Ozias Pomeroy Smith 1829-1895

SMITH

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 2/3/2021 at 08:58:44

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Wednesday, April 10, 1895
page 1

Ozias Pomeroy Smith was born in Brookfield, Vt, June 16, 1829. When but a lad her went to New York, where he lived for nine years and from there to the city of Lowell, Mass., remaining nine years. 1855 he came west, locating in New Boston, Illinois, where he remained two years, when he came to Jefferson township this county, ? on the farm on which he continued to reside until his death, which occurred Tuesday night April 1, 1895. On Wednesday, March 27, Mr. Smith quit his work on account of sickness, which after a day developed into a severe attack of quinzy. This form of disease was subdued, but was followed in turn by other complications which the skill of the physician seemed to neither control nor hold in check, but the vital forces constantly failed until death came tot he sufferer's relief after less than a week from the time he was taken sick. The funeral services occurred from the late home Thursday afternoon, April 4, conducted by Rev. J. H, Knchans of Wapello, and was attended not only all his neighbors, but by many friends from other parts of the county. The interment was at the Harrison cemetery.

Mr. Smith was quiet and retiring in manner, approaching a reserve as to strangers. He never sought notoriety, was not aspiring, though he was possessed of a mind trained and stored with useful information that fitted him for any situation and placed him intellectually in the ? of his associates. He loved god books and these were his daily companions. He loved home and all with in the home circle, He had such affection for even the dumb brutes that he raised on his farm that, for years, he had not killed or seen killed a single one of them. Without children of his own, he had the parental affection for and care of, not a few who have grown up in the Smith home, and who will always have for him the abiding affection of children. With him "love was the fulfilling of the law." He sought not his own but the good of others. Of refined and literary tastes, farm life was always distasteful to him, and could not in the nature of things, be to him a field for financial gain. It was only love and duty which he recognized as his debt to his aged parents that called and held him to the farm. Reared in a Christian home, he had the greatest reverence for God and his word; was liberal in supporting the churches and loved the story of the cross. Though never forming any church connection, he frequently declared, in the presence of his friends his faith in the Christ and was never slow in silencing the scoffer. He was held in highest esteem by his neighbors, who will miss him but the faithful and loving wife and that circle of young people who were children of the household, have suffered a greater loss.