Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Smith, Pheobe 1924
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 8, 2012, 7:42 pm

The Portland Observer, Thursday, July 17, 1924

With the death of Mrs. Pheobe Newman Smith, which occurred at the David Home 
for old people, Tuesday afternoon, Portland loses one of its very oldest 
pioneers and one of the first white children born in this vicinity.

Mrs. Smith was the daughter of the late James and Rebekah Newman, who were the 
first settlers to locate in Portland, the family arriving here on the 24th day 
of May 1836, to take possession of lands purchased three years previous.  On 
October 23, 1837 Mary E. Newman Rice was born, she being the first white child 
born on the east side of Grand River, in Portland.  Three years later, in 
1840, another little girl arrived at the Newman home and grew into womanhood 
among the Indians who populated the banks of the Grand at that early period.  
This was Pheobe Newman, who when 21 years of age was united in marriage to 
Gibson Smith who passed away about ten years later.

Mrs. Smith had been an invalid for the past 25 years, and for five years had 
been receiving care at the David home for old people, conducted by Mr. and 
Mrs. Alpha David on the east side of town.  

Besides her sister, Mrs. Mary E. Rice, who is now ill at the home of her 
granddaughter, Mrs. I. L. Dixson, at Lansing, Mrs. Smith is survived by a 
daughter, Mrs. Lou Gilbert of Chicago.  

The funeral was held from the David home this afternoon at 1:30 o’clock, Rev. 
J. H. Stewart officiating.  Burial was made in the Newman lot in Portland 
cemetery.



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