Smith, Seward LeClere (1884-1951)

SMITH, LECLERE, SMITH, BRIAN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:00

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, November 19, 1951

Seward LeClere Smith, second son of Dwight and Lulie [LeClere] Smith, was born in Monticello, Iowa, Feb. 19, 1884. In infancy he was brought to a farm north of Blairsburg to spend the first five years of his life. His father became ill with pneumonia and died, so, with his mother and brothers, Seward moved back to Monticello where he remained until he had completed his high school training. He studied for one year at Iowa State college and then began farming at Prairieburg, Iowa.

He was joined in marriage to Ida L. Smith, Oct. 3, 1906 at Prairieburg, Iowa. After 14 years in that community, he brought his family to Blairsburg, to the farm of his childhood, which farm had been his chief interest until the time of his death.

He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and joined the Presbyterian church at Monticello when he was a boy, and was active in Christian work throughout his lifetime. At the time of his death he was a member of Christ's church at Blairsburg. He wrote his own testimony shortly before his death as follows: "My mistakes have been many, but my sins have been more. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all sin. Christ died for my sins. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me."

Surely it would be fitting to say of him as of Abraham, "He looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Heb. 11-10) On Nov. 9, 1951 he left this earth to enter that city. He did not take his family along, but he desires that they shall follow later and dwell in that beautiful city, Heaven.

The loved ones remaining are his wife, Ida L. Smith; his children, Rev. Dwight Smith, Radnor, Ohio, his wife and three children; Rev. Edward Smith, Backus, Minn., his wife and six children; Everett Smith, Blairsburg, his wife and four children; Dr. Delbert Smith, Portland, Ore., his wife and three children; Lucille, married to Robert Brian, Wenachee, Wash., and their two children, and Lorraine, a student at Iowa State college. Also surviving are his brothers, Fred H. Smith, Allen, Sask., Canada, his wife and children and Dr. A. Dwight Smith, LaCanada, Calif., his wife, children and grandchildren.

Other relatives and friends are many. May the day soon come for a great reunion in Heaven.

[Seward and Ida Smith are both buried in the Blairsburg Cemetery]