Former Sangamon Educator Dies At Home in Chicago - "When you think of me, try to make things better." Those were the last words of A. J. Smith, former superintendent of Sangamon and Springfield public schools, and retired veteran educator, who died Saturday at his home in Chicago. He was 74 years, 2 months, and 10 days old. His brother, Luther Smith, prominent resident of Cuba, Mo., died last Tuesday, January 28, 1919. Springfield was the home of Mr. Smith, although he and his family had been residing at Chicago. Many residents of the city will remember him as principal of the old second ward school, now the Douglas school; as county superintendent of schools and as head of the city school system. Later he became connected with larger schools and was prominent in educational circles of the middle west before his retirement in 1904.
The remains have been brought to this city and funeral services will be held this afternoon at First Methodist church. Interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.
The decedent was born November 21, 1844, in Pike county, Mo. After completing his education in public schools and college he began teaching as a profession. His first school was in Pike county, Illinois. He came to Sangamon county in 1866 and was employed to teach the Anderson school near Richland, and remained there three terms. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Douglas school in 1870, and held the position several years. He resigned, and practiced law at Hannibal, Mo., and St. Louis. Failing health caused him to quit practice.
Returning to Springfield he again was employed at Douglas school, and in 1882 was elected superintendent of Sangamon county schools, serving four years. Then he was named superintendent of city schools and held the position three years. Mr. Smith resigned the local position for superintendency at Sedalia, Mo., and resided at that city for five years. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Central High school, St. Paul, Minn., which was in 1893. A short time later he was elected superintendent of St. Paul schools, and remained there until he retired in 1905.
A score of years ago he was a well known member of the National Educational association and a very active member of the state teachers' association. During his career Mr. Smith purchased several farms in Illinois, Missouri and in the south. The estate now consists of about 1,500 acres. After leaving St. Paul he became interested in real estate business. He was a progressive Democrat in politics and was a member of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Lillie V. Smith; one daughter, Miss Myra V. Smith, teacher of French in Nicholas Senn High school, Chicago; one son, Raymond T. Smith, a student of medicine at the University of Chicago, and one sister, Mrs. Laura Thompson of Gordon, Neb. The Smith home here is west of the city near Washington park.
IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 2-3-1919
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Full first name from death certificate information, which stated his birth date as 11-22-1844, son of John Smith.
The remains have been brought to this city and funeral services will be held this afternoon at First Methodist church. Interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.
The decedent was born November 21, 1844, in Pike county, Mo. After completing his education in public schools and college he began teaching as a profession. His first school was in Pike county, Illinois. He came to Sangamon county in 1866 and was employed to teach the Anderson school near Richland, and remained there three terms. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Douglas school in 1870, and held the position several years. He resigned, and practiced law at Hannibal, Mo., and St. Louis. Failing health caused him to quit practice.
Returning to Springfield he again was employed at Douglas school, and in 1882 was elected superintendent of Sangamon county schools, serving four years. Then he was named superintendent of city schools and held the position three years. Mr. Smith resigned the local position for superintendency at Sedalia, Mo., and resided at that city for five years. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Central High school, St. Paul, Minn., which was in 1893. A short time later he was elected superintendent of St. Paul schools, and remained there until he retired in 1905.
A score of years ago he was a well known member of the National Educational association and a very active member of the state teachers' association. During his career Mr. Smith purchased several farms in Illinois, Missouri and in the south. The estate now consists of about 1,500 acres. After leaving St. Paul he became interested in real estate business. He was a progressive Democrat in politics and was a member of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Lillie V. Smith; one daughter, Miss Myra V. Smith, teacher of French in Nicholas Senn High school, Chicago; one son, Raymond T. Smith, a student of medicine at the University of Chicago, and one sister, Mrs. Laura Thompson of Gordon, Neb. The Smith home here is west of the city near Washington park.
IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 2-3-1919
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Full first name from death certificate information, which stated his birth date as 11-22-1844, son of John Smith.
