Horace Hooker Smith (1894-1939)

SMITH, PIXLEY, THOMPSON, SHELLEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/18/2024 at 15:23:25

From Story City Herald August 3, 1939 (page 2)

HORACE H. SMITH

Horace Hooker Smith was born at Postville, Iowa, Feb. 4, 1894, the fourth son of the Rev. Bourland D. Smith and his wife, Mary Pixley Smith. He died in the U. S. Veterans' Hospital at Knoxville, Iowa, July 25, 1939, at the age of 45 years, 5 months and 21 days, after a lifetime devoted to the service of his family and country.

In very early youth Horace became a member of his father's church, the Methodist Episcopal, and continued an active church affiliation thruout his life. At the time of his death he was a member of the Grace Evangelical church of Story City.

He graduated from the Wyoming, Iowa, High school in 1910, an attended Cornell college at Mt. Vernon. He was enrolled in the Engineering School at Purdue university when first called to serve his country with Battery B of the Indiana Artillery on the Mexican border. Returning to the University to complete his engineering training, he enlisted at the outbreak of the World war and served in France as First Lieutenant in the 113th Engineers, receiving his honorable discharge at Camp Dodge on July 18, 1919.

While an army officer he was married at Hattiesburg, Miss., June 17, 1018 to Mabel Thompson of Fort Dodge. He is survived by his wife, who attended him thruout his long illness; by two sons, Richard and Gordon; by a sister, Mrs. Anne Shelley of Mankato, Minn., and two brothers, G. P. Smith of Mankato, Minn., and C. P. Smith in Orange, Texas.

Mr. Smith was a member and a Past Post Commander of the American Legion and a member of Masonic Lodge No. 12 of Mankato.

After the completion of his army service he practiced his profession of Civil Engineering with residence at Slayton and Mankato, Minn., Des Moines, Chicago and St. Louis, Mo. At the latter city he was stricken with illness which finally proved fatal after nine years of suffering, patiently borne. His whole life was one of service to others and to his country. His unfailing sense of humor, his thoughtfulness of others, and his course--these his outstanding characteristics, continued even thru his long illness. And now that the last TAPS have sounded for this brave soldier, for this good husband and father, we will remember him for these things.