Amy Edna Moore Smith (1858-1955)
(Mrs. Marcellus Smith)

Mrs. Marcellus Smith, South County Pioneer, Laid to Rest Monday

Friday, June 17, marked the passing of one of the area's oldest residents, when Mrs. Amy Edna Smith died at the Miller Nursing Home in Gary, following an illness of six months. "Grandma" Smith as she was known, was 96 years of age, born on December 21, 1858, the daughter of James N. and Mary Ault Moore. Mrs. Smith was born in West Creek Township, about 4 miles west of Lowell, on the old Marvin place. When she was only four years old her father moved the family to Lowell prior to his leaving to fight in the Civil War. At that time there were only eleven houses and a grist mill in Lowell.

She received her schooling in Lowell, and was the last remaining person who attended classes at the old school which was located on the site now occupied by Sheets Furniture Store. The school was moved later, and she completed her formal education in a portable building located on the present site of the Lowell grade school. She joined the Methodist church when she was fourteen years old.

On January 1, 1879, she was married to Marcellus Smith, a farmer. They lived on a farm at Fuller's Island until about 25 years ago. She reared her entire family there. For the past 20 years "Grandma" lived with her son Jim, in Shelby.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1939, and by a daughter, Mrs. Mary Helen Aliss, in 1918. She is survived by four sons, James of Shelby, Kellog of Hebron, Frank of Oregon, and Elmer, a retired prison guard in Leavenworth, Kansas. She also leaves 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, also a sister, Mrs. Daisy Thomas, of Snohomish, Washington.

Mrs. Smith had been confined to the Miller Nursing Home in Gary for the past 12 weeks, following a 10 week stay in the hospital. Services were conducted by the Rev. E.L. Worley at the Sheets Funeral Home on Monday afternoon. Burial was at Orchard Grove cemetery.