100 Years Ago in Windham

WILL HARRIS – THE EXETER NEWSLETTER

WINDHAM, October 16,—Mrs. Elizabeth Ellen (Smith) Nesmith, widow of Jacob Alpheus Nesmith, died Tuesday, the 9th, of old age and after many months of gradual decline. She was born in Woburn, Mass., September 3, 1831, the daughter of Horatio A. Smith, and had consequently just completed her eighty-sixth year. She had lived in town since her marriage to Mr. Nesmith April 28, 1859, assuming the position of stepmother to his two small children. She became the mother of one son, Jacob Arthur Nesmith. Now residing on the homestead. Mrs. Nesmith was a genial, kind-hearted woman, well fulfilling all the duties of a good home-maker and good neighbor. She was interested in the welfare of the community and a constant attendant at church as long as circumstances permitted. She was a member of the Unitarian Church of Medford Mass. The funeral was largely attended at the home  on Friday afternoon, Rev. E.J. Palisoul of Manchester, conducting the service. There was singing by Mrs. Nichols of Derry, and Mrs. Davenport, of Londonderry. The bearers were J.W.M. Worledge, John E. Cochran, Eugene W. Armstrong, and George H. Clark. Thus with sadness we record the passing of one of the few to remain to the present time, of those who made up the active community fifty years ago. The Nesmith Homestead still stands on North Lowell Road.