NAME: Davis, Martha (m. Samuel Smith)

OBIT: Knox County Illinois Website

Obituary of Mrs. Martha Smith (Galesburg Weekly Mail, October 1, 1903, submitted by Todd Walter, not the full obit)

 Died at her home in Orange township, Knox county, Sept. 7, Mrs. Martha Smith, aged 85 years, 6 months, and 9 days. Martha Davis was born in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1818. At the age of 21 years she was married to Samuel Smith from Ohio. They moved to Knox county in the year 1847 and settled on a farm in Orange township where they always lived, excepting one year in Knoxville, where Mr. Smith died Jan. 24, 1876. To this union were born seven sons and two daughters. Four sons are still living, two in Kansas, one in Iowa and one in Illinois. The only living daughter is in York county, Neb.
 This old lady was grandmother to fifty grandchildren and two great grandchildren. At her request the funeral was held at her home.
 J.R. Wilder and wife conducted the funeral and she was laid away in the Cook graveyard Sept. 9. The procession contained over thirty teams.
 In a talk with this person she said she was growing old and would soon pass away. Those people came by wagon all the way from Ohio to Knox county when it was not as it is today. By the death of this old lady it leaves just four persons of the old settlers in this neighborhood, Thos. Sumner and Mesdames (?) Barbero. (These are only ones named)
 The writer has lived near these people since the year 1856. I have been at this home a great many times and was always treated kindly and can remember seeing this old lady using the cards and spinning wheel, preparing woolen clothing for the family to wear in the coming winter. R. M. R.