OBIT: John M. SMITH, 1882, Blair County, PA

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Death of a Citizen of Tyrone.

We learn through our Tyrone correspondent that Mr. John M. Smith died
at his home on Spring street, Tyrone, at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon,
of neuralgia of the heart, being ill only two hours.  He was a brother
of Mr. D. A. Smith, of Tyrone, and of A. H. Smith, of Antis township.

A Singular Case

On Monday morning we chronicled the sudden death of Mr. John M. Smith,
a prominent citizen of Tyrone.  Tuesday morning at 10.30 o'clock was
fixed upon for the funeral services, which were to be held in Asbury
church, Antis township, the interment to be in the graveyard near the
church.

At the conclusion of the funeral services the coffin was opened and
the body exposed to the view of the friends and the public.  It was
discovered to be strangely warm.  Dr. Thompson, and it may be another
physician, examined the body, and though death had apparently taken
possession, yet there were a few slight indications of lingering life
and it was decided to delay the interment until a more thorough
examination could be made.  It was accordingly taken to the residence
of a relative - Mr. Funk - about a mile from Asbury church.  We should
be glad to hear that Mr. Smith has been restored to his friends,
although the chances are against it.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, June 15, 1882, page 3

On Tuesday morning, the hour of 8 o'clock having arrived and
everything being in readiness, the conveyances, seventeen in number,
having been arrayed in their proper order on Lincoln avenue, the
relatives and friends of the deceased were soon seated and at twenty
minutes past 8 o'clock in the presence of a large number of people,
the hearse bearing the beautiful casket containing all that was mortal
of the late John M. Smith, who had been so suddenly smitten by the
hand of death, his soul having crossed the dark and silent river at 4
o'clock on Sunday afternoon previous, moved slowly followed by
sorrowing relatives and friends up Washington avenue toward the silent
city of the dead, Asbury burying grounds some twelve miles up in the
valley.  After driving about five miles distant Mrs. Smith, wife of
the deceased, who has been very much distressed and almost prostrated
from the sudden shock, fainted, which detained the procession for a
time.  At 11:30 o'clock the Asbury church was reached.  The casket
being removed from the hearse to the lecture room, for the purpose of
arranging the corpse, had it been jolted out of position during the
extended drive, when a relative getting a glance at the supposed
lifeless remains, thought he saw in the absence of the death palor a
marked change in appearance.  This strengthens the idea entertained by
some of the friends from the time of his death, that he was not dead.
The casket with its contents was, however, placed in the church and
the funeral sermon preached by Dr. McMurray, of the Methodist
Episcopal church, assisted by Rev. Waterick, of the Lutheran church.
After reviewing the remains by all present, many of whom had been
companions of the deceased in boyhood days, Mr. Smith having attended
Sunday school from childhood, through youth and even when to manhood
grown, the casket was again removed to the lecture room of the church
and an examination made by Dr. Thompson, of Bellwood, who could
discover no discharge either from the nose or mouth; that no offensive
odor arose from the supposed dead man, and that no discoloration could
be seen, nor yet could the least sign of decomposition having set in
be noticed, but the doctor upon finding no evidence of the least spark
of life still lingering in that cold tenement of day [clay] gave, as
his opinion, that life was extinct, though to satisfy the wife of the
deceased that such was the fact he would delay interment, stating that
after the long drive and considering the warm weather signs of
putrefaction or decomposition would set in in a few hours, when all
hopes would be dispelled of resuscitation.  The casket containing the
corpse was then removed to the residence of Mrs. Funk, mother of Mrs.
Smith.  At 6 o'clock, when the writer took the last look at the
lifeless remains, discoloration could plainly be seen and the work of
decomposition had fully set in.  We learn that on Wednesday morning,
all hopes of life in the body having been dismissed, the remains were
accordingly consigned to their last resting place in the Asbury
burying ground.  The deceased was aged 49 years, 2 months and 6 days,
had been a faithful consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
church for many years, was a quiet, unassuming man, and beloved and
respected by all who knew him.  He leaves a wife, daughter, step son,
and step-daughter to mourn his sudden death.  The community has lost
one of its most useful citizens.  He had also a sister in Kansas and
two brothers and two half sisters, and a half brother residing in this
county.  During the day of the funeral many false reports were raised
such as Mr. Smith had turned in the coffin on the way.  Another that
he had broken the glass, and split the lid of the coffin, and that
five doctors were present at the examination, all of which we denounce
as utterly false.  One doctor was present, and the other reports are
entirely without foundation.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Thursday, June 22, 1882, page 4