Will G. Smith

SMITH

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 7/7/2014 at 14:40:17

WILL G. SMITH'S LONG

ILLNESS IS ENDED
A BRAVE CONTEST AND A PEACEFUL SURRENDER

A Davenporter All His Life, the Deceased Had Achieved Business Success Here and Displayed Many Other Qualities That Will Make Him Greatly Missed
In the death of Will G. Smith, which occurred Thursday evening, Davenport lost a very popular citizen. Mr. Smith had been an active factor in the business life of the city until ill health compelled him to relinquish its cares. He was highly esteemed because of the qualities of his character which made him one of the most genial of social companions as well a successful business man. His death is a deep bereavement to his relatives and his many warm friends here, and its announcement, while not unexpected, comes with quite a shock to them, and has caused many expressions of sorrow and of sympathy for the family today.

Only last month, Mr. Smith went to Alabama, to spend some time at Mobile in connection with the deal which has resulted in the organization of K. W. Gates Lumber Company, with Davenport interests controlling the company and with Mr. Smith as its treasurer. Since his return he has been in poorer health than usual, practically confined to his home, and was able to converse with his relatives up to a few minutes before the end. For several years past, heart trouble had hung over him its threat of impending death each day of his life, but he had accepted this fact with a rare courage and continued to take a cheerful view of life until the curtain fell and separated him from the scenes and faces that he had loved.
William Gardner Smith was born in Davenport, July 18, 1861, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Smith. After attending school here, he went to North Dakota for a year, with John Seavern, cementing a friendship that brought Mr. Seavern to Davenport to spend the last few days at the Smith home and be with his old companion during his last few hours. Returning here Mr. Smith became bookkeeper for the firm of Smith & McCullough, furniture dealers, his father being the senior member of the firm. It was one of our oldest houses, tracing back through Gould & Smith to the original furniture house founded by Daniel Gould. Upon Mr. McCullough's death the deceased entered the business with his father under the firm name of A. J. Smith & Son, afterward incorporated.

After his father's death in 1898, Mr. Smith continued the business until 1901, when failing health compelled him to retire, disposing of what was then conceded to be the largest furniture house in the city.

Mr. Smith was not only an energetic business man, in the days of his health, but was characterized by an accuracy and care for detail and good business judgment that promised him a very successful career in the business field had his life been spared.

His nature protested against inactivity, and thus he had throw himself with enthusiasm into the plans for that, as stated, resulted in the organization of the E. W. Gates Lumber company, which was completed by incorporation only a fortnight or so before his death.
The deceased was an active member of the Davenport Business Men's association and of the Irrawadi Canoe club, from whose outings he will be greatly missed.

Mr. Smith was married Nov. 11, 1887, to Miss Cora Scott, daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Thomas Scott of this city, who survives him, with one son, Eugene Gardner Smith. His mother, Mrs. Helen A. Smith, also lives here, and his brother, Dr. Charles E. Smith of Omaha, is now here.
The funeral will be held from the family home, 802 Bridge avenue, at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Dr. J. B. Donaldson of the First Presbyterian church having charge of the service. The interment at Oakdale will be private.

Source: The Davenport Democrat, Davenport, IA, Monday, 18 February 1904, p. 6.

The Smith Funeral

The funeral of the late Will G. Smith held Saturday afternoon, with services at the home of the deceased was the ______ of a notable expression of sorrow on the part of his host of friends in this city. Floral offerings and the personal presence of scores of who felt a sense of loss is his death lent their silent testimony and the spoken words by Dr J. B. Donaldson of the First Presbyterian church voiced the sentiments of all. Dr. H. 0. Rowlands of Calvary Baptist church assisted in the service, delivering the invocation, and four associates of the deceased S. B. Lafferty, Louis Knocke, H. E. Downer, and Dr.A. Atkinson, sang the hymns. They were "Lead, Kindly Light," by Dudley Buck, and "Consolation,u by Dow, and they were beautifully rendered. The remains were accompanied to Oakdale by the relatives and a few of the close friends of the deceased, and were consigned to their last resting place there after a short service. John H. Seavern of Jamestown, N.D., Wils McClellan, Dr. C. R. Baker, Geo. W. Bawden, L. L. Sears and Fred Wyman were the pallbearers.

George Squires, an uncle of the deceased, and Dr. Charles E. Smith, his brother, came from Omaha to attend the funeral.

Source: The Davenport Democrat, Wednesday, 21 February 1904, p.6.