Prosper Hubbard Smith 1862-1932

SMITH

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/31/2010 at 20:38:08

Retired Farmer Hunting Victim
P. H. Smith, 70, Dies of Heart Failure
Prosper Hubbard Smith, retired farmer, died Friday [November 18, 1932] afternoon of a heart attack following three hours of pheasant hunting. Mr. Smith with R. H. Green, Henry and Albert Mahlum and John Smith had been shooting on the Chris Blom farm northwest of Estherville. They had gotten their limit and had just started across the fields toward the homestead when Mr. Smith fell. He passed away in a few moments. The body was brought to Estherville at once. The death was declared due to heart failure by Coroner Fred Sternborg, upon his return to Estherville after attending Dr. Alden following his death from the same cause only a few miles away from the place where Mr. Smith was stricken.

Mr. Smith was born on Sept. 12, 1862 at Knoxville. He had been a farmer all of his life until retiring in 1920 when he and Mrs. Smith moved to Estherville from Spirit Lake near which town they had resided since 1910, to make their home with Miss Ruth Smith, assistant principal of Estherville high school.

Mrs. Smith, to whom he was married on March 14, 1888, also survives. Their son, Harry W. Smith passed away in January, 1929. Their daughter-in-law and granddaughter Betty make their home in Estherville. Mr. Smith was a member of the Odd Fellow and Rebekah lodges.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon from the Methodist church with Rev. W. A. WinterStein officiating. Interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery beside his son. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, November 22, 1932)

Prosper H. Smith Suffers Heart Attack While Out Hunting
Prosper H. Smith was another victim of the open hunting season. He was a great lover of hunting and for several seasons had gone with his neighbor, Rube Green. They went out to the Green farm on Wednesday afternoon and hunted all afternoon, getting the limit.

On Friday Henry Mahlum invited Mr. Green to go to his farm for the afternoon’s hunting. Mr. Green said he would like to take his neighbor, Mr. Smith. Albert Mahlum and John Smith went along but did not take guns or hunt.

Mr. Mahlum said the renter on the place went with them and they crossed a small corn field, bagging within two of the limit. When they got to the end of the field they sat down on some corn shocks. Mr. Smith said they better get a couple more and they again made the field. On returning to the house they were walking along when Mr. Smith fell to the ground and passed away a few minutes later.

Mr. Smith has resided here with his daughter, Miss Ruth Smith, an instructor in the high school and Junior College here. He was born on September 21st, 1862, at Knoxville. He had been a close friend of Mr. Green’s and was a fine neighbor and gentleman.

The funeral services were held from the Methodist Church on Monday afternoon at two o’clock, the Rev. W. A. WinterStein officiating. The remains were laid to rest in Oak Hill Cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, November 23, 1932)