Gladwin County MI Archives Obituaries.....Smith, Fern Cornelius September 14, 1902 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Tom Ladner tomdladner@yahoo.com August 9, 2011, 7:27 pm Gladwin County Record From the Gladwin County Record --- September 19, 1902 DEATH OF F. C. SMITH HE DIED SUNDAY MORNING AFTER A FEW WEEKS' SERIOUS ILLNESS USEFUL AND ENTERPRISING CITIZEN GONE TO HIS LAST SLEEP-FUNERAL LARGELY ATTENDED. Like a bolt from a clear sky came the annoucement of the death of Fern C. Smith, which took place early Sunday morning. Mr. Smith was obliged to take to his bed a few weeks ago by illness which proved to be typhoid fever. He suffered intensely, but with his naturally vigorous consitution it was hoped and expected by all that he would recover. But the fates were against him, and after a hard struggle he passed to his long home. Mr. Smith had long been a prominent figure in Gladwin, and was widely known. He came here in January, 1887, and took charge of the city schools continuing 4 1/2 years. He then studied law with Frank L. Prindle, and in 1892 was admitted to the bar. The same year he was elected prosecuting attorney, and after serving in that capacity has since filled the office of circuit court commissioner. He also served as supervisor of his ward in the city of Gladwin, as a member of the board of education, and as a member of the city council. He had also filled the office of secretary of the board of county school examiners. Mr. Smith was born on his father's farm in Vernon, Shiawassee county, Nov. 1, 1866. The early years of his life were spent in school teaching, and previous to coming to Gladwin he was teacher of penmanship at the Fenton normal school. Mr. Smith and Miss Cora W. Mills, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. Mills, of this city, were united in marriage May 20, 1891, Their home life was an ideal one, and the loss of her helpmate in the prime of life is a heavy blow to the bereaved wife, who survives with a son, Gordon, eight years old. Of his father's family, two brothers, Mason M. of Tonawanda N. Y., Frank A., of Alaska, and a sister, Mrs. Ross, of Detroit, remain. During the past few years Mr. Smith has been largely occupied in building a house with modern improvements. He could not live to enjoy the fruits of his labor and enterprise in this direction, and the house he had planned so well served as the place of his funeral, which was held Tuesday afternoon, and largely attended. Rev. W. S. Sayres, of Detroit, who fills an Episcopal appointment here, conducted the services, and delivered an able discourse from the text, "If a man died shall he live again?'' A quartette consisting of Misses Eleanor Moore and V. A. Lowe and Messrs. W. H. Dawe and Squire Fouch, with Nina Brink as pianist, rendered apporiate music. The house was tastily decorated with flowers. The remaines were placed at rest in Highland cemetery, followed by a large concourse. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/gladwin/obits/s/smith15965nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.3 Kb