Horry Herald February 24, 1927

Passing of Jeremiah Smith

Jeremiah Smith died at the home of his son, Daniel T. Smith in North Conway, at about 3 o'clock am on February 17th 1927; his demise following a period of several weeks of illness, during a part of the time the patient being unconscious of what went on around him.

He reached the advanced age of eighty six years, seven months, and six days.

The funeral was held at the residence on Thursday morning, February 18th, in the presence of one of the largest gathering ever seen at any funeral in this county. The exercises conducted by Rev. J. W. Langston, retired Baptist minister now living in Conway; Rev. J. M. Lemmon (this line is illegible on microfilm)and Dr. G. P. Watson of the Conway Methodist Church. The deceased has been a faithful member of the Methodist Church for many years, in fact ever since about the time he moved from his country estate in Socastee township to Conway.

At the conclusion of the religious rites the Conway Lodge Ancient Free Masons took charge of his body and under their management his mortal remains were taken to Lakeside Cemetery where they were interred to away the morn of the resurrection. He was placed in the ground with the rites of the Mason to which order he had been a member since his early years, and principles of which order practiced all the days of his life.

He is survived by twelve children and step children, sixty one grandchildren and seventy six great grandchildren.

Here follows a brief sketch of his remarkable life.

He was the youngest son of Daniel and Cecil Smith who moved into this state from North Carolina about the year 1800. His parents settled in Socastee Township; then a part of what was known as All Saints Parish. They reared seven sons: William, Samuel, and Martin Smith all of Georgetown; Nathan and Daniel Smith of Mobile AL; Benjamin F. Smith of McColl SC; and Jeremiah Smith, the subject of this sketch, he being the youngest and at the time of his death the sole surviving member of the original Smith family.

All of Jeremiah Smith's life was spent in Horry County, the place of his birth. At the age of ten years he assumed the responsibility of caring for his aged parents. He looked after them and cared for them tenderly until they died. During this period he received what schooling he ever had, three months at the Old Piney Bay School House located now the the road from Conway to Myrtle Beach.

He was married at the age of nineteen to Miss Hester Ellen Brown, of Socastee and born to this union were the following children: Kitsey Jane, Marion B., Olive O., Jeremiah B., Daniel T., and Viola O. Smith, all of whom are surviving him except Kitsey Jane and Marion B. Smith.

The first wife died when her husband was thirty two and he married the second time, his second wife being, Mrs. Isabell Hucks, widow of Benjamin Hucks and having a family herself of five children: Ann R. Hucks, Rev. David Hucks, Frances S. Hucks, Joseph B. Hucks, Annie Eliza Hucks, all of who have precded the deceased to the grave expect Joseph B. Hucks and Ann R. Hucks.

To the second marriage were born six children: Annabella. Lillian F., Sallie E., Wade Hampton; Cora E., and Isabella Smith, all of whom survive him expect Isabella. About the time of his second marriage he movedto the Reheuark Place on the Waccamaw River near Bucksville where he framed and reared his large family. During this period he served the public in various ways such as road overseer, school and church trustee. He united with the Methodist Church while a young man and was all of his life a faithful worker and member. He was a member of the Masonic order joining the lodge at Bucksville but afterwards transferred to the Conway Lodge.

He was appointed as Magistrate (Trial Justice at that time) by Daniel H. Chamberlain and he commenced at that time to serve the people (line is illegible) which he continued throughout his life. He filled the position of Trial Justice until 1880 when he was elected to the House of Representatives. He was elected again in 1882. In 1884 he was elected as Senator from Horry County. In the Senate he served for two terms. In 1895 he was a member of the Constitution Convention and in this he took an active part in framing the present Constitution of South Carolina.

His second wife died in 1895. Afterwards he married Mrs. Elizabeth Caldwell Hardee who had one daughter, Mrs. Emma Oglive who still survives him. He and his last wife operated the Commerical Hotel on Main Street in Conway for many years where the best people always put up and where hospitality was always the rule. The hotel business was quite a success and was discontinuted only wit the death of Mrs. Smith. In the mean time he was again elected to the House of Representatives in the year 1898 serving in that body with H. H. Woodward.

After the death of his wife he retired from the active affairs of business here and spent the remaining years with his son, Daniel T. Smith, and at whose residence he passed away.

While in active life and living in Conway he served one term as Mayor of Conway. During that term the town of Conway took a step forward by putting in electric lights. Before that time the oil and gas lamps of the ordinary sort were the only means of lighting the streets and homes of Conway.

After his retirement from active business he was again elected and returned to the State Senate. At that time he was about eighty years of age, but yet vigorous in the service of his people both in committee work and in speeches of of the floor of the Senate. This term in the Senate was last service in public office.

He was the father of much legislation which became permanent law of the State. In addition to present constitution which he helped to frame in a most efficiently and satisfactory, we might mention the "Jim Crow" car law where there are separate coaches on the railroads for white and colored passengers. He was an advocate of free range and his successful efforts in expecting Horry from the terms of general stock.