Surnames: SMITH BROWN MELVILLE BURGE

----Source: CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICAN & PRESS (Neillsville, Wis.) 05/09/1912

Smith, Augustus (23 Mar 1842 - 5 May 1912)

Augustus Smith died at his home in this city (Neillsville, Clark Co.), May 5, 1912. He had been ailing for some time with Bright’s disease, but was able to be about and the end came very suddenly.

Deceased was born at Peekskill, N.Y., March 23, 1842. Abot the year 1846 his mother died and his father brought him and his brother Elias to Milwaukee, Wis., where the father ran the engine in the first paper mill operated in the city. After residing there two or three years they moved near West Bend in Washington Co., on a farm. At the age of 19 he enlisted in Co. D. 12th Wis. Infantry and was in the service for three years and nine months, being a veteran volunteer. He was with General Sherman on his famous march from Atlanta to the Sea. After his return from the war he was married to Mary J. Brown April 22, 1866. In 1869 they came to Clark County and settled on a farm on the north road in Weston, where they lived until about 15 years ago, when they moved to Neillsville.

Mr. Smith was a brave and patriotic soldier and always took great interest in old war days and army life, but as a citizen he was peaceable, loved his home and family, died the fair thing at all times with his neighbors, and gave to this daily work all the strength he had. He was a member of the local G.A.R. Post and took an active interest in its meetings and the welfare of his comrades.

Besides his wife, he leaves four children: Mrs. Willis Melville, Milton and George A. Smith, all of Chicago, and Mrs. Fremont Burge of Owen, Wis., and eight grandchildren. All of his children were present at the funeral, also Mrs. George H. Smith and daughters, Florence and Lucille, and Mr. Fremont Burge.

The funeral was held at the home Wednesday afternoon, Rev. H.A. Risser preaching the funeral sermon, and the G.A.R. ritual service being given. The G.A.R. and W.R.C. attended in a body.

1880 Federal Census--Weston, Clark, WI

Augustus Smith @38, Farmer, b. NY, Parents b. NY

Wife: Mary J. @30, b. NY, Father b. Scot, Mother b. England

Dau: Lillian A. @13, b. WI, Student

Son: Milton @9, b. WI, Student

Son: George H. @7, b. WI

Mother: Ann Brown @74, b. England, Parents b. England

Son: Maxwell Brown @25, b. WI, Father b. Scot, M. b. England.