SMIT, Martha 1888-1920

SMIT, ENGELKES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/26/2016 at 14:55:12

Mrs. Henry Smit Taken After A Brief Illness

Another Home Has Been Saddened By The Taking Of A Loving Wife And Mother

Leaves Four Small Children

Was Well Known in This City Where Much of Her Early Life Was Spent

It is our sad duty this week to chronicle the passing of a good wife, mother and daughter in the person of Mrs. Henry Smit, who died at her home in Stout, this county, Monday, April 12th, 1920, at 2:30 in the afternoon, after an illness of eleven days with pneumonia.

A loving wife and mother has been taken and four children left without the guiding care of a mother at a most tender age. An only daughter and the idol of a fond father has been called and not only the home, but the entire community has been saddened beyond measure.

Mrs. Smit was born Martha Engelkes, June 17, 1888, in Colfax township, Grundy county, Iowa. She was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Omke Engelkes. At the age of two years death deprived her of a mother. The family consisting of the father, two sons and the daughter were kept together under the tender and watchful care of the father and grandmother, and Martha grew to womanhood and was the very soul and life of the family.

In her girlhood days she spent much of her time in several of the best homes in this city, and for four years was employed in the central telephone office where she was regarded as a most faithful and accommodating employee. She also attended school here from 1891 to 1898. All who knew her regarded her in the highest esteem for her lovable character and many womanly virtues.

On May 3rd, 1915, she was united in marriage to Mr. Henry Smit. To this union was born four children--Elaine aged 4, Grace aged 3, Florence aged 2, and Harley aged 3 months. Since her marriage her home has been at Stout where Mr. Smit is manager of the Independent Grain and Lumber Co.

Besides the husband, children, and father mentioned, she leaves two brothers--E. O. and Geo. Engelkes, both of Sibley, Iowa, and the grandmother who took the place of the mother and who is living with her son, Henry, in this city at the ripe old age of 86 years.

A little more than a week before her death, Mrs. Smit was stricken with pneumonia, and though everything possible was done for her by medical skill and loving hands she passed into that peaceful sleep that knows no wakening at the age of 31 years, 9 months and 25 days. Probably no one feels her loss more keenly than does her father who had made his home with his daughter the past few years. To the bereaved family and relatives the heartfelt sympathies of the entire community is extended.

Funeral services will be held at the home in Stout at one o'clock on Friday of this week, and the remains will be laid at rest beside those of the mother in the Heinrich church cemetery in Shiloh township.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 15 April 1920, pg 1