The Carthage Gazette
Carthage, Illinois
Friday
November 14, 1941
Page 4
Column 1S. A. SMITH DIED
LAST FRIDAY IN
BARBER'S CHAIRMonmouth Review, Nov. 7 -- Just after he had relaxed in a barber's chair, preparatory to having a hair cut, Sylvester A. Smith, 79, died yesterday afternoon shortly before 3 o'clock.
Mr. Smith had gone to the shop of S. A. Waters, 104½ South Main street, at 2:40 o'clock and had stepped into the chair, leaned back and quietly awaited while the Negro barber prepared to begin work. As Mr. Waters started to run his clippers over Mr. Smith's neck, the man's head leaned back and he pushed it forward, thinking the man -- a regular customer for several years -- had dozed off. Just then Mr. Smith's head dropped back heavily, and the barber realized something serious was wrong.
Rushing to the office of Edward B. Love, local attorney with offices in the Woods Building, Mr. Waters called to G. W. Wilson, 415 South First street, a client awaiting a conference with Mr. Love, and asked him to come into the shop at once. He did so, while Mr. Waters ran to the office of Dr. H. L. Kampen, local physician, who came as quickly as possible.
On his way to the doctor's office Mr. Waters saw Cecil D. Irey, police officer, directing traffic on Main street, and he asked him to go to the shop, also. Upon arrival Mr. Irey realized that the man, then unknown, was either dead or dying and he called Dr. J. O. Firth, Warren county coroner, who pronounced the man dead at 3:06 p. m. Later, in the man's overcoat, a letter was found which identified him as Sylvester Allen Smith, and this identification was later corroborated by members of the man's family.
At an inquest held this morning at 9 o'clock at the Turnbull Funeral Home, a coroner's jury returned a verdict finding that Mr. Smith's death resulted from coronary occlusion. Dr. Firth, the coroner, conducted the inquest, the jury being headed by Frank Schnurr as foreman. Witnesses were Mr. Waters, Officer Irey, Mr. Wilson, and Dr. Firth himself.
Sketch of Life
Sylvester Allen Smith was born in Hancock county, Ill., Dec. 4, 1861, the son of Levi and Nancy (Dale) Smith, pioneer residents of Hancock county. His father was a Civil War veteran. Both of his parents passed away when he was quite young and he was taken into the home of Guin Porter and cared for until he was able to support himself. He attended schools in Hancock county and for a time attended Carthage college. Later he taught in a number of schools.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Della Mosley and to this union were born two sons, Clytus and Hugh. A few years after the death of his wife he was married a second time to Carrie L. Carle. Of the four children born to this union, one daughter, Alpha, passed away in infancy. At this time in his life Mr. Smith worked as a carpenter and continued in the trade until the death of his second wife in 1913. From 1913 to 1930 he made his home with his son, Cecil in Carthage. For the past eleven years he had lived with his daughter, Mrs. Fred Zielke in Aledo. Last winter he spent two months in McAllen, Texas, with another daughter, Mrs. Roy Brimhall, and was planning to return there shortly.
Early in life Mr. Smith united with the Oak Grove Christian church and remained a sincere and devoted Christian throughout his life. He was active in affairs of the church and served as superintendent of the Sunday school for many years.
Surviving are the following children: Clytus D., Midale, Montana, Hugh E., Missouri; Mrs. Roy Brimhall, McAllen, Texas; Cecil A., Carthage; Mrs. Fred Zielke, Aledo. He also leaves two brothers, A. B. Smith, Mattoon, and Homer Smith, Memphis, Mo., and one sister, Mrs. Ella Ellington, Cameron, Mo. There are ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the First Christian church at 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon in charge of the pastor, the Rev. F. W. Leonard. Following this service the body was taken to the Oak Grove Christian church near Carthage where services were held at 3 o'clock. Interment was in the Oak Grove cemetery.
