Died - In Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sunday, February 22, 1880, and 3:30 p.m. of paralysis, Mr. Sylvester Marshall Smith, aged 73 years, 10 months and 27 days.

In the death of Grandfather Smith, a noble form has been wrapped in the mantle of eternal sleep, and the soul of a truly good man, who lived an active life of more than three score years, and ten, is at final and peaceful rest. But in his death an aged and loving win has been deprived of the strong arm of a kind and devoted companion and protector whose love and companionship she enjoyed, without even a month's interruption by separation, for over half a century; his children are calling upon to part with one who anxiously guarded their footsteps in childhood and watched them grow to manhood and womanhood and become settled for life, and a community realizes the loss of one of its oldest, most honorable and highly esteemed citizens.

Grandfather Smith as he was best known and familiarly called was in the enjoyment of his usual good health until less than three weeks ago, when, while attending to some duties at his residence, he slipped and fell to the ground, sustaining slight but rather painful injuries, not such, however, as gave occasion for alarm. In a few days thereafter he found it necessary to take his bed, from which he never arose, but passed peacefully from life on last Sunday afternoon, surrounded by his wife, three of his children and other relatives, who ministered to his wants and tenderly cared for him during his brief illness. His death resulted from paralysis, which rendered him unconscious for several days prior to his demise.

Sylvester M. Smith was born in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, March 25, 1806. He was the youngest of a family of six children born unto Chileab and Nancy Smith, none are now living. When ten years old, Sylvester removed with his parents to that part of Ohio known as the "Western Reserve" or "New Connecticut," which was at that time a vast wilderness. There he grew to manhood, attending school whenever and wherever he could, but that desired opportunity was not afforded him until he was in his 16th year. He grasped the ten meager opportunities to acquire knowledge, and after less than six month schooling began a successful career as a teacher.

At the age of 21 Mr. Smith visited a sister living in Chautauqua County, New York. While there he formed the acquaintance of an estimable young lady named Miss Elizabeth Frank, to whom he was married December 27, 1827, who survives him and who is his junior by one year. With his bride Mr. Smith returned to Ohio where he commenced active life as a farmer, building, as he was often fondly described it, "a snug log house for myself and wife on land I got from father." While thus engaged and situated, Mr. Smith, in his leisure hours, mastered the study of the law, was admitted to the bar and for a time pursued the practice in the courts of the Buckeye State. The fond couple resided in their Ohio home until a family of eight children had been born to them, four of whom are still living.

In the spring of 1853, Mr. Smith disposed of his property in Ohio and with his family started west with no particular objective point in view. They reached Council Bluffs a month later, In June of that year, having traveled by steamer to Chicago, by rail to Rockford, Illinois, and thence by wagon to Council Bluffs. After concluding to take up his abode in this city, then a small trading point, he turned his attention to buying and selling real estate and in this he aided very materially in the growth of our now prosperous city - watching with that enterprising, devoted, spirit which characterized the man, the rapid growth of his adopted western home. Not long after settling here, Mr. Smith was elected to the then important and responsible office of County School Fund commissioner and Justice of the Peace, which position he filled satisfactorily for two years.

Grandfather Smith was no ordinary man. Although retiring in his position of very unassuming manner, he was a man of great intelligence and decision of character, possesses those nobler qualities of heart, which, coupled with his supreme simplicity of nature won him the esteem and respect of all who enjoyed his acquaintance. He was a plain, outspoken man, and his adherence to what he believed to be just and right was only equaled in persistency to his fearless and determined denunciation of wrong and injustice. One of his many admirable qualities was his very unselfish nature - the sacrifice seeming too great when made for those he loved.

Another peculiarity which illustrates his tenacity of purposes the fact that he commenced, when a boy, to keep a diary of every day events and this he kept up with careful punctuality to the end of life. In the entry made on the first day of January 1879, he commenced with these words, "and still I live." This book is beautifully inscribed and there is scarcely a blot on its closely written pages as there was neither blot on his character or stain on his reputation, although this is much to say for a man who had passed his three score and ten.

As earth hides from mortal sighs the familiar form of Grandfather Smith none will miss him more or feel his death to a greater degree than those who knew him best.

Of those of his family who survive him, beside his wife; are his daughter, Mary F. Treynor and George F., Spencer and Joseph S., sons, all living in this city except the last named who is now a resident of Kentucky, and fourteen grandchildren.

The funeral will occur from the late residence of deceased on Madison Street, above Pierce, this (Tuesday) morning at 10 o'clock, to which friends are invited without further notice.

The funeral of the late Sylvester M. Smith took place from his late residence on Madison Street, yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. Owing to a request made by Mr. Smith, the services of the minister were dispensed with. At the request of the family short addresses were made by Capt. D.W. Price and J.W. Chapman. These addresses were couched in elegant and touching language and in words calculated to feelingly express the high regard and appreciation in which the deceased was held by all who knew him. Capt. Price spoke as one who had been intimately acquainted with Grandfather Smith for over a quarter of a century. He alluded to the fact that it might be thought strange that no clergyman was present, but such absence was not occasioned with a view of being in any way singular or for the purpose of casting contempt or disrespect upon the common usages of society, but the friends were merely carrying out the behests of love and therefore performed a duty.

The speaker, whose remarks were indeed beautiful and touching, said that during an acquaintance with Mr. Smith of twenty-seven years he had always known him as a man of high moral character and one of vigorous intellect, ambitious and of a determined purpose, and one who always faithfully performed a trust imposed. The speaker also referred to the fact that the deceased had lived the allotted three score years and ten, and that his life was therefore completed. He had lived to see his children grown and settled, and surrounded by children and children's children could peacefully lie down to pleasant drams with a finished work on earth.

Mr. Chapman spoke also of the high moral character of the deceased, and more particularly alluded to the journal kept by Mr. Smith from his boyhood to the close of life.

A song was then rendered by a quartette of voices and the casket was closed. The pallbearers were D.B. Clark, D.C. Bloomer, A.C. Graham, E.W. Thornton, J.M. Phillps and A.J. Bump, all old citizens and intimate personal friends of the deceased. The remains were placed to rest in Fairview Cemetery and were followed thither by a very large number of relatives, intimate friends and citizens.