James Alfred Smiley 1880 - 1949

SMILEY, RIDGEWAY

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 12/27/2012 at 10:24:19

Winfield - One month and one day after his marriage to Mrs. Clariett Ridgeway, 69 year old James Alfred Smiley died. A former Winfield postmaster, he had been ill but a few hours.

Smiley was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1880, the son of James and Sarah Smiley. In 1899 he came to Winfield to live with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. William Smiley. He worked in a local grocery store and became a registered pharmacist before becoming postmaster, which post he filled for several years. He later operated a farm. In 1945, he retired and devoted himself to the care of his cousin, Cora Smiley, with whom he made his home. She died last January. Smiley lived alone until Oct. 8, when he and Mrs. Ridgeway were married at Towson, Md.

Smiley was a member of First Presbyterian church, which he served for many years as trustee and elder. He is survived by his widow and 8 brothers and sisters: Harry, Russell, John, and Dewey, all of Uniontown, Pa.; Edward and Thomas Smiley, both of Yakima, Wash.; Mrs. Grove Moore, Manhassett, N.Y., and Mrs. Vince McHeehen, El Paso, Texas.

Services will be held at First Presbyterian church at 2 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Winfield.

The Hawkeye Gazette, Thurs. Nov. 10, 1949, page 21