Smith,, Martha (Mrs. Geo. E.) -1842-1923

SMITH, DINWIDDIE

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/17/2014 at 11:44:46

Hawarden Independent, May 13, 1923

Mrs. George E. Smith, for the past thirty years a resident of this city, passed away at her home on the north side about 10 o'clock Monday night from a complications of diseases. She had been in frail health all winter but had been bedfast only about two weeks.

Funeral services were held at the Associated Church at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Edwin Booth, and interment was made in Grace Hill cemetery. Her six sons acted as pall bearers.

Martha E. Dinwiddie was born at Horse Prairie, Ind., Nov. 18, 1842, so was past 83 years of age. She was united in marriage with George E. Smith at Pleasant Valley, Johnson County, Iowa, Oct. 30, 1865, and had traveled life's pathway with him for more than sixty years. They resided in Johnson County, Iowa, until 1884 when they moved to South Dakota and located on a homestead near Kimball. There they endured the many privations incident to those pioneer days on a South Dakota homestead. The continued drought, which is now only a memory in South Dakota's history, finally forced them to leave their homestead and in the fall of 1896 they moved to this city and their home has since continued to be here.

Fifteen children were born to Mr. & Mrs. Smith, ten of whom are still living. The children living are Mrs. I. P. Potter of Mitchells, SD; F. A. Smith of Oacoma, SD; Mrs. Arthur Waterman of Hawarden; Mrs. Albert Williamson of Kennebec, SD; W. B. Smith of Marion, IA; R. A. Smith of Huron, SD; Burr Smith of Hawarden; Harry L. Smith of Oacoma, SD, and Fred E. Smith and Miss Carrye Smith of Hawarden. All of the children were here with the exception of Mrs. Williamson, who is at present in California. She is also survived by her aged husband, now past 91 years of age, who is in very feeble health.

Mrs. Smith was long a member of the Presbyterian church, of this city and was always active in the work of the church. She was also a faithful member of the Women's Relief Corps. She was a home body, ever devoted to the welfare of the members of her family, and no task was too great or burden too heavy for her to bear if it might bring happiness to her loved ones. The sympathy of the community goes out to her aged husband and to her children in the grief which they have been called upon to bear.

NOTE: Listing of relatives omitted from obituary.