MILAN LEWIS SMITH
PUBLISHED NEWS ARTICLES
May not be
copied or reprodouced without my permission
The following are excepts from newspaper clippings found in the Martin Family Archives. The date and publication are not known, however, Milan died in December of 1913 at the age of 101 years, 10 months.
SMITH FAMILY REUNION & GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Abt. Sept., 1911 (see accompanying photo in Photo Section)
(picture caption) – Abt. 24 Sept 1911
“A remarkable family group is shown in the accompanying picture. Five generations of the Smith family posed for the picture, which was taken at the annual reunion of the family at Bookwater, O, near Washington Court House. The occasion of the reunion was the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. A number of Dayton people enjoyed the festivities. Those in the group from left to right are. Mrs. Anna Martin, Milan Smith, aged 101 years; John Smith, aged 73; Mrs. Ollie Stickrod, aged 21 years, and her son, aged 2 years.
(article)
The 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith of Bookwater, Fayette county, which Allen Smith and family of Lowes Street attended Sunday, was remarkable for gathering together five generations of the Smith family, and for the presence of five successive periods of robust, vigorous folks. Mr. Allen Smith, who is well known in the Rubicon and among the employes of the N. C. R., is the son of Milan Smith.
The joy of the golden wedding celebrants was not so much in the significance or the festivities of the occasion as it was in the splendid array of sound and healthy members of the family, embracing – five generations of vigorous men and women. Such a celebration is almost unique. The gathering together of four families that trace their lineage from a common progenitor, awakens interest, but an assemblage of five generations is almost unheard of.
The anniversary brought together 43 members of the Smith family, the most youthful of which, so far as spirit is concerned, was Milan Smith, a centenarian two years ago. The strength and buoyancy of this old man is remarkable in the annals of the state. He has full possession of his senses and faculties, sees perfectly and manages to walk very well with the assistance of a cane. He greeted each child, grandchild and great-grandchild individually, and insisted in going out to the gate with each family as it departed. He was the center of the family group during the day.
Published about 1913 (see accompanying photo in the Photo Section)
“The accompanying picture shows Milan L. Smith, of near Jamestown, who celebrated his one hundred and second birthday on the last day of February {**I believe 101, he died Dec. 30 1913, age 101 years, 10 months}. He was the oldest of seven children, all of whom are dead except one sister, Mrs. Mary Byers, of Jeffersonville, O. who will see her ninety-fourth birthday. Mr. Smith takes pleasure in telling of trips to Springfield, when this city was a few straggling houses in the midst of forest. He has one son and several grandchildren and has lived to see his descendants down to the fourth generation. He apparently has good health.
**Note by: Janie Martin Whitty, source: Death Certificate of Milan Lewis Smith