The death certificate of Henry L. Smith

According to a copy of the death certificate issued by the State of Nebraska, Henry L. Smith was born in Illinois on 18 Apr 1852 to Robert T. Smith, and Martha Burrough Smith, both of New Jersey. Henry was the eldest of three known children. The informant for Henry’s death certificate was L. D. Erion, the son-in-law of Henry L. Smith. According to Henrietta Christine Jann Smith’s memoir, she married Henry L. Smith in Des Moines, IA on 1 Jul 1877. Together, Henry and Henrietta had four children, the oldest one being my great grandmother. In the 1880 US Census Henry’s occupation is shown as “bartender” in Des Moines, IA. By the 1885 Iowa State Census Henry has a restaurant. Between 1885 and 1889, the Smith family moves from Des Moines, IA to South Omaha, Nebraska.

According to Omaha, Nebraska 1889-1890 city directories, Henry L. Smith is listed as working as a barkeeper at the T-Rock, North 27 & L, South Omaha, Nebraska. By 1899 Henry is working as a bartender at Berlin & Healey according to a March 3, 1899 article found in the Omaha World Herald. By 1904 newspaper reports reveal that Henry L. Smith is seriously ill. He recovered and for the next nine years the family moved between Nebraska and Iowa, finally settling in Bellevue, Sarpy County, Nebraska, where on 7 Oct 1918 at 6 a.m., Henry L. Smith passed away at the age of 66 years, 5 months, and 19 days. The cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis from which he had suffered for at least six years. Henry was buried on 9 Oct 1918 under the direction of G. H. Brewer, undertaker.