H.H. Smith

SMITH, DALZELL, BALCH

Posted By: Rebecca Foster (email)
Date: 7/7/2014 at 15:03:36

AN EARLY MERCHANT
H.H. SMITH, DAVENPORT'S FIRST DRYGOODS DEALER, DEAD.

After a Long Life of Honorable Activity He Passed Peacefully Away Last Evening at His Daughter's Home - Other Deaths Chronicled Today.

At the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. A. Dalzell, Arlington avenue and Twelfth street, at 9 o'clock last evening, occurred the death of Henry H. Smith, one of Davenport's old time merchants and business men. and for many years prominent within her borders in many ways.

Mr. Smith's advanced years had been blessed with good health in unusual degree. He was free, to the last, from maladies that often embitter the lives of old people, and, until the fall of 1898, he enjoyed what seemed to be almost perennial youth. He was a great walker, and sprightly and active in body and mind. But about that time a decline set in, and he slowly but painlessly lost his vigor and power of action, till at last, several months ago, he was virtually made a prisoner in the house, and finally was shut up in his room. About a week ago he was compelled to take to his bed. From that time forward, the decline was swift. His death was not attended by the slightest pain, and came as gently as sleep.

Mr. Smith was born in Philadelphia, Aug. 16, 1815. He spent his early life there, receiving a fair education for those days, and with it a good training in the business of his father who kept a dry goods store. He was married there, Aug. 4, 1842, to Miss Mary Lewis. His father died not long after this, and he succeeded him in business.

After a few years he was drawn to note the opportunities in the new west and selected this city as his place of settlement. He reached this city with his family May 12, 1850. Canal and stage and steamboat were the only means of locomotion in those days, and the 1200 miles between Philadelphia and here were a journey of weeks. The stock of goods that had been selected for display here was a full month on the road.

Davenport was hardly more than a frontier village in that day. It had but 200 inhabitants, and only four stores, all of which were located on Front street - to be near the river, the only avenue of travel and shipment in that day. Second street was an avenue of humble residences and back yard gardens. Mr. Smith was the man who led the mercantile movement of Davenport away from the river. There was no such thing as a storeroom on Second street, so a private residence, the home of physician, was secured by rental. It stood on the southeast corner of Second and Brady streets. "Smith's Philadelphia Variety Store," was the name that the sign over its door bore. Mrs. Smith was the only clerk in the establishment beside the proprietor. She and her husband worked hard, turned their means and opportunities to account, and their business grew. Within two years the dwelling was too small to hold the enlarging business, so a friend was found who bought a lot 40x60 feet, the site of the present office of the Western Union Telegraph company. Opposite the place just named, and erected on it a good store room, with large show windows. Here the establishment which had become known all over this part of the country as Smith's Variety store, had room to expand, and business went on well. The store, in fact, gave a name to it owner. He was known for years as Variety Smith, and the older residents of this city will easily enough remember hearing that name commonly applied to him.

The time eventually came, however, when the confinement proved too hard for his health, and in the early days of the war he gave up the store for duties of assistant United States assessor, an internal revenue officer, charged with collection of the war taxes of those trying days. He did not surrender the business, however, till 1867, when the store was disposed of. Then for a number of years, Mr. Smith was partner of D.H. Hartwell, in the firm of Hartwell & Smith insurance. In 1878 he embarked in the coal and fuel business, and this line of trade was continued for ten years, when he retired. Since his retirement a great part of his time has been spent with his son in Washington, though his summers have generally been passed in this city. He finally returned here from the national capital Dec. 24, 1896.

Mrs. Smith was a devout member of the Baptist church prior to her removal from Philadelphia hither. Her husband joined that church soon after coming here, and together they were active in the work of that church, and its associated activities. During the war they were prominent among the patriotic people of the city, and energetically engaged in all works of relief for the soldiers and their families. The old records of the city charity organizations bear their names in frequent passages, and show that they were prominent and untiring in good deeds then. This joint activity for the good of the city was terminated by the death of Mrs. Smith in 1880. She was mourned by the entire city as one of the best and noblest of women. In his years of retirement, Mr. Smith has been out of the rounds of busy work in those lines, but always to be counted one of the citizens of Davenport to be found in live with every good work in church, state or society.

In his early years, while a resident of Philadelphia, Mr. Smith was a member of the famous Round Table club of that city; a literary and social society that included such men as George W. Childs, Peterson, the well known publisher, and others prominent in literary life. All his life he has been interested in educational matters, and almost an enthusiast in matters pertaining to the general spread of enlightenment among the people.
Mr. Smith is survived by his son, Harry Smith, of Washington, and two daughters, Mrs. Dalzell of this city and Mrs. Emma Balch of Chicago. Both the daughters were with him when he died, and the son paid him a visit last not long ago.

The funeral will be held from Dalzell home at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, and all friends of the departed will be welcome to attend.

Source: Davenport Democrat, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday, 08 February 1900.