Upson County GaArchives Obituaries.....Smith, Wesley Asbury 1926 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Brad Willis http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007638 March 16, 2011, 3:53 pm Dallas Morning News Wesley Asbury Smith, MD was born March 26, 1853 in Thomaston, GA, the son of Anthony Garnett Smith, Jr. and Elizabeth M. Smith of Upson County, GA. The following obituary appeared in the Dallas Morning News on July 8, 1926, p. 10: "Pioneer Physician Dies at Hearne Home. July 7. -Dr. Wesley Asberry [Asbury] Smith died at his residence in this city. Dr. Smith was born in Thomaston, Ga., in March, 1853. He graduated in Louisville Medical College and came to Texas in 1886 and for many years practiced his profession here and in Milam County, removing to Millican about twenty-two years ago, retiring from active practice in 1923, after forty-two years of continuous work in his field of labor. Dr. Smith returned to Hearne in the early part of June of this year. In 1836 when the fate of Texas' independence hung in the balance Dr. Smith's father [Anthony Garnett Smith, Jr.] came over from Georgia, valiantly espoused the Texans' cause and was seriously wounded in one of the battles against the forces of Santa Anna. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Roy Smith of Hearne, and seven sisters and three brothers, all nonresidents of the State except Mrs. Addie Howell of West, Texas. Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. A. A. Wagnon, pastor of the Methodist Church, and burial was in Norwood Cemetery." The following obituary appeared in the Hearne Democrat (Hearne, Robertson County, TX) on July 9, 1926, p. 5: "On Monday morning, July 5, funeral services for Dr. W. A. Smith, who passed away on the previous day, were conducted in the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Welch at 10:00, Rev. A. A. Wagnon of the Methodist Church officiating in the rites. Interment was in Norwood Cemetery [Hearne, TX], where, as at the residence of the deceased, the following served as pallbearers: Dr. H. W. Cummings, M. M. Whitehurst, W. P. Blackstone, R. W. Marshall, A. B. Cornforth, F. W. C. Karney. While Dr. Smith has been in failing health for some time, his illness did not become acute until a few days before he was claimed by death. His only child, Mrs. Roy Smith, and grandson, Allen Smith, were constantly with him during the last hours, and a sister, Mrs. Addie Howell, of West, [TX] arrived when apprised of the news of his critical condition. Wesley Asberry [Asbury] Smith was a native of Thomaston, Georgia, born in 1853, of sturdy pioneer stock of that state whose forebears figured prominently in Revolutionary struggles. His father, Anthony Garnett Smith, [Jr.] was a Mexican war veteran, having enlisted with the Texas forces at San Felipe, after making the trip from Georgia on horseback, and returning to his native state when incapacitated by wounds to continue in service. Dr. Smith was one of thirteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew [Anthony] Garnett Smith, [Jr.] and survived by five members of the group. A brother, Dr. S. Hull Smith, makes his home in Georgia as do all the sisters with the exception of Mrs. Addie Howell of West, [McLennan County] Texas. Dr. Smith came to Texas in 1886 after having prepared himself for the practice of his profession in a Louisville, Kentucky institution from which he graduated from with honors. Settling in Hearne to pursue his work as a physician, he was for a time associated in the drug business with Dr. James G. Adams, their firm location being on the building site now occupied by the Duffey Drug Company. Dr. Adams was postmaster when this partnership existed. In 1887 Dr. Smith was married to Miss Nellie Welch of this city who passed away six years after the union, leaving a daughter, Mrs. Roy Smith. During his married life he and family lived for a time in Branchville, but later returned to Hearne, residing here until some twenty years ago when he went to Millican where he had a large clientile until failing health caused him to retire from active service. Just one month ago he prevailed upon his daughter to return to Hearne that he might spend his last days here near the spot where he hoped to be laid for the "last long sleep" beside his wife. A member of the Methodist church since early childhood, the deceased continued in faith throughout his long and useful life, and looked upon the end as a release from worldly trials. Numbers of friends were in the Welch home for the funeral hour, and a wealth of beautiful summer flowers contributed a softening touch to the atmosphere of sadness. The daughter, and other members of the family bereaved, have the sympathy of the entire community in their sorrow." This third obituary was found in the Thomaston Times on Friday, July 23, 1926. It gives more information on his siblings. SMITH. Dr. W. A. Smith died at his home at Hearn[e], Texas, on July 4th, 1926, aged 74 years. He leaves one widowed daughter, one grandson, one brother Dr. S. H. Smith of Culloden, and six sisters, Mrs. E. J. Smith of Hapeville, Mrs. J. J. Dye of Dothan, Ala., Mrs. R. A. Williams of Rowland, Mrs. Addie Howell of West[,] Texas, Mrs. C. E. Bayne of Atlanta, and Mrs. C. S. Vining of Thomaston. Dr. Smith left Thomaston about 40 years ago and is remembered by several of the older residents of the community. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/upson/obits/s/smith10004gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb