Elisha D. Smith

 July 8, 1899 Oshkosh Northwestern

 

Elisha D. Smith needs no introduction to readers of this blog- namesake to the library, donator of Smith Park, founder and head of the Menasha Woodenware, and generally just all around biggest supporter for Menasha.  A personality that big surely deserved the tribute given him in this newspaper, complete with a likeness at a time when newspaper photography was virtually nonexistent and iillustrations were few.  No history of the city would be complete without his accomplishments in evidence.  The gratitude of Menasha's citizenry was evident; many businesses closed up shop to allow their employees to attend his services and his funeral procession was reportedly more than a mile long. 

(Such a sense of timing I have...I'd had this item just waiting to post on the 115th anniversary date of his death and then I forgot somehow.)