Submitted by Jeannine Smith Harber


WILLIAM R. SMITH from The Weekly Standard Herald, Feb 8,1918

WELL KNOW CITIZEN KILLED WHILE HUNTING

Wm. R. Smith, One of Our Well Known Citizens, Accidently Shot While Hunting Last 
Friday.

It brought sorrow to many hearts when it was learned that Wm. R. Smith had met 
his death while out hunting Friday afternoon of last week on the farm of his 
son, Loren Smith, five or six miles south of this city by the accidental 
discharge of his gun.

Mr. Smith left town that morning to go to his son's farm to hunt.  He rode out 
to the place with R. C. McVay, who had business there.  Before leaving town he 
was in the implement establishment of Cash & Boyer and urged Mr. Cash to go with 
him.  But Mr. Cash could not get away from his business.  In the afternoon about 
3 o'clock Mr. Smith took the gun and left his son's house.  That was the last 
seen of him alive.  About 5 in the evening his little grandson went to drive 
home the cows and found his grandfather dead.

John Fickas, one of the first to arrive at the scene of the tragedy, was a 
caller at this office Tuesday noon.  He informs us he came to the body west of 
Loren's house.  The body was on one side of the wire fence and the gun was 
leaning on the wire pointing towards the body.  It was evident Mr. Smith had 
crawled through the fence and attempted to pull the gun after him or had 
attempted to put the gun through the fence when it was discharged.  The charge 
of shot penetrated the left breast, passing entirely through the body, evidently 
killing the victim instantly.  When found Mr. Smith had on both gloves also his 
cap.

The funeral was held Sunday afternoon from the Brethren church south of 
Warrensburg, the funeral being in charge of Rev. J. E. Hampton, assisted by 
Elder Jesse D. Mohler.  The body was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

William R. Smith was a native of Henry County, Missouri, having been born near 
Montrose October 19, 1858.  He was married December 24, 1877 in Warrensburg to 
Miss Mary J. Reins of Bates County.  The widow and five sons survive the husband 
and father, Loren, Ernest, Russell, Millard and Byron.  All of the sons reside 
in this immediate vicinity.


MARY RAINS SMITH

MRS. W. R. SMITH DEAD

Mrs. Mary Jane Smith, widow of the late W. R. Smith, commonly known as Billy
Smith, died at the residence of her son, Loren Smith Saturday morning at two-
thirty, after an illness of five weeks with Bright disease.

Mary Jane Rains, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Rains, was born in Bates 
county, July 4, 1859, the family consisting of thirteen children.  The Bates 
County family was one of the most prominent families of that county.  After her 
marriage to W. R. Smith they made their home on a farm south of this city, where 
they lived until Mr. Smith's death seven years ago.  To this union were born 
eleven children, six of whom died in infancy.  Five sons survived, who are Loren 
of south of town, Millard, proprietor of the South Side drug store; Russell of 
north of town, Ernest, who resides northwest of Warrensburg, and Byron who lives 
on Gay street of this city.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Market Street Methodist church, which she always
attended, and was a consistent worker in that church.  She had many friends who 
will miss her presence.

Funeral services were held from the Market street Methodist church at two 
o'clock Monday afternoon, conduct by Rev, W. S. Welsh.  Burial was in the 
Brethren cemetery, south of this city.

Source:  Copy of a clipping from a Warrensburg Newspaper.

(Mary Jane Rains Smith died 6 Mar 1925)