JUDGE EZRA R. SMITH PASSED AWAY TODAY

Highly respected Citizen Occupied Municipal Court Bench of Brainerd
Lived Here 20 Years
Graduate of Law from University of Minnesota;
Was Spanish American War Veteran



        Ezra R. Smith, Judge of the Municipal court of Brainerd for the past six months, passed
away at 12:35 p.m. today at his residence 307 1/2 South 8th street at the age of 53 years.
He was taken sick the day following Christmas and had been confined to his home since.

        Judge Smith was a man of great prominence in the county. His good judgment and understanding
of the law gave him the reputation of being one of the finest judges to preside at municipal court
hearings. He was respected by city and rural people of the county and his death will be felt with
regret by many who associated with him in private and business life during his 20 years of residence
in the county.

   Mr. Smith was born in Canada coming to the United States when a young boy. He became naturalized
and attended grade school in Minneapolis, later taking law at the University of Minnesota
where he graduated. He was a veteran of the Spanish American War. He practiced law in Brainerd
for ten years and then opened a real estate office in connection with his law duties ten years ago.
He was appointed judge of the municipal court of Crosby occupying the office for a term of three years.
He was appointed municipal judge of Brainerd six months ago by Governor Theodore Christianson
upon the resignation of Judge Alderman.

     He was married seven years ago to Miss Mabel O'Brien, daughter of Con O'Brien, of this city.
        Surviving besides his widow are a daughter Janet, aged 3 years; one sister, Mrs. Haire [Emmaline],
of Mission Minn; and four brothers, Rev. Walter J. Smith, J.R. Smith of Brainerd; John L. Smith
and Izaak Smith, of Minneapolis. 

        Funeral arrangements have not been completed yet.


[Brainerd Daily Dispatch, January 14, 1927, page 7.]