Aberdeen Weekly News Thursday, Dec 30, 1915
William Smith
William Smith was born at Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada, September 10, 1834 where his early life was spent on a farm. He was married to Alzina Becker of Houghton, Ontario, Canada, December 25, 1855. He continued farming a few years and then, selling his farm, built a sailing vessel at Port Burwell, Ont., of which he became captain and followed sailing until 1880 when he came to Ordway, Dakota territory, located just east of the village where he resided and farmed until about ten years ago. He sold his farm and moved to Rhinelander, Wis., where he died December 25, 1915.
Captain Smith, as he was usually called, is survived by his wife and four children, Mrs. William Smith of Rhinelander, Wis., Mrs. C. C. Medler of Bellingham, Wash., Charles S. Smith of Minneapolis, Minn., Mrs. J. H. Pond, of this city and W. Atwood of Tomahawk Lake, Wis. The youngest daughter, Cora, died at Ordway, January 1, 1893 and one daughter died in infancy. Mr. Smith was one of the first persons who located on land near Ordway and is one of the last survivors of that vicinity who located there in 1880.
His remains arrived here on the C. M., & St. Paul railroad Monday accompanied by Mrs. Pond and Atwood Smith. There were taken to Columbia on the noon train Tuesday where they were buried beside his daughter. Mr. Smith was a Mason, holding a membership at Columbia, and that order had charge of the burial services. Masonic services were held at the home in Wisconsin Sunday at 2:30 and that order accompanied the body to the train.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith