Family Stories

Daniel Smalley (second husband of Emma Elizabeth Ellaway)
died 10 August 1916

DANIEL SMALLEY IS FOUND DEAD

Oscar Beedle Makes Gruesome Discovery When Friend Fails
to Appear - Breaks in Door

Dan Smalley, an old resident of this city, was found dead this morning in his home on North Fourth street, Westside, by a neighbor who had missed the elderly gentleman since last Wednesday. Since the death of his wife, who was killed three years ago this September when run down by an automobile, Mr. Smalley had been "baching it" at the old family homestead, where he closed his eyes upon the world.

Oscar Beedle, a close friend and next door neighbor, missed Mr. Smalley this morning and not seeing him since Wenesday, he went to the Smalley home to find out where his friend had gone. Mr. Beedle was unable to get into the house. Believing that Mr. Smalley might be sick and unable to answer his call, Beedle broke down the door. He was surprised to discover the body of his friend lying on the bed.

It was quite apparent to Mr. Beedle that he had been dead for at least twenty-four hours. Mr. Beedle notified relatives of the deceased and Deputy Coroner Myers.

Hold Inquest
At the inquest held by Meyers the jury returned a verdict that "Dan Smalley came to his death by an unknown cause, probably due to excessive heat." Mr. Beedle testified as follows at the inquest: "I reside the first door south of Dan Smalley, 109 North Fourth street. I missed Smalley about last Wednesday. I went to his door this morning and forced my way in. I found my friend lying on the floor, his feet tangled up in the bed clothes. He had complained lately of kidney trouble."

The decedent was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1837, and had resided many years in this city, at one time being a coal miner, at which trade he worked for many years. He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Lloyd Lyons Cote' of Mooseheart, and Mrs. George Hutson, of this city, and one step-daughter, Mrs. Wm. King.

The funeral survices will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of Oscar Beedle, with interment in Riverview cemetery.

Note: There are at least two errors in this account - "Mrs. Lloyd Lyons Cote'" correctly spelled Lyon, was not Dan Smalley's sister, she was his step-granddaughter.

Thanks to Michele Tate who provided the above information which was transcribed from a newspaper article from August 1916. The death occurred in Streator, Illinois, USA.

Copyright 2005 Gerald Majumdar