Stephen S. Smith was well known to about every old settler in Comanche county, died on last Friday, February 28, 1913, at his home near Hooker, Okla., after an illness of several months' duration. He had been a sufferer for sometime from a complication of asthma, dropsy and some form of heart trouble. For nearly two months before his death he had been confined to his bed. Throughout his entire sickness he displayed remarkable patience, scarcely a murmur ever escaping his lips.Deceased was born in Ashland county, Ohio, on February 19, 1842. His age, therefore, at the time of death was 71 years and 9 days. During the Civil War, Mr. Smith was a valiant Union soldier, serving as a member of Co. A., Sherman's brigade calvary. At Hayesville, Ohio, on September 13, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Matilda L. Bower. In 1867, Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved from Ohio to Carthage,, Mo. In 1885 they settled in Valley tp., this county, but on the way they lived for a while in Cowley county, Kansas. In this county, Mr. Smith became a successful farmer and stock raiser. In 1903 he sold his land interests in this county and purchased a ranch near Hooker, Texas county, Okla., and there he moved and continued to live.
Mr. Smith was, in every sense of the word, a good citizen and a friend to every good cause and to every person. He became a member of the Methodist church at an early age and in the hour of death his faith in Christ as his Savior still sustained him.
Funeral services were held in the Hooker M. E. church, the pastor, Rev. H. Allen, being in charge. Interment was made in the Hooker cemetery. The surviving members of the family are: the wife, one brother and four sisters, also the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as follows: Ethel, Blanche and J. Frank, who live 10 miles north of the city; W. L. and Minnie Smith and Mrs. O. H. Imes of Sawpit, Colo., Mrs. O. H. Sampson of Springfield, Ark., and Hester and Mamie Smith of Denver, Colo.
J. Frank Smith and his sister, Miss Blanche, returned on Tuesday from Hooker, Okla., where they had been called by the sickness and death of their father, S. S. Smith. Miss Ethel Smith, who was also called to Hooker, will return within a few days if the condition of her mother's health will permit.
His full name was Stephen Shields Smith, according to his son's obituary.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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