Mrs. Almira Webb Smith 1844-1911

SMITH, WEBB, HUNTER, STEVENS, BLAKE, DAIN, SIMMONS, BROWNING, BLAKE, MANNING

Posted By: John Evan Davis (email)
Date: 11/14/2014 at 10:39:30

Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, February 04, 1911
WELL KNOWN WOMAN SUCCUMBED AT HOME OF JUDGE HUNTER LAST EVENING. KEPT HUSBANDS ASHES
One Casket Will Contain Remains of Couple Although Mate's Demise Was Twelve Years Ago—Funeral Private.
Death last night ended the sufferings of Mrs. Almira Webb Smith, well known among, the older residents of the city as a resident of Ottumwa in the 70's and later for the past twelve years as a member of the household of Judge and Mrs. F. M. Hunter. The end came after a long period of illness due to cancer, although she had been confined to her bed only for the past three weeks. She succumbed at 6:30 o'clock last evening at the Hunter home, 605 East Second street surrounded by her only living relatives, Mrs. F. M. Hunter and Clarence Stevens, niece and nephew of the decedent. The funeral services at her request will be private, and will be held at the Hunter residence at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon conducted by Rev. W. C. Hengen of Trinity Episcopal Church. Interment will be in the Ottumwa cemetery. Almira Webb Smith was born December 23 1844 in Portchester N. Y., and is best remembered as a sister to the late Mrs. Charles F. Blake. She resided in Ottumwa for a number of years previous to her marriage at Milwaukee in 1875 to Edward L. Smith, since deceased. For a year after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Smith made Ottumwa their home. Upon her husband's opening up the Bell Telephone company's branch in St. Louis where he was secretary and treasurer of the company until his death in 1899, Mr. and Mrs. Smith continued their residence in the Missouri metropolis. Upon the death of her husband, Mrs. Smith came to Ottumwa and has since made her home with her niece, Mrs. F. M. Hunter.
Ashes Repose Together
The mutual regard cherished between the decedent and her late husband was such that upon his request after his death his remains were cremated and the ashes have been treasured by the widow in a bronze casket awaiting her death when they will be burled with her own remains. This wish has been her most urgent desire and she would never long separate herself from the sacred vessel containing her husband's ashes. Before
the casket is closed tomorrow the ashes of the late Edward Smith will repose by the side of his wife's remains. Interment in the peaceful solitude of Ottumwa cemetery.
Private funeral services over the remains of Mrs. Almira W. Smith, who died Wednesday evening were
held this afternoon from the Judge F. M. Hunter residence, 605 East Second street. Rev. W. C. Hengen, rector of the Trinity Episcopal Church officiated at the services. The remains, were interred in the Ottumwa cemetery. The pall bearers were: Joseph Dain, George Simmons, Joseph Browning, Cyrus K. Blake, Calvin Manning.