Smith, Grant - 1864-1932

SMITH, BATES

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/16/2014 at 08:08:01

Hawarden Independent, September 8, 1932

Grant Smith, former Hawarden resident, but for the past 13 years a resident of Sioux City, committed suicide last Thursday by slashing his throat with a razor. He died in an ambulance while being taken to St. Vincent's hospital. Sickness and lack of employment was the motive advanced by friends and relatives of the dead man.

According to friends, Mr. Smith had been brooding over his sickness for several months and last Thursday noon went to his garage where he cut his throat. The wound extended from the right ear to the throat, severing the jugular vein. His wife was working in the garden not far from the garage and was not aware of his suicide until Ernest Clark, a friend of the family, found Mr. Smith lying in a pool of blood. He called Mrs. Smith and then notified the police and an ambulance was summoned. When police arrived Smith was unconscious lying face down on the floor of the garage.

Mr. Smith was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 13, 1864, so was nearly 68 years of age. He moved to Hubbard, Neb. in 1870, with his parents. In November, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Rose Bates near Sergeant Bluff. Mr. Smith entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company in Sioux City as a tank wagon man and was stationed in Hawarden for a few years but left here about thirty-five years ago. His residence here was before the days of motor trucks and a four-horse team was used in pulling the heavy oil tanks. He was stationed in Kansas City and Sioux City at other times.

He left the Standard Oil Company in 1900 and moved onto a farm near Sergeant Bluff which he operated until 1919 when he resumed work for the oil company, continuing until 1925 when he retired.

Besides his widow he is survived by a brother, John C. Smith of Hubbard, Neb., and a sister Mrs. Cal Rockwell of South Sioux City, Neb.