Outagamie County WI Archives Biographies.....Smith, Edna T. 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 August 10, 2008, 10:46 pm

Author: J. F. Fuller

Mrs. Edna T. Smith.

TO the friends who knew her best, it seems difficult to think of the Christian
life of Edna Taylor Smith as having a definite beginning, but the record says
that on the profession of her faith, she united with the First Congregational
church of Appleton April 4th, 1869, and remained its faithful member until
called home April 3, 1894.

     During these twenty five years of connection with the church, her loyalty
to its interests and zeal for its best welfare knew no dimunition, and there
were few of its activities that did not feel the strength of her sympathy and help.

    Her quick perception and rare good judgment made her a valuable addition to
many important committees. At the organization of the Woman's Missionary Society
in 1871, she was made chairman of collectors, and the following year was elected
its treasurer, which office she held for nine years, helping to sustain it, not
only by the careful, systematic attention to its duties, but in giving
generously of her means.

    This spirit of Christian giving was not confined to the benevolences of the
church alone, but went out to nearly every charity in the city, to which she
gave freely both of time and money.

    Coming to the city during its earlier years, she, perhaps as much as any one
woman, helped to set a stamp upon it for all that was highest and best. Always
closely identified with its social life, and having an unusual genius for
hospitality, her home was a favorite centre where old and young alike felt the
charm of her personality. She possessed the strong convictions and steadfast
character which were her Puritan inheritance, and notwithstanding all the
demands of her varied interests, nothing was ever allowed to interfere with the
faithful performance of a duty.

    It was said of her when she went:—"The best life of the city will be poorer
because she is gone, and she has stood as the loveliest type of its womanhood.
Her nature was large, sweet and broad without being aggressive, her sympathies
quick and tender, and her helpfulness beneficent and elevating in every good
activity. Those who have been admitted to her friendship are happier and better
for it, and her influence must still inspire them to higher ideals of thought
and conduct."  "She belongs henceforth to

    "Those immortal dead who live again
     In minds made better by their presence."
                                     CORNELIA BOWEN BOYD.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
APPLET0N, WIS.

PREPARED FOR THE
SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, DEC. 18, 1900.
BY
J. F. FULLER, A. M., Compiler of the "Fuller" Genealogy.

1850—1900.
APPLETON PRINTING CO.,
APPLETON, WIS.


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