John Lewis Smith, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
John Lewis Smith
Valparaiso.
Rev. John Lewis Smith, D. D., died Saturday evening of pneumonia, aged 88 years. Dr. Smith was the oldest Methodist minister in Indiana. He was born in Virginia May 24, 1811, and was one of the first of the famous old-times circuit riders. He was licensed to preach on the Wilmington (Ohio) circuit in 1837. In March 1840, he entered the Indiana conference, doing missionary work in the wilds of Wells, Jay, Beachford and Adams counties. He was presiding elder thirty years. He acted as collector of internal revenue under appointment from President Lincoln from 1862 to 1866. Dr. Smith was a delegate to the general conference in 1852 and was a member of the church publishing committee of the first church paper published in Chicago. In 1868 he was appointed financial agent of Depauw university. He was the prime mover in founding Thornton academy in Thornton, Ind., and was the first president of the Valparaiso Male and Female College, now the Northern Indiana Normal School. He was elected a delegate to the general conference in Omaha in 1891, and while in attendance was united in marriage to Mrs. Saviers, who survives him. During his eighty-second year, at the request of his conference, he wrote a book of 450 pages on Indiana Methodism, containing incidents and sketches of people and preachers of the State. The funeral was held at the Methodist church Monday afternoon, attended by a large delegation of Masons, of which order he had been a member more than fifty years. Dr. Beck had charge of the services, Revs. Denney and Utter assisting. Hon. Mark L. DeMotte spoke on behalf of the citizens. A large number of telegrams of condolence from outside members of the church were read. The remains were taken to Lafayette for burial.
Newspaper: The Chesterton Tribune
Date of Publication: March 18, 1899
Volume Number: 15
Issue Number: 49
Page: 5
Column(s): 2
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook