Orseneth F. Smith (1928)

BRINSON, HINSHAW, LYON, SMITH

Posted By: Linda Brittain
Date: 3/21/2006 at 07:58:36

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
November 1928

Wm. Brinson recently received the following letter from a Civil war comrade, telling of the death of O. F. Smith, a former resident of Madison county. The letter is as follows:

Lyons, Kansas, December 6, 1928. Mr. Wm. Brinson, My Old Comrade:

“Well how are you coming? Been quite a while since I heard last from you. Well, now I reckon I will begin my letter by giving you a little more sad news. Our old comrade, O. F. Smith, my cousin, who enlisted with us from Madison county, Iowa, and who was wounded at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, answered to the last roll call at midnight of the 30th of November. A little more than two weeks before that, he was ran into by a car on the street of Eldora, Kansas, knocked down, one hip broken, also his pelvis bone was broken and bad internal bruises. He spent a little more than two weeks of intense suffering and then yielded to what we call death. But more strictly he yielded to the end of existence in this world. He has been a bosom companion of mine for about 80 years, and more than 60 years he has been a constant sufferer. I tell them he has suffered more than a thousand deaths. Since March 6, 1862, when he was wounded in the top of his head at Pea Ridge battle. Since that time he had one eye removed because of that wound, then later lost the sight of the other eye, then underwent a surgical operation to have a stone removed from his bladder, then lastly totally wrecked by colliding with an auto, all of these causing intense suffering. The last few days he was quite delirious. The doctor said he had more vitality than any patient he ever had. He was near 87 years old. His going doubles up my loneliness, but his suffering is at an end, and I feel quite sure he had a through pass and is today with our loved ones who have gone on before and in that place where I reckon autos are not allowed.

I am in fairly good health, as is our daughter, who has my care. Two of our daughters, last September, loaded me into our auto and started southeast on a trip to some of our old battlefields. We passed through Springfield, Missouri, crossed Sturgeon creek, where we formed line of battle in our attack in February, 1862. At Springfield, we visited the U.S. cemetery and bowed at some of the graves of our old comrades. Then old Father of Waters at the mouth of the Ohio river, down through Paduca, Kentucky, then on southeast through the Cumberland mountains, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, the end of our journey. We there had a good visit of a week with my sister. Went over four of our old battlefields. Captured a sword and bayonet that was picked up on the battlefield of Taylor’s Ridge, a day of two after the battle. Took Lookout mountain twice, to be sure it was ours. Also went over Missionary mountain twice. Located some of the old landmarks. Went over the identical spot where we captured the ridge, then started on our return home, but over a different route from going down. We followed over quite a bit of the route that we marched over going from Memphis. Went over our old battlefields of Tascumba and Cherry Creek Station, past Muscle Shoals, down on to Memphis and on west through Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, west to Oklahoma City, then north to Kansas, where we started from. We were away from home 16 days, were in ten states, went over 8 old battlefields, traveled 1200 miles, had one puncture and one blowout. Not a drop of rain coming or going, fine roads, splendid scenery. Came home feeling better than when we started. We sure had the trip of our lives. I told them after going over our old battlefields, it looked healthier there than when we were there 64 years ago.

Now Will you are tired I know, for I am, so I will stop here. Here’s hoping you are keeping well and will write me soon. Your old comrade.

F. M. Smith to William Brinson.

We are having splendid weather. O. F.’s body was laid at rest last Saturday by the side of his wife’s at Chase, Kansas.”

Mr. Brinson was in two other battles with F. M. Smith, those of Vicksburg and Atlantic.
_________________________

The Lyons Daily News
Lyons, Kansas
Friday, November 30, 1928

O. F. SMITH DEAD

Civil War Veteran To Be Buried At Chase Saturday Afternoon

Orceneth F Smith, a Chase resident since 1880, died last night in a hospital in El Dorado, Kansas from Injuries sustained a few weeks ago when he was run down by a car on the streets of El Dorado. He was a Civil War veteran and past 86 years old. On account of his advanced age his injuries proved fatal.

Mr Smith was a native of Illinois. He enlisted with Co F, 4th Iowa Cavalry (Infantry), in the Civil War and served until the close of the war. (He served until wounded on March 7, 1862). He was wounded in an engagement at Pea Ridge, Arkansas.

He came to Kansas in 1880, locating on a farm near Chase where he opened a meat market in Chase and lived in town until the death of his wife in 1924 (1914). Since that time he had lived with his sons and daughters.

He is survived by 4 sons, George Smith, Chase; C O Smith, Anadarko, Oklahoma; C E Smith, Los Angeles; and E D Smith, Denver; and 2 daughters, Mrs. Minnie Hinshaw, Lyons and Mrs. Flora Lyon of El Dorado, with whom he was living at the time he received his fatal injury. W D Smith of Lyons is a grandson of the deceased.

Funeral services will be held at the Chase Christian church at 2:30 o'clock, Saturday afternoon and burial will be at Chase with Masonic grave service conferred by brother Masons.