Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Dexter, Smith Thompson 1878
************************************************
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:
Andrew MacLaney amaclaney@hotmail.com April 28, 2010, 6:57 pm

Ionia Co. MIGenWeb
The Ionia Sentinel
Friday, July 12, 1878 
IN MEMORIAM.
SMITH THOMPSON DEXTER.

It becomes our painful task to note the death of another of the Dexter family, a
name familiar to old residents of this country as among its earliest pioneers.
Smith Thompson Dexter, the last remaining son of his father's family, departed
this life on the evening of June 22nd, ult., after an illness of about three
weeks, although his health had not been good for sometime previous to his being
confined to his bed.

He has long been known as a quiet, unassuming man of steady habits, upright
among men, and honoring God in his profession and daily walk. He bore his
sufferings with great patience and resignation, expressed perfect readiness to
to in peace whenever the Master should call, although he would have desired to
live for his wife and only surviving child, Bennie. He gave Bennie much
excellent advice and parting counsel, and seemed very grateful for every
attention bestowed upon him by his faithful companion, referring often to the
sad death of their elder son, Marshall, in California, six years ago, among
strangers. A few minutes before he died he said: "Praise the Lord," and breathed
his last without a groan or struggle.

The funeral, in charge of Mr. Allured, at Mr. Dexter's especial request, was
held at his late residence, Rev. Mr. Pierson preaching very acceptably from the
same text used at Marshall's funeral services in California.

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself."--Acts, XX, 24.

The music, excellent and appropriate, was by Mr. Emory Strong and his sisters.
Mr. S. T. Dexter was a cousin of Mrs. Alonzo Sessions and of Mr. John C. Dexter,
whose father, Samuel Dexter, it will be remembered was one of the first to move
his family to Ionia county.

The subject of our sketch was fifty-four years of age; his father, mother,
sisters and three brothers are buried in Ionia cemetery, one brother in
California, one in Missouri, one in New York, and one, the youngest, "a brave
soldier and a true patriot," in Waterford, Virginia.

Not all are the graves in the moonlight cold,
Not all are the marbles in sunlight fair--
They point to the city with streets of gold,
They number our treasures just over there.

It matters but little that earth is wide,
And far that apart in her comely breast
The caskets which once our jewels did hide
For ages from our sight have been laid at rest.

For heaven and earth, that are near akin,
Lie side by side in the realm of space,
And the way is short and the veil is thin
That keeps us back from the Holy Place.

And a golden frame-work is o'er us all
Who sit and watch at the outer gate,
And who, where the heavenly glories fall,
For our steps at the inner temple wait.

It will not be long, it will not be long,
Till the ark be lifted to lead the way
From the land of sighs to the land of song,
From the midnight watch to the cloudless day.

Grace Glenn


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/d/dexter5204gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb