Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2022 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Bridport Sun Thursday, 7 November 1901 MRS. MARSHALL SMITH DEAD Honored by All and Loved by Many, the Widow of MARSHALL SMITH Passes Away. The serious illness of our beloved townswoman, MRS. MARSHALL SMITH, took a sudden change for the worse last Monday morning and about half past eight she passed away at the home of her cousin, D. B. STEADMAN, in Springfield, Mass. The pneu- monia, which she had fought with such wonderful resolution and grasp on life until then, finally triumphed over age and weakness and she passed quietly away. Her nearest of kin, MRS. ROBERT W. McCUEN, granddaughter, was at home in Vergen- nes when the messenger of death came, confined to her bed with a severe attack of nervouse pros- tration. Everything that medical skill and the trained ministrations of skillful nurses could do was freely given, but the aged and feeble frame succumbed at last to the deadly disease and she was taken to her great reward. MRS SMITH was born in Guilford, Vt., April 16, 1829. She was the daughter of PARDON and LUCINDA BENEDICK. Her early life was spent in Guilford and Shoreham. On Feb. 26, 1849, she was married to MARSHALL SMITH of Bridport and moved to the latter town, where she lived until 1892. One child, PHELPS B. SMITH, was born to them, who died July 30, 1891. His daughter, NANCIE M. SMITH, was the only issue of PHELPS SMITH'S marriage and is the only direct survivor of MARSHALL SMITH. MARSHALL SMITH died in Bridport in April, 1889, and, after PHELPS B. SMITH died, the deceased moved to Vergennes in 1892, where she resided until ten days or two weeks ago, when, on a short visit to a cousin in Springfield, Mass., she contracted the pneumonia that caused her death. MRS. SMITH, although an adherent of the Episcopal church, visited nearly all the Vergen- nes churches during her life here. The funeral was held at her late residence Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock, Rev. W. T. Forsythe of Middlebury officiating. The solemn service for the burial of the dead, prescribed by the Episcopal church, was celebrated, Dr. J. Churchill Hindes assisting with two beauti- fully rendered vocal selections, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" and "Gently, Lord, Oh Gently Lead Us." MISS LOIS LYON played the accompani- ment. The bearers were MESSRS. L. F. BENTON, F. L. FISH, T. NEVILLE, N. J. McCUEN, and Dr. JOHN GIBSON of Vergennes and MR. E. B. STEAD- MAN of Springfield, Mass. The casket was heavily banked with wreaths and pillows of fragrant flowers with the more sombre autumn foliage of broad-leafed plants forming a massive wreath about the peaceful face of her who was once so well beloved and known amongst us. A relief from the usual depressing black so predominant on such sad occasions was the purple knot of violets and pendant streamers of satin ribbon on the door that announced the presence of the dead within. Burial was in the family plot in Bridport cemetery, the solemn cortege setting out on the long, cold drive immediately after the service at the house. Spencer W. Hindes had charge of the arrangements at the house and the director of the funeral was I. H. Smith. The character of our late townswoman was one of the gentlest, most kindly description. She had no one who wished her ill and she held the love and tender affection of a large circle of friends. Relatives she had few, but seemed to give, of her abundantly sympathetic nature, a generous portion of that kindly, tender affection to all with whom she came in contact. Many of those who can testify to her sweet and gentle nature and those with whom her relatons were only of the most formal description join with the afflicted kindred in heartfelt mourning. Of her, more than of others in the ordinary experience of life, were the words true: None knew her but to love her; None named her but to praise. That she has gone to a great and eternal reward we earnestly believe. Her life was the personification of the Christian virtues and she lived, rather than taught, the sub- lime tenets of the Christ-life. We mourn not, therefore, as those possessing no hope, but rather as those on whom the veil is drawn, for but a few brief years, until, in the broad and perfect beauty of the ever-lasting day, we meet her face to face. [Transcriber's Note: per 1880 Federal Census, Bridport, Addison Co., Vt. - Her name was MARY L.] ================================================================================