Former Sangamon Educator Dies At Home in Chicago - "When you think of me, try to make things better." Those were the last words of A. J. Smith, former superintendent of Sangamon and Springfield public schools, and retired veteran educator, who died Saturday at his home in Chicago. He was 74 years, 2 months, and 10 days old. His brother, Luther Smith, prominent resident of Cuba, Mo., died last Tuesday, January 28, 1919. Springfield was the home of Mr. Smith, although he and his family had been residing at Chicago. Many residents of the city will remember him as principal of the old second ward school, now the Douglas school; as county superintendent of schools and as head of the city school system. Later he became connected with larger schools and was prominent in educational circles of the middle west before his retirement in 1904.
The remains have been brought to this city and funeral services will be held this afternoon at First Methodist church. Interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.
The decedent was born November 21, 1844, in Pike county, Mo. After completing his education in public schools and college he began teaching as a profession. His first school was in Pike county, Illinois. He came to Sangamon county in 1866 and was employed to teach the Anderson school near Richland, and remained there three terms. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Douglas school in 1870, and held the position several years. He resigned, and practiced law at Hannibal, Mo., and St. Louis. Failing health caused him to quit practice.
Returning to Springfield he again was employed at Douglas school, and in 1882 was elected superintendent of Sangamon county schools, serving four years. Then he was named superintendent of city schools and held the position three years. Mr. Smith resigned the local position for superintendency at Sedalia, Mo., and resided at that city for five years. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Central High school, St. Paul, Minn., which was in 1893. A short time later he was elected superintendent of St. Paul schools, and remained there until he retired in 1905.
A score of years ago he was a well known member of the National Educational association and a very active member of the state teachers' association. During his career Mr. Smith purchased several farms in Illinois, Missouri and in the south. The estate now consists of about 1,500 acres. After leaving St. Paul he became interested in real estate business. He was a progressive Democrat in politics and was a member of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Lillie V. Smith; one daughter, Miss Myra V. Smith, teacher of French in Nicholas Senn High school, Chicago; one son, Raymond T. Smith, a student of medicine at the University of Chicago, and one sister, Mrs. Laura Thompson of Gordon, Neb. The Smith home here is west of the city near Washington park.
IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 2-3-1919
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Full first name from death certificate information, which stated his birth date as 11-22-1844, son of John Smith.
The remains have been brought to this city and funeral services will be held this afternoon at First Methodist church. Interment will be made in Oak Ridge cemetery.
The decedent was born November 21, 1844, in Pike county, Mo. After completing his education in public schools and college he began teaching as a profession. His first school was in Pike county, Illinois. He came to Sangamon county in 1866 and was employed to teach the Anderson school near Richland, and remained there three terms. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Douglas school in 1870, and held the position several years. He resigned, and practiced law at Hannibal, Mo., and St. Louis. Failing health caused him to quit practice.
Returning to Springfield he again was employed at Douglas school, and in 1882 was elected superintendent of Sangamon county schools, serving four years. Then he was named superintendent of city schools and held the position three years. Mr. Smith resigned the local position for superintendency at Sedalia, Mo., and resided at that city for five years. At the end of that time he was engaged as principal of Central High school, St. Paul, Minn., which was in 1893. A short time later he was elected superintendent of St. Paul schools, and remained there until he retired in 1905.
A score of years ago he was a well known member of the National Educational association and a very active member of the state teachers' association. During his career Mr. Smith purchased several farms in Illinois, Missouri and in the south. The estate now consists of about 1,500 acres. After leaving St. Paul he became interested in real estate business. He was a progressive Democrat in politics and was a member of the Baptist faith.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Lillie V. Smith; one daughter, Miss Myra V. Smith, teacher of French in Nicholas Senn High school, Chicago; one son, Raymond T. Smith, a student of medicine at the University of Chicago, and one sister, Mrs. Laura Thompson of Gordon, Neb. The Smith home here is west of the city near Washington park.
IL State Journal, Springfield, IL 2-3-1919
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Full first name from death certificate information, which stated his birth date as 11-22-1844, son of John Smith.
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