Smith, James Nicolas 1863 – 1942
SMITH, WILCOX, HOLZWARTH, LANZ, EDELBROCK
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/23/2013 at 14:00:19
Source: The Howard County Times December 16, 1942, Page 3
James N. Smith
Funeral services for James N. Smith were held at the Methodist church Thursday afternoon, Dec. 10, at 2:00 o’clock. The Rev. E. E. Allen and Mrs. Pearl Mead sang two selections: “The Perfect Day” and “Abide With Me.” Ruth Blackburn was the organist.
Members of Cresco lodge No. 150 A. F. A. M. attended in a body and L. C. DeNoylles delivered the Masonic ritual funeral service. Burial was in the family lot in the Howard Center cemetery. Rev. Turner read the following life sketch of deceased at the funeral.
James Nicolas Smith was born near Janesville, Wis., Sept. 24, 1863, where he spent the early years of his life. As a boy he came in a covered wagon with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Smith, and two sisters to a farm in Saratoga township a mile north of what is now Davis Corners where he grew to manhood, undergoing all the experiences of pioneer life.
On May 20, 1889 he married Lara Oneita Wilcox and built a home on his father’s farm. Within a year the house was burned to the ground and the other farm buildings destroyed by cyclone but were soon rebuilt. At this farm home seven children were born: Lew, Eva, Bessie, Helen, Fred, Marjorie and Charles. In 1910 the family moved to Mrs. Smith’s parental farm near Howard Center where the eighth child, Bernice, was born.
In 1919, Mr. Smith retired from farming and moved to Cresco, Iowa, where he has lived since. On December 8, 1942, while walking across the Milwaukee railroad tracks on Fourth street west, he was struck by an east bound passenger train and instantly killed.
Mr. Smith is survived by seven children: Lew Smith of Ogden, Utah; Mrs. Bessie Holzwarth of Glendive, Montana; Mrs. Helen Lanz of Cresco, Iowa; Rev. Fred Smith of Mineral Point, Wis.; Mrs. Ernest Edelbrock of Price, N. D.; Charles Smith of Burlington, Iowa, and Bernice Smith of Washington, D.C. Mrs. Smith preceded him in death on Nov. 16, 1936. One child, Eva, died in infancy. There are seventeen grand children and four nephews.
The period through which Mr. Smith lived, extending from the Civil War to the second World War, saw many changes in mode of living and thinking. Most of the mechanical inventions which are now a part of everyday life first came into use during the lifetime of these pioneers of our state. Mr. Smith enjoyed recalling the changes which he had witnessed and maintained an active interest in world affairs to the end of his life.
He was one of the organizing members of the Alliance store, the Farmers creamery and the United Shippers and was widely known throughout the county as an operator of threshing machines, a lumber saw, road graders and other machines in addition to his occupation of farming. At one time he was active in politics.
Mr. Smith was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Howard Center Schoolmates, and the Cresco Methodist church.
All who knew him will remember him as a good father, and kind neighbor and a loyal friend.
Persons from out of town attending the funeral were: Charles Smith and family from Burlington, Iowa; Mrs. Bessie Holzwarth, Glendive, Montana; Rev. Fred M. Smith, Mineral Point, Wis.; Dr. and Mrs. Cliff Haven, Rochester, Minn.
Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.
Howard Center Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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