Obituary: SMEDLEY, THOMAS BRAXTON
Former Waverly Merchant Dies
T.B. SMEDLEY PASSES AWAY
Veteran of Civil War and a Resident of Waverly for More than Thirty Years.
Thomas Braxton Smedley was born in Menard County, near Tallula, Ill., July 22, 1832, and died at Bloomington September 6, 1917. His early life, spent on the farm, was that of the typical pioneer, engaged in subduing the land in this newly settled territory. The neighborhood in which he lived was that which has since become well known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, and in early life, Mr. Smedley at various times came in contact with the future Emancipator. He was married to Catherine Rice in 1850, her death occurring in 1861. The call to war in the '60s found him ready to respond. He enlisted on March 13, 1862, and became a member of the 14th Illinois Volunteers, serving until the end of the war. His service was at first with Grant's army in the Mississippi Valley from Shiloh to Vicksburg. Later his regiment was in the southeast. Just before Sherman started on his march to the sea, Mr. Smedley was captured near Marietta, Georgia, and during the remainder of the war he was confined in Southern prisons, most of the time at Andersonville. He was mustered out at Springfield July 31, 1865, broken in health by his sufferings in prison, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. On August 1, 1867 he was married to Martha Ann Rice of Waverly, and the home was maintained here for more than thirty years, during most of which time he conducted a successful grocery business. In 1901 the family moved to Bloomington and for sixteen years the home was made at North Prairie Street. Mrs. Smedley died six years ago, and since that time Mr. Smedley had been quietly awaiting his time By strength of will he kept up until just at the last. Always unwilling to cause unnecessary trouble, and always a lover of the out doors, he maintained his daily walks in all but the worst of weather, even when he was hardly able to get about. For the last few weeks he had been growing weaker until on Thursday, when he began to fail rapidly. In the latter part of the afternoon of that day he quietly and calmly went to his rest. His friends in Waverly remember him as a man of generous and kindly nature, a true friend, and a man of honor, whose word required no bond to make it good. He was fond of doing for others in his own quiet way but was inflexibly opposed to having any display made about what he did. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Waverly, of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was prominent in the business affairs of Waverly during his life here. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. E. H. Reesor of Springfield; two sons, Frank R. Smedley of Idaho and Ralph C. Smedley, of Monmouth. A little daughter, Bertha, was born September, 1869, and died February 8, 1877. A brother, C. C. Smedley of Eureka Springs, Ark., and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Ferguson of St. Louis also survive him. Funeral services were held at the late residence in Bloomington Saturday morning, and the remains were brought to Waverly for interment. Short funeral services were held at 4:15 p.m. at East cemetery, in charge of Rev. S. C. Schaeffer, pastor of the Congregational Church. (September 14, 1917)
Former Waverly Merchant Dies
T.B. SMEDLEY PASSES AWAY
Veteran of Civil War and a Resident of Waverly for More than Thirty Years.
Thomas Braxton Smedley was born in Menard County, near Tallula, Ill., July 22, 1832, and died at Bloomington September 6, 1917. His early life, spent on the farm, was that of the typical pioneer, engaged in subduing the land in this newly settled territory. The neighborhood in which he lived was that which has since become well known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, and in early life, Mr. Smedley at various times came in contact with the future Emancipator. He was married to Catherine Rice in 1850, her death occurring in 1861. The call to war in the '60s found him ready to respond. He enlisted on March 13, 1862, and became a member of the 14th Illinois Volunteers, serving until the end of the war. His service was at first with Grant's army in the Mississippi Valley from Shiloh to Vicksburg. Later his regiment was in the southeast. Just before Sherman started on his march to the sea, Mr. Smedley was captured near Marietta, Georgia, and during the remainder of the war he was confined in Southern prisons, most of the time at Andersonville. He was mustered out at Springfield July 31, 1865, broken in health by his sufferings in prison, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. On August 1, 1867 he was married to Martha Ann Rice of Waverly, and the home was maintained here for more than thirty years, during most of which time he conducted a successful grocery business. In 1901 the family moved to Bloomington and for sixteen years the home was made at North Prairie Street. Mrs. Smedley died six years ago, and since that time Mr. Smedley had been quietly awaiting his time By strength of will he kept up until just at the last. Always unwilling to cause unnecessary trouble, and always a lover of the out doors, he maintained his daily walks in all but the worst of weather, even when he was hardly able to get about. For the last few weeks he had been growing weaker until on Thursday, when he began to fail rapidly. In the latter part of the afternoon of that day he quietly and calmly went to his rest. His friends in Waverly remember him as a man of generous and kindly nature, a true friend, and a man of honor, whose word required no bond to make it good. He was fond of doing for others in his own quiet way but was inflexibly opposed to having any display made about what he did. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Waverly, of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was prominent in the business affairs of Waverly during his life here. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. E. H. Reesor of Springfield; two sons, Frank R. Smedley of Idaho and Ralph C. Smedley, of Monmouth. A little daughter, Bertha, was born September, 1869, and died February 8, 1877. A brother, C. C. Smedley of Eureka Springs, Ark., and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Ferguson of St. Louis also survive him. Funeral services were held at the late residence in Bloomington Saturday morning, and the remains were brought to Waverly for interment. Short funeral services were held at 4:15 p.m. at East cemetery, in charge of Rev. S. C. Schaeffer, pastor of the Congregational Church. (September 14, 1917)
Obituary: SMEDLEY, THOMAS BRAXTON
Former Waverly Merchant Dies
T.B. SMEDLEY PASSES AWAY
Veteran of Civil War and a Resident of Waverly for More than Thirty Years.
