Samuel Craig Smith (1929)
DABNEY, COURTNEY, SMITH
Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 6/24/2007 at 16:43:46
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, December 26, 1929
Page 1SAM C. SMITH DIES THURSDAY
Prominent Attorney And President of Winterset Savings Bank Succumbs Following Operation
Samuel Craig Smith, Winterset attorney, and president of the Winterset Savings bank, died at the Methodist hospital in Des Moines, Thursday afternoon, December 26th, shortly after 1:30 o'clock. Mr. Smith had been in the Des Moines hospital for treatment since November 17th. His condition continued to grow worse and an operation for tumor of the bowels was performed on Monday December 23. He rallied Monday night and it was thought that he was improving. He became worse however Tuesday night and death came Thursday.
Mr. Smith was 61 years of age. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Smith and was born February 4, 1868 at Brookline, Massachusetts. The family came to Iowa in 1869 and located on a farm in Jackson county in the eastern part of the state.
In March 1886, the Smiths moved to the farm in Jackson township, six miles west of Winterset on the West Star road, now occupied by Gerald Mullen.
The deceased attended the rural schools in Jackson county, and after moving to this county taught for awhile at Jackson school No. 7. He attended the Dexter Normal college and also the Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls. He took his law work at the State University of Iowa and was graduated from that college in 1896.
Mr. Smith was married to Miss Myrtle Dabney on December 20, 1899 and they began housekeeping in the house on West Washington street that has since been their home. They were the parents of four children, whom with the mother, survive Mr. Smith; Murray of Aurora, Illinois; Carleton of Roanoke, Virginia; Miss Florence who is employed at Iowa City and Courtney at home. He also leaves three brothers; James A. Smith and Ed M. Smith of Des Moines and Will J. Smith of Jackson township.
Funeral services will be held in the First Presbyterian church of Winterset, Saturday, December 28th at 2 o'clock and burial will be made in the Winterset cemetery.
Mr. Smith was a member of the Presbyterian church and belonged to the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges. During the last year he was elected vice chancellor of the grand chapter of the K. P. lodge.
Sam C. Smith had practiced law in Winterset for more than thirty two years; practically all of that time he practiced alone, but for a short time was a member of the firm of Wilkinson, Smith & Wilkinson. Judge W. S. Cooper a long time friend, writes of his work as follows:
"The trial table never appealed to Mr. Smith so much as the counsel table; he was recognized as a sound and safe adviser; his counsel on business propositions was always good and this class of business appealed to him more than the rough and tumble of the contest.
From 1911 t0 1915, Mr. Smith served as county attorney. He tried a number of important cases, including two murder cases, one the Mexican at Earlham, who killed one of his friends in a quarrel over a gambling controversy; the other the case known as the Cook case; in each of these cases he was successful and secured a conviction.
Mr. Smith was absolutely honest with his clients, with counsel on the other side, with the witnesses in the case and with the court. His word, given professionally was never questioned and his promises were always kept. He was a man on whom anyone could rely.
In court, Mr. Smith never posed as an orator; he was never dramatic; he never appealed to the back seats or the gallery; he tried his case to the court and his arguments were concise and logical, his statements were clear, followed each other in their natural order and led to correct conclusions. While never a showy man, he was a lawyer of more than ordinary ability.
The bar of this county has suffered severely in the last few years, Judge Wilkinson, Oliver Lucas, John A. Guiher and now Sam C. Smith; all good lawyers; all good men; each one a credit to his profession, and each one a credit to mankind."
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 2, 1930
Page 1HAVE LAST RITES FOR SAM C. SMITH
Many From a Distance Attended Services at Presbyterian Church
Funeral services for Sam C. Smith, Winterset attorney and president of the Winterset Savings bank, were held Saturday afternoon, December 28th at the First Presbyterian church in Winterset. The Rev. Paul M. Fowler, pastor of the church, conducted the services at two o'clock. E. A. Grimwood of Des Moines, supreme representative of the Knights of Pythias grand Lodge and a personal friend of Mr. Smith's spoke a few words at the Winterset cemetery where Mr. Smith was buried.
Mr. Smith died Thursday December 26th at the Methodist hospital in Des Moines following an operation for a tumor.
The deceased was vice chancellor of the grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and eleven of the state and district officers attended the services Saturday afternoon: Clyde C. Gustlin of Fort Dodge, grand chancellor; E. A. Grimwood of Oxford Junction and L. S. Robinson of Glenwood, supreme representatives; Ray Garber of Adair; Ward Ferguson, G.K.R.S. of Des Moines; L. L. Beinhauer of Des Moines; S. G. Wilson of Ft. Dodge; R. W. Rhodes and Bernard Rhodes of Glenwood; John Olson of Oxford Junction and T. W. Arnold, D.D.G.C. of Adair.
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 2, 1930
Page 2Samuel Craig Smith
Samuel Craig Smith, son of John McMurray and Jane Courtney Smith, was born in Brookline, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts on February 4, 1868. He died in Des Moines, Iowa on December 26, 1929 at the age of 61 years 10 months and 22 days. He came to Iowa with his parents and two older brothers, in 1868 the family locating on a farm in Jackson county.
In March 1886, the family moved to Madison county, locating on what was then known as the Cutler farm six miles west of Winterset. He attended the rural schools of Jackson county. After moving to Madison county he taught school for a time an by his own efforts financed his higher education. He was a graduate of the State Teachers college at Cedar Falls. He was graduated from the State University of Iowa in 1896 and one year later received his degree in law from the same institution.
Mr. Smith was married to Miss Myrtle Dabney on December 20, 1899 and they began housekeeping in the house on West Washington street that has since been their home. They were the parents of four children, whom with the mother survive him; Murray of Aurora, Illinois; Carleton of Roanoke, Virginia, Miss Florence and Courtney at home. He also leaves three brothers, James A. Smith and Ed M. Smith of Des Moines and Will J. Smith of Jackson township.
In 1897 he engaged in the practice of law at Winterset. He served Madison county as county attorney from 1911 to 1915. His utmost honesty in his relationship to court and client, his fine regard for the rights of others, his strict adherence to ethical standards, his fidelity to the principles of truth and justice and over and above it all, his daily practice of the ideals of Christian brotherhood were such as to earn for him the respect and love of his associates.
Mr. Smith had been president of the Winterset Savings bank for several years. He had been a member of the local Presbyterian church since he moved to this county and served as treasurer for a number of years. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge.
He was indulgent in his devotion to his loved ones; constant and devoted to the principles of the order of Knights of Pythias, an order, that but a few months ago conferred on him the second highest honor within the gift of the Iowa domain of that order. He was unostentatious, abhorring hypocrisy and deceit.
________________________The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, January 9, 1930
Page 9, Column 5Jefferson -
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Meyer attended the Sam C. Smith funeral Saturday afternoon.
Gravesite
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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