John McMurray Smith

COURTNEY, SMITH

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 7/21/2006 at 18:34:29

The Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 8, 1899

Obituary

John McMurray Smith was born in County Down, Ireland, on the 1st day of August, 1833. At the age of 19 years he, like many other of his countrymen, turned his face to the new world. He landed in Boston, Massachusetts, and after remaining there a few years, went to sea on a trading vessel and made a number of voyages, visiting the West Indies, the South American coast, and later passing around the Cape of Good Hope to East Africa and the East Indies. On one of these voyages, he was shipwrecked off the Canary Islands and for a time suffered the pangs of starvation.

After leaving the sea he again settled in Boston, and soon after met Miss Jane Courtney, to whom he was married on July 4th, 1861, and who yet survives him, together with four sons, James A., William J., Samuel C., and Edward M. The three oldest were born in Boston and the youngest, Edward, is a native of this state.

In September, 1869, the family moved to Iowa and settled on a farm in Jackson county. In 1886 they moved to Madison county, and since that time have lived on the farm were Mr. Smith died.

He was of Scotch-Irish-Presbyterian descent, a child of the covenant, baptized in infancy, and reared in the faith of his fathers. He united with the First Presbyterian Church of Winterset, Iowa by letter, in 1888. His piety was not of the demonstrative kind, but it was made manifest in his daily life and his character. He was a man of sterling integrity and unimpeachable character, and was highly respected by all who knew him a kind parent and a tender and devoted husband.

He met with the accident that caused his death, Saturday morning, January 21st. He was not kicked by a horse, as is commonly reported. The animal struck him accidentally while trying to rush past him through a gate. In spite of all that medical aid and kind attention could do for him he suffered intensely till Tuesday evening, January 24th. At 6:15 o’clock, as the sun sank to rest beneath the western horizon and withdrew its light from the prairie home that he had bought with years of honest toil, his spirit took its flight for that better world where it is always day; as the familiar objects about the farm that had received his care and attention or that were the work of his hands, grew dim in the gathering twilight and faded from the sight, those waiting by his bedside *arned to watch the look of suffering face from his kindly face, and to see the eyes close in his last sleep.

The funeral services were conducted from the Presbyterian church on the following Tuesday. The Rev. Dr. Ely gave a beautiful sermon from the text: “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.” Among the floral offerings, loving bands had placed on the casket a design of six links, one broken, and a sheaf of ripened wheat. The four sons bore the body of their father to its last resting place.
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The Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 26, 1899
Page 1

Kicked by a Horse.

Prominent Farmer of Jackson Township Dies from Injuries Inflicted by a horse.

Last Saturday evening John Smith of Jackson township was kicked in the abdomen by a horse and died of the injury Tuesday evening. He attempted to head off the animal and prevent it from running from one lot to another. He did so but at the gate the horse whirled and kicked, striking Mr. Smith in the lower part of the abdomen. He managed to get to the house alone, and suffered until Tuesday evening when death relieved him. Mr. Smith is the father of Supt. Ed. M. Smith, and Atty. Sam Smith of Winterset and was one of Madison County’s reliable and highly respected farmers. The funeral will be held in the Presbyterian church in the city today (Thursday) at 2:30 p.m.

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