Anna Davis Smith 1875-1925

SMITH, DAVIS, DRULEY

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/31/2010 at 18:42:06

Mrs. John Smith Pioneer Woman of Estherville Passes Away
Mrs. John G. Smith, who was Anna Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Davis, and a life long resident of this city, passed away at the Coleman hospital at eleven o’clock on Tuesday morning. She had been in the hospital for several weeks afflicted with infection caused from her tonsils. She has been a sufferer but has borne up well. At times she gained some in strength and it seemed she would recover. She did not seem to have the vitality to throw off the poison and it finally overcame the remaining strength she had. On Monday she seemed a little better but after three o’clock on Tuesday morning she failed rapidly.

Mrs. Smith was born in this city on September 17, 1875. She was educated in the public schools here and was among the first to graduate when a High school was organized here. She was always an active girl and worked on her nerve at many times but she never gave in. This was one of the reasons her constitution did not have the resistance to throw off the poison. She was an exceptionally bright woman. Her great interest was in her daughters and her life was wrapped up in them and their education. The writer has known her since childhood and she was a wonderful girl as a school girl and has been a wonderful woman and mother.

For sometime past she has been connected with the Christensen store and has been faithful to her trust there and was on duty up to the day she was taken to the hospital. She was beloved about the store and by the patrons of that institution.

The funeral services will be held from the home on Thursday at two o’clock and from the Methodist church of which she was an active member at two thirty. The remains will be laid to rest in the Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, September 9, 1925)

Passed Away Very Suddenly Yesterday
Mrs. John G. Smith Died at 10:30 Tuesday Morning
Death Mourned By All
One of the Finest Women in Estherville – Funeral Will be Thursday Afternoon

Words seem inadequate to express the sorrow and grief that spread over Estherville yesterday when it was learned that Mrs. John G. Smith had passed away after an illness of about six weeks. Mrs. Smith had lived in Estherville for fifty years and her life her had been filled with loving deeds and kindness and it seemed that she should have been permitted to continue to do her good work rather than be taken away. However, the world has been made richer for her having lived here during this half century and the bereaved relatives and friends have comfort in knowing that she has passed on to a place where she will rest in peace. About six weeks ago she began to complain of ill health. She at once consulted with physicians and it was thought her illness was due to teeth and tonsils. She had some of her teeth pulled and later had her tonsils removed. In some manner she became poisoned and infection set in. She was taken to the hospital where she has been during the past five weeks. At times her pains and misery have seemed almost unbearable but always she would look forward to the time when she would look forward to the time when she would be well again and would once more be back with her family and friends. Anna was born in Estherville September 17, 1875. Her education was received in the local schools and for three years after her graduation from high school taught in the rural and town schools. She then clerked in the Hobein department store for several years. ON August 30, 1900, she was united in marriage to John G. Smith. Two daughters, Margaret and Gretchen, came to gladden the home of this happy couple. For the past five years Mrs. Smith has been a clerk at the Christensen Dry Goods Store. While she worked there she had at all times the good will of her employer and co-workers. Her courteous manner and pleasant ways won for herself a host of true friends who will greatly miss her. She worshiped her home and family and always was willing to sacrifice that they might have the very best there was. When but a young girl she united with the Methodist church and has been active in every line of its work. She belonged to many of the church societies and worked hard for their support and upbuilding. Her willingness and desire to help will make her missed by all her associates. She was also a member of the Eastern Star Lodge and Daughters of the American Revolution. When a little girl of six years she, together with others, organized a club which they called the D.D.D.’s. This club is still in existence today with most of the charter members living. Mrs. Smith was one of the most active members of this society. Although her family and friends are stricken with grief over her departure from this world they have great consolation in knowing that although her life was short it was one of usefulness and full of kind words and deeds and the world has been made better for her life here. Besides the grief stricken husband and daughters she is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Davis, pioneer residents of Emmet county, one sister, Mrs. l. L. Druley, of Prescott, Wis., and two brothers, G. W. Davis, of Motley, Minn., and Ralph Davis, of Kansas City, besides a large number of other relatives. The sympathy of the many friends in this community is extended to the bereaved family and relatives. Although their hours of sorrow seem very dark and almost impossible to bear they may glory in the knowledge that they have had for their own one of the most noble and worth while women that has ever been in this community. Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 at the Methodist church, Rev. R. T. Chipperfield officiating. Interment will be made in Oak Hill Cemetery. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, September 9, 1925)

Mrs. Anna Smith Passes; Lived in City Entire Life
Widely Known and Greatly Esteemed; Past Worthy Matron Eastern Star
Mrs. Anna Smith, wife of John G. Smith, passed away Tuesday morning, September 8, at a little before eleven, and in her passing Estherville mourns one of her most widely known and respected women. Mrs. Smith was born in Estherville nearly fifty years ago, September 17 being the date of her birth, and she attended our schools graduating in 1893 with the third class of our high school. After her graduation she took a position as clerk in the E. T. Hobein store which she held until her marriage to John G. Smith, twenty-five years ago on August 30h, and since her marriage she has made her home here. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Margaret who is a junior student in college, and Gretchen, a junior in our high school. Mrs. Smith assisted her husband in the conducting of his Variety store and after he sold that a number of years ago she had been one of the most efficient and pleasing clerks of the L.M. Christensen store.

For some time past, Mrs. Smith’s health had been poorly and several weeks ago she was taken to the hospital for care as she was suffering with bad tonsils, infected teeth and other complications. Her general condition was at such a low point, however, that she could not throw off the accumulated poisons and she gradually failed until death relieved her of her sufferings.

She was a member of North Star Chapter Eastern Star and was honored with many of the offices in that organization including Worthy Matron. This is indicative of the great esteem in which she was held by all who were privileged to work with her. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and an active church worker. She also belonged to the D.A.R. and to the D.D.D. cooking club.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Davis, one sister, Mrs. L. L. Druley of Prescott, Wis., two brothers, G. W. Davis of Motley, Minn., and Ralph Davis of Kansas City, Mo., and by her husband and two daughters.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at two thirty from the Methodist Episcopal church. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, September 9, 1925)