R. H. Burton-Smith 1875 - 1936

BURTON SMITH BROWNRIGG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/22/2014 at 20:30:13

Sioux City Journal
16 March 1936

DEATH CALLS WELL KNOWN LAWYER HERE

R. H. Burton-Smith Succumbs to Cerebral Hemorrhage

R. H. Burton-Smith, 61, prominent Sioux City lawyer, died unexpectedly at 4:30 o'clock Sunday morning in his home at 1705 Rebecca street. Death resulted from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Seemingly in good health, Mr. Burton-Smith was at his office Saturday and retired early, feeling well. He became sick at midnight but the attack quickly passed and he dropped off to sleep. He awakened again at 2 a. m. and complained to Mrs. Burton-Smith that he was in pain. Mrs. Burton-Smith worked with him for more than an hour and he seemed relieved when suddenly he sank into a coma and died.

A son of one of Sioux City's pioneer doctors, Dr. William R. Smith, Mr. Burton-Smith was born February 15, 1875, on his father's 80-acre farm which in later years was developed into Smith's Villa. The farmhouse was situated on the site where Smith school now stands.

Becomes Legal Adviser

Mr. Burton-Smith returned to Sioux City in 1932, becoming legal adviser for the Regional Agricultural Credit corporation, which position he held at the time of his death. Following in the footsteps of his father, he was prominent in many civic activities.

Shortly before his death he was elected president of the Sioux City Civic forum. He was prominent in the activities of the Woodbury County Pioneer club and was a member of the Boys of '68. Mr. Burton-Smith enlisted in the army during the world war and was assigned to the officers' training camp at Fort Snelling, Minn. He left the service when the order came to discharge all soldiers over 40 years of age.

A member of the American Legion, Mr. Burton-Smith was a past state director of the Legion Americanism committee and also was head of the Monahan post Americanism committee. He was a trustee of the First Unitarian church and Saturday night wrote an address that he had planned to deliver Sunday night to the Young People's union of the church. He was a member of the American Bar association and had served on several committees of that organization.

Survivors include the widow, Leona; his elder brother, Milton Perry Smith, and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Charles Bachman of Atlanta, Ga., who as Grace Dahl was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Burton-Smith. Mrs. Bachman left Sunday for Sioux City and is expected to arrive here Tuesday.

Perasso Bros. will have charge of the funeral arrangements. The body is at the Burton-Smith home.

He was a member of the Civics literary society.

Family Toured Europe

In his high school days he went to Europe with the family and during that tour made numerous treasured friendships, with Thomas Bailey Potter, James Howard and others. When the family was in London Dr. Smith attended parliament and Mr. Burton-Smith, with his brother, Milton Perry Smith, sat in the gallery and listened to the famous orator, Mr. I Gladstone.

Following his graduation from high school, Mr. Burton-Smith entered Yale university and was graduated in 1896. He returned to Sioux City as a teacher and taught history and English at the Sioux City high school for two years. In 1899 he again left Sioux City for further education and attended Harvard law school, from which he was graduated in 1902. He was admitted to the bar and returned to Sioux City, opening an office here.

Mr. Burton-Smith married Leona Brownrigg January 24, 1906, at Sunrise, Wyo., and brought his bride back to Sioux City. He was a trustee of the Farmers Loan and Trust company here for many years. Then, in answer to a call from his cousin, Daniel S. Remsen of New York city, he went to New York and became associated with Mr. Remsen, a national authority on wills and testaments.

He also assisted his cousin in the compilation of a legal book, The Preparation of Wills and Testaments, extensively used as a basic reference book on those subjects.

Father Was Outstanding

Dr. Smith came to Sioux City in 1855, nine years after Iowa was admitted to the union. He was an outstanding physician of that time here and was mayor of Sioux City in, 1863 and again in 1881.

He achieved national recognition for his work in aiding flood victims in the great inundation of 1880-81, known as the "milltail of hell flood." In 1878 he was delegate from Iowa to the Paris exposition.

At the time when the southern states were rebelling, the pioneer doctor was elected chairman of the frontier vigilance committee. He also served as first lieutenant of the frontier guards, formed at that time because Sioux City was without railroads or any other protection. He subsequently became register for the government land office here when it opened in December, 1855.

Mr. Burton-Smith first attended school at the old Webster school and later at Armstrong high school now Central high school. He attended the Sioux City school, and was graduated in 1892