMITH, STADLER, MARSCHALL, WILSON, HAMER, COLE, CORIL, EVANS

Posted By: Colleen Arbegust Smith (email)
Date: 3/21/2007 at 11:33:17

unknown newspaper
unknown date

O. O. Smith,
Apple Orchard Founder Dies;
Funeral Set

Oscar O. Smith, 95, native Coffins Grove township farmer and apple orchard owner and lifelong and prominent resident of the Manchester community passed away Wednesday evening following a long period of illness.

Funeral services for Mr. Smith will be held at the Shelly funeral home at 3 P.M. Saturday. Burial will be made at the Baker cemetery at Coffins Grove.

Oscar Otto, son of John E. and Margaret Stadler Smith, was born Aug. 8, 1875, in a log cabin on the Parental farm in Coffins Grove township. He grew to young manhood on the farm and received his education in the rural school in Coffins Grove township. Following his schooling he assisted in the operation of the parental farm until his marriage.

He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Marschall on Oct. 30, 1901, at Manchester. They farmed for a year on the Marschall farm in this community and them moved into Manchester where he worked as a barber for two years.

In 1905 they moved back to the Smith farm and in 1906 he started the development of the Smith Apple Orchard; and enterprise that has enjoyed a unique prominence in this community for over 65 years. In 1933 his son, Herbert S. Smith joined his father in the continued operation of the orchard and farming operation for many years.

Mr. Smith was an active participant in community activities and served on the Delaware County Fair Board for many years. He was one of the original directors of the Farmers and Merchants Savings bank here when it was organized and has remained as a director on this board until his death. He was a life member of the Iowa State Horticultural society and was a member of this organization for over 60 years.

He is survived by one son., Herbert S. Smith of Manchester; five daughters, Dr. Helen L. Smith of Murphysboro, Tenn., Mrs. O. Kenneth [Alma] Wilson of Garden Grove, California, Mrs. Walter [Maxine] Hamer Jr. of Los Angeles, California, Mrs. George [Margaret] Cole of Manchester, and Mrs. Virgil [Virginia] Coril of Upland, Indiana, seventeen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Margaret Evans of Manchester, and one nephew, Burdette Evans of Masonville.

He was preceded in death by his wife on Oct. 26, 1967, and by his parents.