George F. Smith 1847-1921

SMITH, JOHNSON, BREWETER, BOGLE, DAVIS

Posted By: Rich Lowe (email)
Date: 10/19/2012 at 10:36:22

THE PASSING OF MR. GEORGE F. SMITH

Mr. Geo. F. Smith, founder of the State Line Democrat, its owner for the more than 51 years that have elapsed since the first number was issued, and its publisher and editor except for two or three short periods of time, passed into eternity at his home in Keosauqua at 11:30 a. m. on Wednesday Feb. 23, 1921.

Mr. Smith's death which resulted from a complication of troubles, was a surprise to most people, few of whom knew he was seriously ill. He was confined to his home and bed for just a week before his death and attended his duties as postmaster up to Wednesday evening, Feb. 16.

Mr. Smith's record of 51 years active work in the editorial harness constituted a record seldom equaled, and it is doubtful if his uninterrupted ownership and management of a paper he founded himself has been beaten in the annals of the state.

Funeral services were held at the Congregational churn at 2:30 Friday afternoon, Feb. 25, conducted by Rev. J. M. Hedges, pastor of the church. Interment was made in Purdom cemetery.

Obituary

Geo. F. Smith was born at Philadelphia, Jefferson county, New York, on April 27, 1847, and departed this life at his home in Keosauqua, Iowa, at 11:30 a. m. Feb. 23, 1921, being of the age of 73 years, 9 months and 19 days.

Mr. Smith's ancestors were of the sturdy, early New England stock, he being a direct descendant of Elder Wm. Breweter, who came over in the Mayflower, and of ancestors who served in the Revolutionary war.

He removed with his parents to the state of Illinois in 1855. In 1862, at the age of 15 years, he enlisted in the Union army as a member of Co. I, 69th Illinois infantry.

After the close of the war he entered Lombard university at Galesburg, Ill., where his college training was completed.

His marked literary ability and bent for newspaper work manifested themselves early in his college life, and he was chosen as manager and editor of the college paper in recognition of the same.

In 1869 Mr. Smith removed to Iowa, and located in Bonaparte on Nov. 20 of that year. On the 19th day of January following [1870] he published his first newspaper.

On Feb. 28, 1871, at Bonaparte, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Johnson of Bonaparte. The family resided in Bonaparte until the ear 1877, when they removed to Keosauqua, where the publication of his paper was continued, and where it has without interruption been continued throughout all the intervening years.

Mr. Smith was a staunch, unwavering and undaunted democrat, to the principles of which party he was faithfully committed, and which he advocated through the columns of his paper throughout his life.

Possessed of a keen, analytical, well-drilled mind, he was quick to grasp the issues involved in the numerous campaigns, into which, as the editor of the democratic paper in the county seat, he was inevitably drawn, and maintained his positions with firmness, resourcefulness, and skill. Hi influence has been felt and recognized not only in this county and congressional district, but throughout the state, where he had a wide influence. He was many times a member of the state committee, was a familiar figure in the state conventions, was a delegate to a number of national conventions, and attended others, though not a delegate.

In 1886 he was appointed postoffice inspector, with headquarters in Chicago. His abilities won him speedy recognition by the postoffice department, and in December, 1887, he was placed in charge of the mail depredation work of the Chicago division, embracing seven northwestern states. In 1888 he was transferred to Washington, D. C. being one of a committee of three having charge of the organization and inspection of free delivery in the large cities. During this service in Washington he enjoyed an intimate and personal acquaintance with President Cleveland. To such an extent were his abilities recognized, that he was continued during the Harrison administration, resigning his work because of physical strain incident to almost continuous travel throughout the whole United States. Thereafter he devoted his entire time to his newspaper until 1915, when he was appointed postmaster at Keosauqua, in which position he was serving at the time of his death.

Mr. Smith was always a student and was thoroughly posted on current affairs. He was by habit of life a reader, and few have surpassed him in his breadth and scope of reading, and in his knowledge and appreciation of the best in literature.

He was a quiet, kindly, unassuming man of refunded tastes, reserved in temperament, genial to those who knew him, and devoted to the utmost to his home and family.

Feb. 22nd, the day before his death, marked the 50th anniversary of his marriage to his faithful wife, who survives him.

To this union wet ebon two daughters, namely: Mrs. W. L. Bogle of Des Moines, and Miss Irene Smith of Keosauqua, both of whom survive, and were with him at the time of his death. In his death occurs the first break of the family tie throughout a full period of fifty years.

Besides his wife and two daughters he is survived by two grandchildren, Miss Dorothy Bogle and Master Collier Bogle; two brothers and two sisters; Mr. W. H. Smith of Joliet, Ill.; Mr. Frank Smith of Boone, Iowa; Mrs. W. E. Davis of Des Moines, and Miss Emma Smith of Boone, Iowa. Also a brother-in-law and family, Mr. J. A. Johnson of Bonaparte, and another brother-in-law and family, Geo. B. Johnson of Ft. Worth, Texas, and many other relatives and a host of friends.

Mr. Smith and family were members of the Congregational church for many years, and were regular attendants at all its services, and loyal supporters of its work.

For more than fifty years his life had been closely interwoven with the social, moral and political life of this community, county, and state; with the advancement of which he kept pace, and in the upbuilding of which he had been a virile and potent force. His life and influence are indelibly interwoven into their history.

Source: Obituary Scrapbook; Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren, Iowa