Smith - Hammet
Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana 21 July 1911
On Sunday morning the body of Hammett Smith was found floating on the pond at the Rohm Bros. Mill at Rockville. He was living alone, and was last seen on Thursday. He was drinking at the time, and it is supposed that his death was accidental. He worked for the Van as a bridge carpenter. He was a brother of Joseph and William Smith and Mrs. Jackson Hallett. Joseph Smith and Mrs. Hallett attended the funeral on Monday. - typed by kbz
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Source: -- Rockville Republican 11 July 1911
The body of Hammett N. Smith was discovered floating on the east of the Rohm Brothers Mill Pond about 6 o'clock Sunday morning by Miss Cleo Bradburn, who lives with her father, Elijah Bradburn, immediately east and who was at the time hunting for duck eggs. She at once informed John Wyant, crossing watchman, who pulled the head and shoulders out of the water. Here the dead man remained in the water until Coroner Collings was notified and came. The coroner, assisted by others, took the body from the water and carried it to the mill hay shed where an inquest was held. Later the body was taken to Teague & Chapman's undertaking establishment and prepared for burial. At first Smith was not recognized even by those who knew him well, the face was so bloated, and it was for a time supposed the body was that of a laborer connected with the Robinson show which exhibited near the pond Wednesday, the cars being loaded at the crossing. Later a neighbor of Smith, who lived alone in a little house on North Virginia Street, between the town and the "fourty" gave out the word that he had not been seen there since Wednesday. Proper identification was then made. In Smith's pockets were found his watch, pocket knife, house key and an empty beer bottle. No evidence of foul play could be discovered. Smith was the the show Wednesday night and on Thursday he was in Mecca, but was seen here as late as 9 o'clock Thursday night. The watch had stopped at 11 and it assumed he fell from the railroad grade into the pond about that time. Evidently he was drowned as his lungs were full of water. He was intoxicated both Wednesday and Thursday. Hammet Smith was born in Rockville in 1843 and resided in around the town most of his life. He was a son of Reuben Smith. His nearest surviving relatives are two brothers, William and Joseph and one sister, Mary.-- kbz
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Source: 18 July 1911 Rockville Tribune
Early Sunday morning the dead body of Hammet Smith was found floating in Rohm's Mill pond by a little daughter of Elijah Bradburn who lives nearby. The little girl told her father who went to the pond and then informed others of the gruesome discovery. Coroner Collings was called by phone and the body was left in the water until his arrival as the first impression was that a murder had been committed when Robinson's circus was in Rockville and the body of the victim thrown in the pond. When Corner Collings arrived he directed that the dead man be taken to Teague & Chapman's undertaking establishment. Here he was fully identified as Hammet Smith. His watch and pocket knife were recognized by Bert Dodds, a nephew, who also identified the clothing. Decomposition had prevented those who knew Mr. Smith from recognizing his face, but it was surmised by some even before the body was taken from the pond that it was Hammet Smith. He was last seen Thursday evening James S. Baker and Charles H. Baker talked with him a short while in front of Spencer's livery stable. He left them going E. on York St. St that time he was slightly intoxicated. An empty bottle was found in his pocket. That he was drowned was established by the autopsy held by the coroner and Dr. Charles Overpeck. The lungs were full of water. Whether he wandered to the banks of the pond and fell in or committed suicide will probably never be known. He had been drinking more than usual lately and his health had failed to the extent that he was not able to work regularly. Hammet Smith was born in Rockville in 1843. He was a son of Reuben Smith, one of the first settlers of the town. He attended the old time Whitford School here 60 years ago and resided in and about Rockville most of his life. He worked as a bridge carpenter on the E&TH railroad a number of years. He was industrious but not provident and accumulated no property beyond the house and lot he owned in the north part of town. He was never married. Two brothers, William and Joseph - and one sister, Mrs. Jackson Hallett who live near Bluff Mills in Montgomery county are his only relatives. To all the old citizens of our town he was well known. He was kind of heart, loyal and reliable and probably in all his life never incurred the enmity of anyone. All who knew him well knew that he was in his walk of life a good man. An appropriate funeral service was conducted at the cemetery after the arrival of the train from the north Monday at 10:30. Rev. ZD Maris conducted the services after the reading of an obituary sketch by Isaac R. Strouse. The body was then taken to the grave where Rev. Maris dismissed the audience of relatives and friends with a benediction. Joseph Smith, M/M Hallett and daughter came on the train to attend the funeral, but William Smith was unable to come on account of sickness. The pallbearers were O.F. Munson, John S. McFaddin, James Ford, Reese Booker, Howard Maxwell and John Farnsworth.-- kbz