GRAND COTEAU NOTES
Mr. Alex Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Smith and daughter, Barbara and Mr. Wilton Smith of New Orleans, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Smith and family of Arnaudville, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smith and family of Opelousas, Mr. Sidney Smith of Dallas, Texas and Mr. Warrington Smith of ?Marathon? Texas, were here this week visiting relatives and attended the funeral services for Judge J. A. Smith, Sunday.
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Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien Elmer, Jr., and family of Port Arthur, Texas, were guest last Sunday of Mr. Elmer's parents, Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien Elmer, Sr.
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TRIBUTE OF RESPECT TO
JUDGE JOHN ALEXANDER SMITH
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There died at Grand Coteau on Saturday morning, April 21st at 1:55 a. m. Judge John Alexander Smith, aged 84 years, 11 months and 8 days. His father was John F. Smith, a lawyer and notary, was beloved by every man, woman and child where he lived and died, many years ago. The writer knew intimately Mr. John F. Smith and has known the deceased more than 60 years. The deceased is survived by 10 children, A. L. Smith, New Orleans; Mrs. Willie DeValcourt, Sunset; Mrs. James Fox; Mrs. H. F. Richard; Mrs. John J. Smith; Mrs. F. C. Smith; Miss Marie Smith, all of Grand Coteau; Estelle Smith, Sister of Charity, Alton, Illinois; Walter C. Smith, Opelousas; Mrs. J. E. Smith, Arnaudville; 53 grand children, 15 great-grandchildren.

In 1872 he married Miss Estelle Cavalier of New Orleans, who died a few years ago.

The deceased was born and reared in Grand Coteau, was educated at St. Charles College, and died within rifle shot of his Alma Mater. He was a devout Catholic and believed that the dead live again. He was as far back as I can recall, a public spirited citizen. He served continuously as Justice of the Peace of his Ward, for 44 years. No man in this Parish has ever equalled such a continuous tenure of office. This bespeaks the love of his neighbors and friends, who clung to him with hoops of steel. His children and grand children can point with pride to this monument of public service unequalled by any of his predecessors in any office in this Parish or, and it may be in this State.
The Judge was in good health up to within about a week preceding his death. He began to fail and as life's candle was burning low, he passed away in the early morning of the 21st inst. as calmly as peacefully as the light breaks in upon another day.
He had lived long, had lived worthily, he passed away as serenely as he had lived: "Sans per et sans reproche," without fear and without reproach. God rest his soul.
April 21, 1934.
A FRIEND
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CLARION-NEWS, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1934 PAGE FIVE
Edith Garland Dupré Library, UL Lafayette.
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JUDGE JOHN A. SMITH, 84,
DIES AT COTEAU SAT

Many Years of Public Service as Parish Leader brought to End at Grand Coteau
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Funeral services for Judge John A. Smith, 84 years, 11 months, and 8 days, who died Saturday at his home in Grand Coteau were conducted at A Requiem Mass at 10:30 at the Sacred Heart Catholic church with interment in the Catholic cemetery.

Rev. Father Latiolais, S. J., pastor was the celebrant of the Mass.

Judge Smith was a life long resident of Grand Coteau and was well known in St. Landry Parish. He has been Justice of the Peace of the 1st Precinct in the 2nd Ward for about 44 years.

His ten children survive, four sons: Alex Smith of New Orleans, Walter Smith of Opelousas, F. Cook Smith and John Smith of Grand Coteau, and six daughters: Mrs. William DeValcourt of Sunset, Mrs. Edgar Smith of Arnaudville, Sister Estelle (Louise Smith) at St. Joseph's Hospital in Alton, Illinois and Miss Marie Smith, Mrs. Henry Richard and Mrs. James Fox of Grand Coteau, 56 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
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CLARION-NEWS OPELOUSAS, LOUISIANA,
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1934
Front Page
Edith Garland Dupré Library, UL Lafayette.

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Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Smith of New Orleans are the guest at the home of Mrs. Smith's grandfather, Judge Smith.
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Clarion News
Thursday, October 29, 1931
Edith Garland Dupré Library, UL Lafayette.

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50 Years Ago
CLARION-PROGRESS
November 4,1922
GOLDEN WEDDING TO BE OBSERVED IN GRAND COTEAU
Judge and Mrs. J. A. Smith To Be Honored by Host of Friends Next Thursday - The whole community is looking forward to the golden wedding anniversary of Judge and Mrs. J.A. Smith (Estelle Cavilier) which will be celebrated November 9th. They were married in New Orleans, Nov. 9, 1872. They are the parents of ten children, Alex, of New Orleans, Birdie (Mrs. William Devalcourt) of Sunset, Cook of Grand Coteau,Temilia (Mrs. Edgar Smith) of Arnaudville, John of Grand Coteau, Zita (Mrs. James Fox) of Grand Coteau, Marie who is residing with her parents, Louise (Sister Estelle) of St. Louis, Mo., Walter of Opelousas, and Electa (Mrs. Henry Richard) of Grand Coteau. They have forty-eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and what is more remarkable, there has been no deaths in the family. Judge Smith has been justice of the peace here for the last thiry-five years.
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Times Picayune
November 2, 1922
Page 19

Will Celebrate Golden Wedding.
Grand Coteau. La., Nov. 1 or 4.- the golden wedding anniversary of Judge and Mrs. J. A. Smith (Estelle Cavilier) will be celebrated on Thursday of next week. They were married in New Orleans on November 9, 1872. A special mass of thanksgiving will be said at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, after which they will receive their friends.
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Grand Coteau

Among those from here who attended the unveiling of the Confederate monument in Opelousas Sunday were: Judge J. A. Smith, A. D. Smith, and children Bill and Rena, Dr. E. S. Barry and sons Lawrence and Walter, Mrs. J. J. Barry and children, J. S. Thomas and Cecilia, Robert Barry, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. James Fox and son, Jack, Dr. and Mrs. Felix Guilbeau. Misses Leonie Burleigh Virginie Mouton, Messrs. Richard Burleigh, John and Armand Petetin, Oscar Olivier and Lionel Elmer.

THE ST. LANDRY CLARION
Saturday, February 28th, 1920
Page Eight, Column 4.
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Proceedings Democratic Executive Committee.
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ROOMS DEMOCRATIC EXC. COMMITTEE FOR THE PARISH OF ST. LANDRY.

Grand Coteau Ward: J. A. Smith had no opposition and received 158 votes, and is, entitled to the nomination.

THE ST. LANDRY CLARION
OPELOUSAS, LA., SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1904.
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Miss Hilda Smith of New Orleans is visiting her grandparents, Judge and Mrs. J. A. Smith.
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The St. Landry Clarion
Saturday, August 9, 1919.
Opelousas Louisiana,
Page 5, Column 1.
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Miss Hilda Smith with her niece Zulma DeMonsabert returned to their home in New Orleans after spending sometime with Judge J. A. Smith and family.
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New Orleans States (New Orleans, La.)
Sunday, November 26, 1922
Page 13, Column 1.

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SMITH, John A. m. 6 Nov. 1872 Estelle CAVELIER (Opel.Ct.Hse.:Mar. # 7121)