Tarrant County TXGenWeb

Col. Smith, in the best of health, left Fort Worth for Chicago in April 1901 on a mission regarding bringing the Frisco railroad into Fort Worth. On April 6, Colonel Smith registered at the Planter's Hotel in St. Louis and on Friday night met with a number of prominent railroad men at the hotel. He later accompanied a friend to Union Station and after starting back to the hotel, somewhere near the station, was drugged and robbed of $30. Some time in the night he returned to the hotel and next morning still showed effects of the drug and did not seem to have full control of his senses. Friends spent the morning with him, and during the afternoon, while temporarily left alone, he became delirious. His friends moved him to St. Mary's Infirmary, barely able to speak and still in a dazed condition.

A telegram was received with the news of his illness and since Mrs. Smith was visiting in Dallas, and the three sons were at the ranch, the daughter left immediately for St. Louis to be with her father. Early yesterday morning, word was received that an operation had been performed. Later in the day, Dr. E. J. Beall was in communication with the doctor there and learned that the surgery had been necessary because of blood poisoning affecting the tongue and throat. A message was received from Mrs. Sue Brady Loyd urging either Capt. M. B. Loyd or Dr. Beall to come to St. Louis because of Col. Smith's condition. Later it was learned that George J. Frankle, formerly of this city, had visited the hospital, was not allowed to see the Colonel, but was told that conditions were improving, although still critical.

Colonel Smith died of blood poisoning Thursday morning with his daughter, Florence, and son John Young Smith, by his side. Dr. W. A. McCandless, Col. Smith's physician, made this statement: "The ailment was one seldom encountered by practitioners. He had a broken tooth which caused an abrasion on the left angle of the point of the tongue, causing the tongue to become infected resulting in blood poisoning. A tracheotomy was performed but the infection had gained too much headway and respiration became so difficult that death came as a relief to his misery."

The news of his death spread rapidly throughout the city as did the first news of his illness and soon Fort Worth was mourning the death of the man who had spent his fortune and the better part of his life in her behalf. Mrs. Smith and their youngest son, Sam, are ill at their home on West Third Street, and all day friends gathered at the home to offer words of comfort and condolence. Two other sons, J. P. and W. B., were due to arrive last night from the ranch in west Texas.

The body of Colonel Smith was laid to rest in the North Side cemetery yesterday afternoon [Sat. April 13, 1901]. Never in the history of Fort Worth has a larger number of sorrowing friends follow a loved one's mortal remains to their last earthly abiding place. The casket had lain in state at his residence, banked with a great profusion of ferns, palms and flowers. A half hour before services began, the house, yard, sidewalks and streets for two blocks were packed with citizens of Fort Worth - rich, and poor, merchant, business man, laborer - all there to do reverence to the memory of the Father of Fort Worth. Hundreds passed slowly around the casket, most of them vainly trying to keep from crying. At 3 pm a quartet sang "Abide with Me" and at the close, the slow strain of a funeral march was heard from Professor Conner's band which preceded the order of Masons and Knights Templar. They assembled, as did some 50 members of the United Confederate Veterans and 25 members of the local Grand Army post, as well as members of the city government. A eulogy was given by Rev. C. McPherson, pastor of the First Christian Church followed by Rev. James S. Myers, pastor of the Christian Tabernacle. At the close of his remarks the quartet sang "Nearer My God to Thee" as the Masons filed in and around the casket followed by members of REL Camp, UCV and Parnilee Post G. A. R . The hymns were Colonel Smith's favorites.

The escort to the cemetery was as follows: The police force, the fire chief and assistant, followed by members of the fire department on their respective engines and hose carriages, the company bearing the name of Peter Smith leading, with their carriage draped and the band, playing a funeral dirge. The Knights Templar came next, then the Masons followed by the hearse and pall bearers. Next came the floral offerings which required a special wagon; then closed carriages in which members of the family rode. Next in line were the old veterans of the Blue and Gray and carriages containing members of city government. These were followed by 100 private carriages and buggies - the procession requiring 35 minutes to pass.

At the cemetery, services were conducted by the Masonic order and at the close, the veterans of the Civil War passed around the grave and deposited evergreens and other emblems of the orders of which they were members. Among the many floral arrangements were those from the United Benevolent Association of Fort Worth. Another came from Miss Lula and Prof. Hogg - violets - the card read "A royal color for a royal man."

Many resolutions were passed including ones from the Board of Trade, the Colored School, A. F. and A. M. Masonic Lodges, Worth Commandery, and R. E. Lee Camp UCV. Talk of placing a monument in Col. Smith's memory has already begun with Howard Peak suggesting that the city park would be an appropriate place.

	Tarrant County TXGenWeb Colonel John Peter Smith "The Father of Fort Worth" The Fort Worth Register The Fort Worth Record-Telegram April 9, 1901
	Col. Smith, in the best of health, left Fort Worth for Chicago in April 1901 on a mission regarding bringing the Frisco railroad into Fort Worth. On April 6, Colonel Smith registered at the Planter's Hotel in St. Louis and on Friday night met with a number of prominent railroad men at the hotel. He later accompanied a friend to Union Station and after starting back to the hotel, somewhere near the station, was drugged and robbed of $30. Some time in the night he returned to the hotel and next morning still showed effects of the drug and did not seem to have full control of his senses. Friends spent the morning with him, and during the afternoon, while temporarily left alone, he became delirious. His friends moved him to St. Mary's Infirmary, barely able to speak and still in a dazed condition. A telegram was received with the news of his illness and since Mrs. Smith was visiting in Dallas, and the three sons were at the ranch, the daughter left immediately for St. Louis to be with her father. Early yesterday morning, word was received that an operation had been performed. Later in the day, Dr. E. J. Beall was in communication with the doctor there and learned that the surgery had been necessary because of blood poisoning affecting the tongue and throat. A message was received from Mrs. Sue Brady Loyd urging either Capt. M. B. Loyd or Dr. Beall to come to St. Louis because of Col. Smith's condition. Later it was learned that George J. Frankle, formerly of this city, had visited the hospital, was not allowed to see the Colonel, but was told that conditions were improving, although still critical. Colonel Smith died of blood poisoning Thursday morning with his daughter, Florence, and son John Young Smith, by his side. Dr. W. A. McCandless, Col. Smith's physician, made this statement: "The ailment was one seldom encountered by practitioners. He had a broken tooth which caused an abrasion on the left angle of the point of the tongue, causing the tongue to become infected resulting in blood poisoning. A tracheotomy was performed but the infection had gained too much headway and respiration became so difficult that death came as a relief to his misery." The news of his death spread rapidly throughout the city as did the first news of his illness and soon Fort Worth was mourning the death of the man who had spent his fortune and the better part of his life in her behalf. Mrs. Smith and their youngest son, Sam, are ill at their home on West Third Street, and all day friends gathered at the home to offer words of comfort and condolence. Two other sons, J. P. and W. B., were due to arrive last night from the ranch in west Texas. The body of Colonel Smith was laid to rest in the North Side cemetery yesterday afternoon [Sat. April 13, 1901]. Never in the history of Fort Worth has a larger number of sorrowing friends follow a loved one's mortal remains to their last earthly abiding place. The casket had lain in state at his residence, banked with a great profusion of ferns, palms and flowers. A half hour before services began, the house, yard, sidewalks and streets for two blocks were packed with citizens of Fort Worth - rich, and poor, merchant, business man, laborer - all there to do reverence to the memory of the Father of Fort Worth. Hundreds passed slowly around the casket, most of them vainly trying to keep from crying. At 3 pm a quartet sang "Abide with Me" and at the close, the slow strain of a funeral march was heard from Professor Conner's band which preceded the order of Masons and Knights Templar. They assembled, as did some 50 members of the United Confederate Veterans and 25 members of the local Grand Army post, as well as members of the city government. A eulogy was given by Rev. C. McPherson, pastor of the First Christian Church followed by Rev. James S. Myers, pastor of the Christian Tabernacle. At the close of his remarks the quartet sang "Nearer My God to Thee" as the Masons filed in and around the casket followed by members of REL Camp, UCV and Parnilee Post G. A. R . The hymns were Colonel Smith's favorites. The escort to the cemetery was as follows: The police force, the fire chief and assistant, followed by members of the fire department on their respective engines and hose carriages, the company bearing the name of Peter Smith leading, with their carriage draped and the band, playing a funeral dirge. The Knights Templar came next, then the Masons followed by the hearse and pall bearers. Next came the floral offerings which required a special wagon; then closed carriages in which members of the family rode. Next in line were the old veterans of the Blue and Gray and carriages containing members of city government. These were followed by 100 private carriages and buggies - the procession requiring 35 minutes to pass. At the cemetery, services were conducted by the Masonic order and at the close, the veterans of the Civil War passed around the grave and deposited evergreens and other emblems of the orders of which they were members. Among the many floral arrangements were those from the United Benevolent Association of Fort Worth. Another came from Miss Lula and Prof. Hogg - violets - the card read "A royal color for a royal man." Many resolutions were passed including ones from the Board of Trade, the Colored School, A. F. and A. M. Masonic Lodges, Worth Commandery, and R. E. Lee Camp UCV. Talk of placing a monument in Col. Smith's memory has already begun with Howard Peak suggesting that the city park would be an appropriate place.
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Colonel John Peter Smith "The Father of Fort Worth"

Colonel John Peter Smith
"The Father of Fort Worth"