Home > United States of America > Iowa > Carroll County > Coon Rapids > Coon Rapids Cemetery > Francis Libby “Frank” Smith

Francis Libby “Frank” Smith

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Birth	:	5 Jul 1845 Sandwich, DeKalb County, Illinois, USA
Death	:	12 Mar 1926 Coon Rapids, Carroll County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Coon Rapids Cemetery, Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.8778000, -94.6678009
Description	:	Husband of (1) Sarah Eliza Lyon Smith, (2) Maybelle Herring. Death Certificate shows he is buried in this cemetery Coon Rapids Enterprise March 19, 1926 Frank L. Smith passed away at his home in Coon Rapids, March 12th, 1926. After an illness of only two days. He was born July 5th, 1845, near Sandwich, Illinois. His age, therefore, was 80 years, 8 months and 7 days. At the age of 9, he moved with his parents to Wisconsin where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Sarah Eliza Lyon May 2nd, 1872.... Read More	Husband of (1) Sarah Eliza Lyon Smith, (2) Maybelle Herring. Death Certificate shows he is buried in this cemetery Coon Rapids Enterprise March 19, 1926 Frank L. Smith passed away at his home in Coon Rapids, March 12th, 1926. After an illness of only two days. He was born July 5th, 1845, near Sandwich, Illinois. His age, therefore, was 80 years, 8 months and 7 days. At the age of 9, he moved with his parents to Wisconsin where he grew to manhood. He was united in marriage to Sarah Eliza Lyon May 2nd, 1872. To this union two children were born, both dying in infancy. In 1879 he moved to Iowa, locating on a farm in the Star neighborhood where he lived until 1891 when he moved to Coon Rapids, because of the ill health of Mrs. Smith, who passed away in 1904 after years of suffering. In 1907 he was married to Mabel Herring who remains to mourn his departure. In 1894 he was converted and united with the Methodist Episcopal church and remained a faithful and consistent member until the end. He loved his Lord and his church and was always at his post. And if "by their fruits, we shall know them," we believe he has already heard that welcome plaudit, "Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord." In 1891 he joined the Odd Fellow lodge which membership he continued till his death. Besides his wife there remain to mourn his departure, three brothers and two sisters. R. L. Smith, Homer, Neb., G. W. Smith, Greely, Colo., E. G. Smith, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Mrs. Juluia Sanberry, and Mrs. Sherman of Greely, Colo., and two nieces, Mrs. Charles Holsworth, Homer, Neb., and Mrs. Jessie Cole of Wisconsin, besides a host of friends and neighbors. Frank L. Smith died at his home Friday, after a short illness. He was on the streets Tuesday of last week, apparently in usual health, but the following day was stricken with paralysis which rendered him near unconscious at the time and from which he soon afterward sank into a comatose state. The deceased was in his 81st year and was one of the older settlers of the community, first owning a small farm near the Star. This he sold some thirty or more years ago and moved to town, engaging in the dray business. This he followed until 1901 when he was appointed rural mail carrier for Route No. 1, the only route at the time. He was chosen for the job by the writer, who was postmaster at the time, since postmasters in the early years of rural service having the right to choose carriers. Mr. Smith proved to be a capable and popular carrier. He was most obliging and all the patrons became attached to him. He was not only careful in the handling of the mail and prompt, but he was also an errand boy for his patrons. He would cheerfully do trading for them, carrying out small packages —coffee, sugar; bacon, starch, soap and what not, and gratis, carriers at that time having the right to do such chores and without postage. It was the day long before automobiles, when Frank drove a horse and buggy and the patrons could see him coming a mile or so away and would be able to get to their boxes and mail their letters and buy stamps by the time he arrived. Now it is different. Patrons must pay postage on their packages, and the carrier approaches the boxes at a speed of 20 to 30 miles per hour, drops the mail hurriedly into the box and then off in an instant. It's all so very different from what it used to be. And here is a little history. When the first rural route was advocated, there were a large number of farmers opposed and would not sign a petition. They argued that the expense would be so great that the government would tax them heavily, and nothing could overcome this argument. At the same time some of the business men opposed the routes on the ground that it would hurt business in that it would make it more easy for rural patrons to order by mail of the catalog houses and have their orders delivered at their doors at small expense. It required hard work at first to put the rural mail delivery over. As postmaster, and favoring the rural mail, the writer offended some farmers and some business men for boosting for it. Other postoffice patrons, becoming offended, because the government was delivering mail to the farmers free of cost, took their spite out on the postmaster by throwing up their boxes, arguing that they were just as good as the farmers and just as much entitled to free delivery. They thus cut down the gross returns of the postmaster and also cut down the receipts of the office to the government. And yet they would "holler" when" they had to wait for their mail until the windows opened at the close of the distribution. But great majority of patrons were sensible, and the postoffice force, on the whole, found their work agreeable. But in the establishment Of the other routes, excepting the 4th and last, there was the same opposition met with, only in lighter degree. Now no body on the routes would do without their rural service and the cost of such service is negligible. The rural service has made, with the automobile, for much better roads, and all communities in every way are far ahead of what they were in the early day of rural mail service. Nobody would go back to the old days. A lot of sensible folks are not sensible at all times. Frank Smith was one among the first rural carriers of the state. None were better, and that his faithful and obliging service was fully appreciated by his old patrons was shown by the very large number of them who attended the funeral Sunday held in the M. E. church, to which church he belonged. Rev. Clayburg preached an appropriate and feeling' sermon. The deceased for the past five years was janitor of the church building. In this work, as in carrying the mail, he was painstaking and prompt and always agreeable. Good old Frank has left us forever. Contributor: Cammy Brandt (49347870)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Francis Libby “Frank” Smith's memorial?
Francis Libby “Frank” Smith's memorial is located at: Coon Rapids Cemetery, Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA.
When did Francis Libby “Frank” Smith death?
Francis Libby “Frank” Smith death on 12 Mar 1926 in Coon Rapids, Carroll County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Francis Libby “Frank” Smith's memorial?
Latitude: 41.8778000
Longitude: -94.6678009

Family Members:

Spouse

Sarah Eliza Lyon Smith

(1849 - 1904)

Maybelle “Mary” Herring Smith

(1865 - 1931)

Children

Frank D. Smith

(unknow - 1884)

Infant Smith

(1881 - 1881)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Union Township Cemetery
Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8781013, -94.6389008

2. Oak Hill Cemetery
Coon Rapids, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9053001, -94.7200012

3. Orange Township Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8163986, -94.6844025

4. Old Carrollton Cemetery
Carrollton, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9233017, -94.7403030

5. Willow Cemetery
Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9067001, -94.5730972

6. Tuttles Grove Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8130989, -94.7228012

7. Highland Cemetery
Bayard, Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8241997, -94.5717010

8. McCurdy Cemetery
Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9403000, -94.7649994

9. Viola Center Cemetery
Viola Center, Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8236008, -94.8016968

10. Saint Josephs Cemetery
Dedham, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8993988, -94.8210983

11. Dedham Cemetery
Dedham, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8993988, -94.8225021

12. Union Township Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7391450, -94.6858030

13. Seeley Township Cemetery
Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7318993, -94.6147003

14. Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery
Willey, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9783363, -94.8212204

15. Dodge Center Cemetery
Bagley, Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8194008, -94.4697037

16. Scranton Township Cemetery
Scranton, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0306015, -94.5783005

17. Melville Township Cemetery
Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7439003, -94.8013992

18. Elba Cemetery
Templeton, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9068985, -94.9131012

19. Greenbrier Cemetery
Cooper, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9063988, -94.4218979

20. Luccocks Grove Cemetery
Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7619019, -94.8653030

21. Cameron Cemetery
Audubon County, USA
Coordinate: 41.8236008, -94.9167023

22. Moffit Grove Cemetery
Yale, Guthrie County, USA
Coordinate: 41.7668991, -94.4539032

23. West Lawn Cemetery
Glidden, Carroll County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0649986, -94.7406006

24. Dillavou Cemetery
Kendrick Township, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0802994, -94.6138992