SMITH, James Albert, Sen. 1851-1918
SMITH, CREGO
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/27/2011 at 12:17:11
#1:
SEN. J. A, SMITH
DEAD IN PASADENAProminent Iowa Man Succumbed
to Pneumonia Saturday
at Winter HomeIowa was deeply shocked Saturday morning by the news of the death in California of James A. Smith of Osage, one of the best known men in this state.
He had lived in Pasadena, during the winters, for several years, having purchased one of the finest residences there, though retaining his home in Osage. His custom was to go out early in the fall and remain for five or six months, returning to Iowa and traveling during the remainder of the year. He had not given personal attention to his chief business affairs during recent years, having turned their management largely over to his sons and associates. He was very extensively engaged in the lumber business, having yards at many Iowa, Dakota and Minnesota towns. Among them are The Royal Lumber Co., in this city, a lumber yard at Ayrshire, one at Graetinger, Ruthven and Cylinder. He was rated as a millionaire.
Senator Smith gained prominence in public as well as business life in Iowa. He was republican.
He served in the Twenty second general assembly, one of the legislatures whose fame will always be conspicuous in state history. It was there that he became a close friend of Albert B. Cummins of Polk county, who served in one session of the house of representatives. This friendship was cemented during many subsequent associations in politics, and when the Des Moines man became a candidate for the senate and for governor and for the senate again, one of the leaders in his forces was Senator Smith of Osage.
Senator Smith served in the house of two assemblies, and after a lapse of ten years returned to the legislature to serve in the senate during eight sessions, including the extra of the Thirty-second. In all of these he was a leader.
Senator Smith was born in the village of Castle, Wyoming County, New York, February 4, 1851, of New England parentage. He received his education in the district schools, and at the age of 18 came west and located at Osage, in Mitchell County, Iowa.
He was married in 1874 to Miss Mary Alice Crego. After being actively engaged in civil engineering for several years, he went into the mercantile business with a brother, and still later in the lumber business, which he continued.
He has served several terms both on the school board and on the city council of his home town, Osage; was a member of the board of trustees of Iowa college since 1887; was elected to the house of representatives in 1887 and 1839; elected to the same in 1899, 1903 and 1908.
His death was due to pneumonia.
He leaves a wife and several children. The children are: Frederick Smith of Osage, Lee Smith of Spirit Lake, Representative Stanley Smith of Tripoli, Richard and Merrill Smith of Charles City, Lloyd Smith of Minneapolis and Mrs. Robert Leach of Adel.
He frequently visited Emmetsburg. Besides being closely connected with Martin Ausland in business affairs, he was a close friend of the family. Those of our townspeople who met him admired him greatly. Personally, we had the pleasure of his acquaintance and always found him to be a gentleman, kind, courteous and at all times pleasant to meet.
[Palo Alto Tribune, Emmetsburg, Iowa, Wednesday, January 16, 1918]
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Note: The same article was found in the Des Moines Register, The Cedar Falls Record, and other papers around the state. An article in the Mitchell County Press said his middle name is Albert.
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NOTES:Birth: Feb., 1857, Castile, Wyoming County, New York.
Death: Jan. 12, 1918, Pasadena, Los Angeles, County, California.
Children:
Leland Albert Smith (1878-1954)
Lloyd G. Smith (1887-1960)Wife:
Mary Alice Crego Smith (1856-1944)(c/o DM Scott)
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#2:
We do not believe the people of his home town, Osage, realized the regard in which the late Senator Jas. A. Smith was held throughout the state. Though Mr. Smith had not been active in politics in recent years and had turned the active management of his enormous business enterprises over to his capable sons and associates, he has been a great power in forming the policies of a number of reforms along political lines. His acquaintance was not only with the big men of this state, but his reputation as a fearless leader extended much beyond Iowa. His legislative record shows that he stood for the best interests of the general public though at times it was against his interests financially to do so. He was recognized as a leader not only in politics, but also in the business world.
Following are a few of the many tributes paid our distinguished deceased townsman by some of the prominent men and leading papers of the state.
Hon. A. B. Funk, who was a close friend of Senator Smith writes the following eloquent appreciation of him:
PASSING OF A STRONG MAN
Tidings from the west on the 12th of January announced a distinct loss to the state of Iowa in the passing of one of our strong men. A few days earlier Senator James A. Smith of Osage had left the state for his winter home in Pasadena, radiating his normally abounding cheer and interest and helpfulness in matters uppermost in public and private consideration. That the gates of entermity were even then ajar to this strong personality, this good and useful citizen, could not have been imagined. That he was going from among us to return no more forever to the scene of a career remarkable for activity and influence was so improbable that no human mind could have entertained such conception. Verily, "In the midst of life we are in death."
Born in New York of sturdy New England stock, James Albert Smith had a good start in life. He inherited no rank reconginzed in the Blue Book, and of money there was a meagre supply. And yet this man was born of aristocracy -- the artistocracy of character and courage and achievement. His father conted little upon money and had a little to help or hinder intellectual service. He was a teacher. Back in the rural districts of the Empire state he struggled to maintain a modest academy affording opportunity to aspiring youths of meagre privilege. What he had in mind and heart and soul, and this was much, he freely gave with modest reward. He served mankind with zeal and his God with faith unfaltering. In the days when there was much discussion as to what and where is hell, the elder Smith declined to discuss the matter because of lack of concern. "Why should I worry about hell," he said, "any more than I do about the penalty for manslaughter? I do not have to and do not intend to go either to the gallows or to hell."
The mother of James A. Smith was also sadly lacking in business shrewdness. The little home, the entire worldly possession of the family, was in her name. She encumbered it for seventeen hundred dollars that an older brother might engage in the grocery business out west in Osage, Iowa, and when he paid it back again she loaned the money again to James, that he might buy an interest with his brother. Surely this was not business. It was simply awful in the philosophy of shrewdness to stake her all and do it twice upon young men utterly lacking in experience. But it was confidence sublime and devotion unspeakable to the sons to whom she had given life and taught how to live. The inheritance of James A. Smith in character and courage and breadth of vision was more of a start in life than that of many men with millions to their credit. His fundamental equipment was so much of a guarantee as to substantially foreshadow success.
When first he set out for himself, Mr. Smith took up the work of civil enginerring. It is not difficult to imagine that in this important field he might have wrought with success beyond the ordinary. Incidentally he fell into merchandising and with rapid strides mounted to commercial eminence. With some men it seems necessary that they strike a certain niche in life activity as for a round peg to meet a round home in order to count in real constructive result. (Truncated)
(From a clipping found in the Osage Public Library.)
(KK)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------#3:
SEN. JAS. A. SMITH HAS PASSED AWAY
DIED OF PNEUMONIA IN CALIFORNIA -- TO BE BURIED HERE ON SUNDAY
Senator Jas. A. Smith, Osage's most distinguished citizen, has passed away at Pasadena, California, after a week's illness. He had just gone there from here with Mrs. Smith to pass the remainder of winter. He was taken ill with pneumonia on the train Saturday , the 5th, before reaching Pasadena. On arriving, he was taken to Huntington hotel, and after another day, was removed to a hospital. There he grew steadily worse until Saturday morning, the 13th, when he passed away at about 7 o'clock.
As soon as his illness developed, word was sent here for his son, Fred, who left on Monday afternoon, the 7th, and arrived in time to see his father before death.
Funeal services were held at Pasadena Tuesday, the 15th. Out of respect for our first citizen, the husiness houses of Osage were closed during the time of the funeral.
The body is being brought here for interment, and it is expected that the arrival will be Saturday. Arrangements are made for funeral services in the Congregational Church at 10:20 Sunday morning.
James Albert Smith was born in the village of Castile, Wyoming county, New York, February 4, 1851. . .
He leaves, besides his wife, seven cildren -- six sons and a daughter: Fred C. Smith, Lee J. Smith, Stanley R. Smith, Lloyd Smith, Richard J. Smith, Merrill G. Smith, and Mrs. Robert Leach. . .
[From clipping on file in the Osage Public Library -- redacted ]
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