Pearl Smith - d. 1890

SMITH

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 10/10/2001 at 10:59:49

PEARL SMITH.

This noted character died at the poor farm Thursday last. There is hardly any one living in Van Buren county who has not a personal interest in this man, if it be no more than in the way of taxes. Some sixteen years ago he was detected in placing obstructions on the railway for the purpose of throwing the train from the track near Farmington. He was sent to the penitentiary and served out his time, but it was evident that his mind was shattered and probably his whole life was hardly responsible for any of his acts. Certain it was that the criminal proceedings, his jail and prison experiences, and the evident hostility manifested toward him, as he thought, tended to unsettle his mind naturally weak. He had a strange mania for music and went over the country to borrow a violin from who ever he met. At times, harmless as a child, and then posessed [sic] of more than seven devils, he became a terror. He has been a county charge in one way or another for a long time. After he returned from Ft. Madison, he took up his residence at the farm where he died. -- Van Buren Democrat.

[date hand written on obit. was 7-17-90]
-----
I am not related to this person but I am posting for those who may find it of interest.