from The Harrodsburg Herald, Mercer County, Kentucky

Friday, April 17, 1914

Colonel Thomas Smith has “Passed Over the River To Rest Under the Shade of the Trees” with Stonewall Jackson

At an early hour Saturday afternoon the spirit of Colonel Thomas Smith, an honored citizen and Confederate veteran, gave up the earthly fight and went to join his comrades, who are now marching under a banner not stained with human blood, but a banner redeemed by the Great Commander.  The news of his death was received with sadness and regret by the whole community, for his stay among us has left us with higher and purer ideals of life, his daily comradeship has given us inspiration, and his personality has taught us the beauty of modesty and gentleness.  Colonel Smith was to all a courteous, cordial, unaffected friend, and with his going there has passed away a true gentleman and scholar and a noted educator.  Colonel Smith was a native of King and Queen County, Virginia, born there about 78 years ago.  He graduated with high honors at the University of Virginia, and when the Civil War cast its shadow over the country he laid down his books and took up the sword.  He served as an officer in the Confederate Army, under Stonewall Jackson, and was near him when he was killed.  He participated in all the great battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, being seriously wounded in the engagements, both at Manassas and at Petersburg, and he suffered from the effects of these up to the time of his death.  After the war he took up his beloved educational work again and for many years was the president of the college in Winchester, Kentucky.  Later he accepted the chair of Latin and French in the Georgetown College.  He was elected president of the Woman’s College, at Brownsville, Tennessee, and taught there for years, holding the respect and honor of all;  and then he came to this city about twenty years ago, where he became the owner of old Daughter’s College, the name of which was changed at the time to Beaumont.  Here, as president of the school, and with Mrs. Smith a noble helper, they built up a notable educational institution that has trained young girls from all over the South and Middle West.  For several years his health had been failing, but he kept on at his beloved profession of teaching, attending to his class room studies until he was stricken suddenly about two weeks ago.  From the first his life was despaired of, and on Saturday, after several days of unconsciousness, he quietly passed away.  The funeral was held at Beaumont College Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock, conducted by Rev. Bunyan McLeod and Dr. W. P. Harvey.  An immense concourse of friends gathered to pay their last tribute, and the love and esteem of many found expression in numerous handsome floral designs, among them a beautiful wreath in the Confederate colors sent by the Daughters of the Confederacy, and also lovely designs from the Mercer National Bank and the State Bank and Trust Company.  The burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery.  Besides his splendid wife he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. E. Howard Davis, and two sons, Judge Spencer Smith and Hon. L. Meriwether Smith.  Mrs. Smith will take up the unfinished educational work of her husband this session and will conduct Beaumont College through the few weeks until its close for 1914.