Obituary of Montgomery B. Smith

The following obituary was transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net) from a scrapbook in her possession, belonging to her great grandmother, Cora Lorena Foster Weeks. Lorena was born Jan 25, 1877 in Freestone Co, Texas and died Jan 6, 1952 in Gilmer County, Georgia. This obituary was presumably from the Gilmer County newspaper, the Times Courier, but could have been from the Atlanta, Georgia, newspaper, the Atlanta Journal/Constitution.

Surnames: Smith, Johnson, Ward, Davenport

Date: 25 May 1952

"Death of M. B. Smith Removes Prominent East Ellijay Citizen"

   The death early Sunday morning of Mr. M. B. Smith in East Ellijay removed one of the county's oldest and perhaps best known citizens. Mr. Smith, active for many years in the civic and political affairs of the county, spent practically his entire life in East Ellijay.

   He owned and operated a farm on Turniptown but devoted most of his time up until the county voted in stocklaw, to buying and shipping cattle. He was a strong believer in the open range for cattle and made a hard fight for open range each time the question of fences or no fences was brought up for vote. When the county voted in stocklaw, Mr. Smith stated he was through with the cattle business and as well as we recall made good his statement. He understood and throughly enjoyed the business of buying and selling cattle back in the early days when cattle were herded and often driven through the county to Atlanta market instead of shipping by rail. The business brought him in contact with people both far and near and among whom he made many lifetime friends. He was 83 years old.

   Funeral services, conducted by Rev. Walter Simmons were held Monday Afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the East Ellijay Baptist Church. Interment was in the East Ellijay cemetery with Logan Funeral Home in charge.

   He is survived by his wife, the former Miss Nora Johnson, daughter of the late Rev and Mrs. A. M. Johnson of East Ellijay, two daughters, Mrs. Grover C. Ward; Sebring, Fla , Mrs. Claude Davenport, East Ellijay; two sons, Hoke and Glover Smith.