Levi Smith (1894)

BANKS, COCHORN, JAMES, SMITH

Posted By: J. Rod Rood
Date: 11/25/2005 at 01:50:35

The Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, December 21, 1894
Page 7

DEATH UNDER THE KNIFE --

Levi Smith, of Scott Township, Meets That End. -- The Operation was Performed for the Removal of a Tumor on the Neck, That had been growing for Twenty Years.

Quite a sad death was that of Mr. Levi Smith, of Scott township, which occurred last Tuesday. For about twenty years Mr. Smith has been troubled with a growing tumor on his neck. Of late years it became very troublesome, and for the past ten weeks he was confined to his bed. Dr. John Cooper, of Des Moines, formerly of Winterset, assisted by Dr. G. N. Skinner, of Winterset, attended him. It was decided that the only chance to save his life was to remove the tumor. After putting the patient under the influence of chloroform, the tumor was removed with apparent success. But in about half an hour, there were evident signs of exhaustion, and, without a recovery of power of speech, though it was thought with some degree of consciousness, death came, and all was over. Without the removal of the tumor -- which weighed six pounds -- life might have lasted a few days, but certainly not many.

Mr. Banks, a son-in-law of Mr. Smith, came into this office the same day of the sad affair, and stated that the family attached no blame in any way to the attending surgeons, and were confident they had done everything that could be done to save Mr. Smith's life, and all recognize that the operation was the last hope.

Levi Smith was born in Kenton county, Kentucky, in 1830. In 1854 he married Margaret Ann Cochorn. Two children were born of this marriage. He first moved to Indiana, and from there to this county in 1847, thus being among the very early settlers. He settled on what is now the S. S. Burd place, just southwest of town. His second marriage, which took place November 19th, 1858, was to Sarah James, by whom he has had ten children, eight of whom are still living.

Gravesite
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen