Smith, Mary "Josephine" 1873-1922

SMITH, FRITZ, SEAMANDS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/15/2015 at 15:16:00

Note: Her mother's maiden name was Seamands.

DEATH CALLS MRS. O. J. SMITH

This community was both shocked and grieved to learn of the death of Mrs. Oscar J. Smith, of Tea, S. D., after a brief illness and an operation in a Sioux Falls hospital on monday, July 10, 1922. Her death was the result of peritonitis, due to obstruction of the bowels. About a year ago she submitted to an operation for allstones and she had never fully recovered her health and strength.

Mary Josephine Fritz was born in Jackson County, Iowa, August 22, 1873, and attained the age of 48 years, 10 months, and 18 days. At the age of 10 years she moved with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fritz, to Hamilton County, Iowa, and about four years later they come west and located at Richland, Union Couty, S. D. After a few years her parents moved to a farm in Sioux Valley Towship, Union County, where she taught school for about four years.

On Janrary 16, 1895, she was united in marriage with Oscar J. Smith, superintendent of schools of Union County, and they made their home in Elk Point during his two-year term in office. Mr. and Mrs. Smith then moved to Gettsburg, S. D., where he taught school for three anda half years. Coming to Akron in 1900, Mrs. Smith was superintendent of the local puclic schools for seven years, during which time Mrs. Smith was a member of the M. E. church choir and also of J. C. Buttons's Sunday school class. After leaving Akron the family resided at Dale, N. D, and Pollock, S. D., and later at Mt. Vernon, Jefferson and Harrisburg, where Mr. Smith was engaged in teaching. Duringthe past three years they have made their home at Tea, S. D., near Sioux Falls.

Besides the bereaved husband, there are left to mourn her untimely taking away three sons, Frank DAvid Smith, fo Dale, N. D.; Sylvan Clark Smith, Elmer Hubert Smith, of Teas. S. D.; her father, Frank Fritz, and brother, Elmer Fritz, of Dale, N. D., and two sisters, Mrs. ARthur McConville, of Union County, S. D., and Mrs. W. B. Smith, of Marion, Iowa.

All these relatives were present at the funeral.

Her mother, Mrs. Lucy Fritz, preceded her in death about three years ago.

Mrs. Smth was a woman of high ideals and noble and generous impulses; a king and devoted wife and mother, a loving daughter and sister and a helpful, sympathetic neighbor and friend. She was highly esteemed in a wide circle of acquaintance, all of whom join in extending sincerest sympathy to the breaved family.

The remains were brought here from Sioux Falls Tuesday afternnon and taken to the home of her sister, Mrs. Arthur McConville, west of town. A brief service was he,d there at noon today (Thursday) and the funeral was conducted by Rev. Carl Hammer in the Akron M. E. Church at 2 p.m. A large number of friends gathered to pay a last tribute of respect and there were many beautiful floral offerings. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery, beside her mother.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, July 13, 1922
Akron, Iowa