Smith, Henry 1842-1917

SMITH, ROSS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/1/2015 at 20:34:00

Henry Smith, Sr.

Henry Smith, Sr., one of the real pioneers of the Big Sioux Valley, answered the final summons Sunday evening, February 4, 1917, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James A. Agnes, of Akron. He had been in failing health during the past two years and the cause of his death was hardening of the arteries. He had been confined to the bed only a part of the time for two or three weeks, and was sitting up and conversing with members of his family only a short time before he passed away. However, the nature of recovery and those near and dear to him were prepared to face the time of sad parting at any day or hour.

Henry Smith was born at Sabula, Jackson County, Iowa, March 24, 1842, being 74 years, 10 months and 10 days of age at the tiem of his death. When eighteen years of age he began to work as a boat hand on the Mississippi River and in the spring of 1862 came from St. Louis, up the Missouri River, to St. Jo. Joe. He worked during that summer on the Govrernment farm at Leavenworth, Kansas. His sister, Mrs. Mathers, was then living at Jefferson, S. D., and that fall he came north to visit her. In a short time he began working for Jas. E. Bogue, a pioneer merchant of Sioux City, and freighted supplies to the soldiers at the forts up the Missouri River. The winter of 1862-3, he joined a trapping party and spent part of that winter in Sioux Falls amking their headquarters in a log cabin that had been abandoned by the settlers when the Indians went on their raid and massacre of that time.

He continued trapping and freighting until 1867, when he became a permanent resident of the Big Sioux Valley, settling on the farm four miles north of Akron, in Sioux Valley Township, Union County, S. D., where he experienced all the trials and hardships, as wel as the joys, of the early pioneers. He always took a deep interest in public affairs, was a member of the early Dakota Legislatures, and helped in framing some of the important enactments for the solid foundation of that great commonwealth, among which was the law that set aside two sections of land in each township in the state for Public School purposes.

He was of retiring, modest and kindly disposition, always desirous that what he did should wrong no one. With suchcharacteristics, he gaind the last esteem and respect of all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. Smith was married to Jessie Ross on October 11, 1867, and she preceded him in death on January 27, 1890. To them were born ten children, two of whom died in infancy.

Those surviving are: Dan H. B., Rosa Boden, of Tyndall, S. D.; Mrs. Honora Mathers, of Coleridge, Nebr.; Mrs. Ellen Ross, of Akron, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Wilson and Miss Kate Smith, of Long Beach; California, and Mrs. Julia Conly, of Elk Point, S. D. The many friends in this community offer their sympathy to these relatives in this bereavement.

After the death of his wife, Mr. Smith remained on the farm with his children for a number of years, but the past few years has resided most of the time with his youngest daughter, Mrs. Jas. A. Agnes, in Akron.

Funeral services, conducted by Rev. F. E. Volok, in the Akron Baptist Church this (Thursday) afternoon were attended by a large concourse of friends from many miles around. Interment was made in Mt. Hope cemetery, Sioux Valley Township, Union County, S. D., where his belived wife was laid to rest twenty-six years ago.

Relatives from a distance who came to attend the funeral were: Mrs. Rosa Boden, of Tyndall, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Peterson, of near Alcester, S. D.; Mrs. Julia Conly, of Elk Point, S. D.; Mr. and Mrs. O. Nystrom, of Jefferson, S. D.; Mrs. Ed Simmons and Frank Simmons, of Hawarden, Ia.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, February 8, 1917
Akron, Iowa