SMIT, Henry P. 1861-1949

SMIT, FREESE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/24/2016 at 19:31:50

H. P. Smit Dies Thursday After A Long Illness

H. P. Smit died last Thursday at the farm home of his daughter, Mrs. William Engelkes, in Colfax township. The end came after a long illness followed with pneumonia and complications. He was 88 years old. Mr. Smit had been in failing health for several years. He lived alone in his house in Holland until about six years ago when he was persuaded to come to the Engelkes farm where his daughter could help to look after his needs. He was housed in a comfortable home on the farm. He quit driving his car several years ago and had not left the farm for a long time before his death.

Mr. Smit was one of the early residents of this community and during his active years took a deep interest in public affairs and for several years he repeatedly expressed his ideas of government and public service through the columns of The Grundy Register. It was only because of advanced years and his failing health that he discontinued his contribution to the paper.

Funeral Service Monday
Funeral services were held at the home at 12:30 Monday afternoon and later at the Colfax Presbyterian church. Rev. George H. Swalve conducted the services. Burial was by the side of his wife in the Holland cemetery.

Obituary
Henry P. Smit was born March 4, 1861, at Weener, Germany. In 1873, when he was 12 years old, he with his parents and his brothers emigrated to this country, settling in Grundy county on a farm in Colfax township.

In 1882 he was united in marriage with Swantje Freese, and to this union eight children were born, and excepting for a few years that they resided in South Dakota, they made their home in Grundy county continually. For a while he was in the mercantile business in Holland. His occupation for the greater part of his life was farming. After they retired they moved to Holland where they lived for many years. Mr. Smit joined the Colfax Center Presbyterian church on April 19, 1908, and served as one of the six secretaries of the congregation which the Colfax church has had in her 78-year history.

He would have been 88 years old if he had lived until March 4. He was preceded in death by his wife on Jan. 29, 1927; four children, two sons and one daughter in infancy, and one daughter, Mrs. Will Itzen, in 1933; also his parents, 5 brothers and one sister.

He leaves to mourn his departure, one daughter and three sons; Will, Grundy Center; Lena, Mrs. Will Engelkes, Holland; Henry, of Grundy Center, and George, Holland; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Mr. Smit was the last of a family of six sons and one daughter to die.

Relatives from a distance who came for the funeral service were: Henry F. Smit and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smit, Lennox, So. Dak.; H. M. Smit, Sioux Falls, So. Dak.; John Smit, Chester, So. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. John Dirks and Miss Susie Frerichs, Bristow, Ia.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 3 February 1949, pg 14