FESLER, Smith Vawter

Date of birth:  12 Nov 1853 – Morgantown, Morgan County, Indiana
Date of death: 23 Nov 1896 – Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, July 3, 1896,
Volume XXXVI Number 51, page 1 column 5

PERSONAL AND LOCAL.

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Word was received here this morning of the critical illness of Smith Fesler, of Franklin. He has been in poor health for some time but no serious results were anticipated. He suffered from heart trouble. Harrison Fesler, a brother, drove to that city this morning. Mr. Fesler was born and raised in Mor­gantown and has many warm friends in this county who grieve to learn of his serious condition. He made many friends in this city while taking baths for rheumatism at the Home Lawn several years ago –Mts. Rep.
[Martinsville Republican]

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, November 27, 1896,
Volume XXXVII Number 20, page 1 column 4

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Death of Smith V. Fesler.

But few men in Franklin were better known or had a larger acquaintance in Johnson county than S. V. Fesler. He had been identified so long with the leading dry goods firms of the city and this combined with his natural traits of sociability made his friends numerous.

As is well known he had been in poor health for several months, at times during the past summer, his condition being such as to cause the most serious alarm. He recovered sufficiently, how­ever, to resume his duties in the store of R. V. Ditmars, and it was hoped his health had been fully restored. On Saturday, in apparently good health, he went to Noblesville to visit his sister, Mrs. John E. Lake, intending to remain there over Sunday. On Monday morning he was taken suddenly ill with heart failure. Several telegrams were sent to his family in this city during that day notifying them of his condition. At 5 o’clock in the evening came the news that he had died.

His original sickness was a severe attack of la grippe, which affected his heart.

The remains were brought to Franklin Tuesday evening. Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock funeral services were held at the Christian church, conducted by Rev. T. M. Wiles, of Martinsville, a former pastor of the church here, and under the auspices of the K. of P. lodge, assisted by the Odd Fellows. A large number of friends and members of lodges at other points in the county was present. The funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Franklin and the ceremonies of the most impressive nature.

Deceased was born in Morgantown Nov. 12, 1853. In November 1876, he was married to Clara Mathis, daughter of Wm. J. Mathis, who survives her husband.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, December 4, 1896,
Volume XXXVII Number 21, page 1 column 4

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The will of the late S. V. Fesler was admitted to probate Saturday. It was written Nov. 10, 1886, by S. A. Wilson with Dr. Jas. Richardson as witness. All the property, personal and real, is be­queathed to Mrs. Fesler.

Link to Smith Vawter Fesler’s grave

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry