Smith, Catherine L. 1868-1943

SMITH, HORN, SCHULL, DOW, BUSWELL, WILSON, STEINBOCK, SCHNEIDER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 10/29/2016 at 08:12:10

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
Jan. 10, 1944

CATHERINE L. SMITH

Catherine L. Smith was born March 24, 1868 at Wilton, Iowa, in Cedar county, where she spent her early life. Her parents were Josiah and Sarah Ann Horn, early pioneers who came to Iowa from Pennsylvania. She was one of four children, namely, Charlie Horn, George Horn, Ella Schull, and herself. All of these brothers and sisters preceded her in death. She was married to Thomas J. Smith on December 12, 1886, at Wilton, Iowa. They lived in that vicinity for several years and then moved to Grinnell, Iowa, in 1901, where they maintained a farm for 12 years. At that time, the Smith family left the farm and moved into Grinnell, where Mr. Smith operated the Smith Auto Company until he retired in 1917.

Thomas Smith died in May of 1918, leaving seven children born of this marriage, all of whom are now living. The children are Clarence D. Smith of Sulphur Springs, Florida; Carl T. Smith of Westmont, Ill.; Edgar H. Smith of Westmont, Ill.; Gladys N. Dow of Grinnell, Iowa; Elsie M. Buswell of Glendale, Calif.; Dorothy I. Wilson of Des Moines, Iowa; and Evelyn P. Steinbock of Chicago, Ill. After the death of her husband, Catherine Smith lived in Grinnell for a few years and then moved to Cedar Rapids, where she made her home with the younger children for several years. After her children were all married she fulfilled a life time wish to visit California. She liked California so well that she decided to stay there. She lived in Glendale, Calif., until the day of her death on Dec. 20, 1943.

Catherine Smith was a faithful member of the Methodist church of Grinnell, and she remained active in the church throughout all of the years she spent in California. She was always at work in her church wherever she made her home, and she also took a lively interest in her many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On the day of her last illness she was all dressed and ready to go to the church to hear the Christmas Carols of this holiday season.

While her sudden passing was a severe blow to her family, they are grateful for the fact that last summer she came back to Iowa and made a long visit to her old home in Grinnell, meeting all her children and grandchildren and many old friends. Catherine Smith left surviving her the seven children: Clarence, Carl, Edgar, Elsie, Gladys, Dorothy and Evelyn, and eight grandchildren: Oma Schneider, Robert Buswell, Harold Dow, Max Smith, Joy Wilson, Donna Dow, Thomas Smith, and Thomas Steinbock and one great-grandchild, Michael Schneider.

Her daughter, Mrs. Elsie Buswell, accompanied the body to Grinnell, where funeral services were held in the Methodist church on Dec. 27.

The pastor, Dr. C.D. Loose, read the Scripture and offered prayer. The sermon was given by Rev. A.W. McBlain, a former pastor of Mrs. Smith's mother and brothers in the Sonora community and who had also known Mrs. Smith. His text was taken from Heb. 11, 16, "But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly."

Two musical numbers were given by a trio composed of Wanda Mackin, Jean Bouma and Donna Dow, accompanied by Mrs. Bouma on the piano. Mrs. George Lovell was the organist. The Rebekahs attended in a body.

Pall bearers were Dr. Frank Munger, Ralph Sherman, Clyde Foster, Lafe Filmore, Eldon Olds and Russell George.

Burial was in Hazelwood cemetery by the side of her husband, Thomas J. Smith.