Obit: Aurelius Smith, Grant Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies
120 Ted Price Lane
Winnfield, LA  71483
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AURELIUS SMITH
Smith, Aurelius
April 2, 1909 Comrade

Died in Winnfield, La., at 3:35 p.m. Friday, March 26, 1909, of pneumonia,
Aurelius Smith, aged 45 years, 10 months, and 17 days.

Deceased was born near Montgomery, La., on May 9, 1863.  His life has been
passed in business pursuits and in his earlier days he developed those traits
that culminated in his success in business.  He spent several years of his
life in Dodson and East Texas, and moved to Winnfield several years ago and
established the Smith-Grisham Drug Co., in which he was doing a successful
business.

He married Miss Mary Grisham, a sister of ex-District Attorney O. M. Grisham,
one of the leading lawyers of Winnfield, at Gaar's Mill, September 1, 1892. 
From this union four children were born, two of whom survive him with his
devoted wife.  There are also living a sister, Miss Helen Smith, and four
brothers, A. P. Smith of Winnfield, Dan H., Claude, and Lycurgus Smith of
Mineral Wells, proprietor of Carlsbad mineral water.  He was otherwise widely
connected.

Mr. Aurelius Smith was endowed with those traits of character calculated to
win the confindence and esteem of the citizens and gain the confidence of his
fellow men.  Genial and kind, sociable and charitable, a model husband and
father, a useful and public spirited citizen, around his personality gathered
the radiance of the Christian gentleman.  Little wonder that his death, in the
midst of his career of usefulness, should elicit profound regret in deepest
sorrow.  Thus his Christian life was closed amid the _____ and expressions of
deepest grief of those who knew best his virtues and worth.

At the residence last Saturday the multitude gathered to pay tribute to his
memory.  
Dr. J. R. Edwards, of the First Baptist Church, conducted the religious
services and then the members of Eastern Star Lodge of Winnfield and Dodson
Lodge, F. & A. M. took charge of the remains.  A very large concourse of
people followed the hearse to the Winnfield Cemetery and gathered at the grave
to pay final tribute to the honored dead, and listen to the touching funeral
rites of those with whom he was closely associated in life.  As he was laid to
his final rest with the melody of "Nearer my God to Thee," floating on the
afternoon air, and amid the sighing of the budding emerald trees, there came
to mind the words of the poet Young:  "Death loves a shining mark, a signal
blow."