OBIT: John A. SMITH, 1923, Altoona, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Russell slmacruss88@comcast.net June 9, 2009, 4:20 pm Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ John A. Smith is Called By Death Pioneer Resident of the City, Public Spirited Citizen and Ex-County Commissioner, Dies, Aged 93 John A. Smith, one of Blair county's oldest citizens and one of the pioneer residents of this city, died at his home, 1326 Nineteenth avenue, Tuesday evening, death being due to a complication of diseases incident to old age, he having passed his 93rd anniversary on Jan. 19, this year. Mr. Smith was born at Sabbath Rest, then in Huntingdon county, on Jan. 19, 1830, the son of Jacob and Mrs. Annie (Baird) Smith. The old home where Mr. Smith was born is still standing. At the age of 18, he decided to start life for himself and accordingly came to this city where he learned the carpenter trade under the direction of John Wesley, who was then a prominent contractor. He was united in marriage with Miss McCartney on Dec. 24, 1851. She died in 1903. To this union, eight children were born, of which the following survive: Mrs. H. C. Macklin of Norfolk, Va.; Virginia C., at home; Mrs. T. C. Whitehead of 1220 Eighteenth avenue, this city; J. Mack Smith of Nome Alaska, and Mrs. May Trask of this city. There are also eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Mr. Smith followed the carpenter and contracting business until 1873 when he opened a general store on Eleventh avenue, near Fourteenth street, which he conducted until 1892, when William F. Gable acquired the site and purchased the stock of Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith was, throughout his life, affiliated with the Republican party, and in the spring of 1896, he was nominated for the office of county commissioner, to which he was elected the following November. Soon after his election, he was appointed to fill a vacancy existing on the board. He was subsequently twice reelected thus serving three full terms and a little more than one month. His service was marked by an economical administration of the affairs of the county. As a carpenter in the early days of the city, Mr. Smith helped in the erection of many of the older structures now standing, and also helped erect the first office buildings of the P.R.R. company, on a site near the old St. Lawrence hotel building, now used as a department store, Eleventh avenue and Fourteenth Street. During his declining years, he spent most of his time at his home. He was a lover of outdoor life and spent much time among his friends and up to the time of his last illness, took keen interest in a flock of chickens which he kept at his home. He also was a great reader and kept abreast of the times. Mr. Smith was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, being a resident of the city when the First Methodist church was erected. He was closely allied with the work of the church and up to the time of his death was a trustee in the First Methodist congregation. The funeral will be conducted at home 1326 Nineteenth avenue, on Friday afternoon. the service will be in charge of Rev. Horace Lincoln Jacobs of Clearfield and his pastor Rev. Dr. J. E. Skillington. Interment will be made in the Fairview cemetery. Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., February 14, 1923 Additional Comments: Margaret McCartney was the daughter of John and Charlotte (Crissman) McCartney. Granddaughter of Dougal McCartney This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/