Thomas Braxton Smedley was born in Menard County, near Tallula, Ill., July 22, 1832, and died at Bloomington September 6, 1917. His early life, spent on the farm, was that of the typical pioneer, engaged in subduing the land in this newly settled territory. The neighborhood in which he lived was that which has since become well known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, and in early life, Mr. Smedley at various times came in contact with the future Emancipator. He was married to Catherine Rice in 1850, her death occurring in 1861. The call to war in the '60s found him ready to respond. He enlisted on March 13, 1862, and became a member of the 14th Illinois Volunteers, serving until the end of the war. His service was at first with Grant's army in the Mississippi Valley from Shiloh to Vicksburg. Later his regiment was in the southeast. Just before Sherman started on his march to the sea, Mr. Smedley was captured near Marietta, Georgia, and during the remainder of the war he was confined in Southern prisons, most of the time at Andersonville. He was mustered out at Springfield July 31, 1865, broken in health by his sufferings in prison, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. On August 1, 1867 he was married to Martha Ann Rice of Waverly, and the home was maintained here for more than thirty years, during most of which time he conducted a successful grocery business. In 1901 the family moved to Bloomington and for sixteen years the home was made at North Prairie Street. Mrs. Smedley died six years ago, and since that time Mr. Smedley had been quietly awaiting his time By strength of will he kept up until just at the last. Always unwilling to cause unnecessary trouble, and always a lover of the out doors, he maintained his daily walks in all but the worst of weather, even when he was hardly able to get about. For the last few weeks he had been growing weaker until on Thursday, when he began to fail rapidly. In the latter part of the afternoon of that day he quietly and calmly went to his rest. His friends in Waverly remember him as a man of generous and kindly nature, a true friend, and a man of honor, whose word required no bond to make it good. He was fond of doing for others in his own quiet way but was inflexibly opposed to having any display made about what he did. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Waverly, of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was prominent in the business affairs of Waverly during his life here. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. E. H. Reesor of Springfield; two sons, Frank R. Smedley of Idaho and Ralph C. Smedley, of Monmouth. A little daughter, Bertha, was born September, 1869, and died February 8, 1877. A brother, C. C. Smedley of Eureka Springs, Ark., and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Ferguson of St. Louis also survive him. Funeral services were held at the late residence in Bloomington Saturday morning, and the remains were brought to Waverly for interment. Short funeral services were held at 4:15 p.m. at East cemetery, in charge of Rev. S. C. Schaeffer, pastor of the Congregational Church. (September 14, 1917)
Former Waverly Merchant Dies
T.B. SMEDLEY PASSES AWAY
Veteran of Civil War and a Resident of Waverly for More than Thirty Years.
Thomas Braxton Smedley was born in Menard County, near Tallula, Ill., July 22, 1832, and died at Bloomington September 6, 1917. His early life, spent on the farm, was that of the typical pioneer, engaged in subduing the land in this newly settled territory. The neighborhood in which he lived was that which has since become well known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, and in early life, Mr. Smedley at various times came in contact with the future Emancipator. He was married to Catherine Rice in 1850, her death occurring in 1861. The call to war in the '60s found him ready to respond. He enlisted on March 13, 1862, and became a member of the 14th Illinois Volunteers, serving until the end of the war. His service was at first with Grant's army in the Mississippi Valley from Shiloh to Vicksburg. Later his regiment was in the southeast. Just before Sherman started on his march to the sea, Mr. Smedley was captured near Marietta, Georgia, and during the remainder of the war he was confined in Southern prisons, most of the time at Andersonville. He was mustered out at Springfield July 31, 1865, broken in health by his sufferings in prison, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. On August 1, 1867 he was married to Martha Ann Rice of Waverly, and the home was maintained here for more than thirty years, during most of which time he conducted a successful grocery business. In 1901 the family moved to Bloomington and for sixteen years the home was made at North Prairie Street. Mrs. Smedley died six years ago, and since that time Mr. Smedley had been quietly awaiting his time By strength of will he kept up until just at the last. Always unwilling to cause unnecessary trouble, and always a lover of the out doors, he maintained his daily walks in all but the worst of weather, even when he was hardly able to get about. For the last few weeks he had been growing weaker until on Thursday, when he began to fail rapidly. In the latter part of the afternoon of that day he quietly and calmly went to his rest. His friends in Waverly remember him as a man of generous and kindly nature, a true friend, and a man of honor, whose word required no bond to make it good. He was fond of doing for others in his own quiet way but was inflexibly opposed to having any display made about what he did. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Waverly, of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was prominent in the business affairs of Waverly during his life here. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. E. H. Reesor of Springfield; two sons, Frank R. Smedley of Idaho and Ralph C. Smedley, of Monmouth. A little daughter, Bertha, was born September, 1869, and died February 8, 1877. A brother, C. C. Smedley of Eureka Springs, Ark., and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Ferguson of St. Louis also survive him. Funeral services were held at the late residence in Bloomington Saturday morning, and the remains were brought to Waverly for interment. Short funeral services were held at 4:15 p.m. at East cemetery, in charge of Rev. S. C. Schaeffer, pastor of the Congregational Church. (September 14, 1917)
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