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William Francis Smithwick - obituary

W.F. Smithwick, Uncle of District Attorney Frank Hogan, Dies in Connecticut at the Age of 63

William F. Smithwick, one of the outstanding citizens of Bristol, Conn., and for many years Charity Commissioner in that city, died in the Bristol Hospital after a long illness.

He was appointed a Charity Commissioner in 1917, and held that appointment up to the time of his death. In that position he was noted for his sympathy with the poor and afflicted and was a great favorite with the downtrodden whom he was ever willing and ready to help.

He was one of the legislators of the state representing BRISTOL and as such served as chairman of the Humane Relations Committee. It was his deep interest on this committee, that led Mayor Dutton to appoint him Charity Commissioner.

At one time he was one of the principal merchants in the town, and in addition was engaged in the Real Estate and Insurance business. He was also Treasurer of the Volunteer Fire Department.

Bill Smithwick, as he was affectionately referred to by those who knew him intimately, was born in the town or parish of Oola, County Limerick, Ireland on January 2, 1882. He was the son of John Smithwick. His mother Katherine Bradshaw Smithwick, was from the same place, and both with a large family of whom Bill was the youngest came to the United States, and settled in State of Connecticut. He attended school in Creystone in that town about forty-seven years ago his family moved to Bristol.

Although leaving Ireland at a very early age, Bill was a great Irishman and intensely interested in everything that had for its object the welfare of the old land. He was at one time National Director of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and served as County and State President of the Order in his own State. For more than forty years he was an outstanding figure at national conventions, and was well known to those who were active in the Order. The late Pat. Keane of Montreal was his close friend. So were John McNamara of Ansonia, and William Looney of New Haven, Conn., and Michael B. McGreal, Treasurer of the Friends of Irish Freedom, and many others throughout the country.

He was an outstanding Catholic and was an exemplary living man.

In recent years, he rarely missed coming to New York on March 17th to witness the St. Patrick's Day Parades, and was a very close personal friend of the Chairman of that Committee.

His funeral on Saturday, November 17th, from St. Thomas' Church was attended by the largest gathering that has ever assembled there on a like occasion. Besides his widow, Josephine M. FitzSimmons Smithwick and his daughter, Beatrice C. Smithwick, he is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Michael Hogan of Waterbury, Mrs. Robert Welton of Bristol, and Mrs. William G. Johnston of Thomaston. Four brothers also survive, John of New Britain, Robert of Cheshire, Henry of Waterbury and Joseph of Bristol. Bill always referred to his nephew Hon. Frank Hogan District Attorney of New York and took a great pride in the latter's record.

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