Smith, John A. 1849-1897

SMITH, MIDDLETON, COLLINS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/23/2013 at 21:31:22

After Life’s Fitful Fever

SMITH, In Akron, Iowa, October 12, John A. Smith, aged 48 years.

This announcement by telegraph came as a shock to this community where the deceased was well know a few years since. It revived many bright and tender memories which the cruelty of time cannot efface. It recalled recollections of a young man, strong in intellect, brave in spirit, tender in sympathy and generous in friendship. It called to mind paragraphs in the earlier files of the BEACON which spread the balm of consolation over wounded spirits and made the earth brighter all about.

John A. Smith was born in the state of Vermont. In the town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, he learned the trade of a printer, having been regularly apprenticed for a term of three years. He worked at the case awhile in Boston and a little later came to Wisconsin, where he made some use of his trade, but spent a considerable time in the plueries, doing the ordinary work of a chopper. In 1860, we believe, he came to this county, locating his parents on the homestead in Westport now owned by Wallace Smith and busying himself chiefly at Milford, the town then springing up at the new Seymour-Foster mill. At home in any company-able to talk science, politics or literature wisely and well, a master at storytelling, at ease in parlor or saw mill, John was popular among all his associates. In the fall of ’71 he was democratic candidate for treasurer running ahead of his ticket with about forty votes.

When Orson Rice brought in a printing office in the fall of 1871, he promptly installed John as foreman, and from the first issue he did most of the editorial writing in the paper, soon attracting attention with his bright paragraphs and able editorials. A year later he assumed a proprietary interest in the BEACON, which he retained until the spring of 1881.

In the fall of 1872 Mr. Smith was elected clerk of the courts, on the Greeley ticket, and was twice re-elected as a republican. For years he was quite a power in politics at home and abroad. In the broader field of district and state politics he was particularly strong. A number of politically strong men in the northwest got their start to a considerable extent by the good management and smooth, clean tactics of this man.

For a number of years he was in the land business. In 1888 he moved to Sioux City to take the local editorship of the Journal. His experience in the city was varied until a little more than a year ago, when in partnership with his two older sons he established the Tribune, at Akron, with which he labored until the end.

In the old days Spirit Lake and Dickinson County had no better friend than John A. Smith. He bore aloft their banner through the storms of winter and the plagues of summer. His hopeful spirit wavered not when darkness was blackest and his prophetic soul confidently pointed to the better days sure to come. Of his time and talent and meager means he gave ungrudgingly to the public and to his friends and in his comradeship there was much to prize. To this writer he was in those earlier days, truly a “fukde, philosopher and friend.”

We began almost together on the BEACON, one a finished printer and practical newspaper man, the other just taking his first lessons. A change in proprietorship threw out the latter, but when John got a grip on the business he called back his boy friend, who was eager to come on any terms. For a year the relations of employer and employee were sustained, and the friendship grew apace.

John had been skillfully trained, as were few frontier newspaper men. He knew how to make a paper and how to print it. He had high ideals and was uncompromising in their pursuit.

There was nothing cheap or narrow in his editorial work. He had read widely and thought deeply. Verily, there was inspiration in his comradeship and character in his teachings. At the end of a year his partner with drew, and we never can forget the day when John came over to the case where we were at work and took our breath with the query: “Abe, do you want a half interest in the BEACON?” The reply was: “Why, John, I have no money nor friends to back me. How can I buy anything?” “Never mind,” said John, in his strong, cheerful way, “come in and we’ll manage to swing her.” And we did through a seven years partnership mutually satisfactory.

In 1872 Mr. Smith married Miss Annie M. Middleton. To them three boys were born, who were orphaned by the loss of a loving mother in 1884. Harry and Ray have reached man’s estate and Allan is nearly grown. All are bright and manly and worthy of confidence. In February, 1888, Mr. Smith married Mary Collins, and a beautiful little girl with the mother survives. The aged father of the deceased is still living with the family, the mother having been dead about ten years.

Spirit Lake Beacon
Friday, October 15, 1897
Spirit Lake, Iowa

SMITH—In Akron, Oct. 12, at 8:50 p.m. of paresis, J. A. Smith aged forty-eight years, three months and six days.

The deceased had been seriously ill for nearly three weeks although for an interval of four days he had so far recovered as to be able to leave his bed and be out of doors; but he suffered a relapse and san into a state of semi-unconsciousness, which continued for a period of 102 hours. The end came so peacefully that the anxious watchers at the bedside were scarcely aware that the wary soul had departed.

John Adams Smith was born in the state of Vermont, near Guildhall, Essex County, on the 6th of July, 1849. At the age of thirteen he was an entered apprentice in the office of the Coos County Republican, published at Lancaster, N. H., by Henry O. Kent. In 1865 the family moved to Wisconsin and from there to Dickinson County, Iowa in 1869. For a number of years he was editor of the Spirit Lake Beacon, and held at various times the offices of clerk of courts, sheriff and surveyor of Dickinson County. Mr. Smith was married to Annie M. Middleton in 1872, she died in 1884. Three sons, Harry, Raymond and Allan were born to them.

In 1888 he was married to Mary P. Collins, and one daughter, Mollie, was the fruit of this union. This same year he was called to Sioux City to take the city editorship of the Journal, which position he held for a year and a quarter. In August, 1896, he came to Akron and established THE TRIBUNE, where he resided up to the time of his death.

The funeral services were held at the Baptist church today at 2 p.m., and the remains interred in the Akron cemetery.

Akron Tribune
Thursday, October 14, 1897
Akron Iowa