SMITH, John Y.T. (Yours Truly)

News-Herald (Wickenburg AZ) Saturday, July 25, 1903, p 1 John Y.T. Smith, a noted Arizona pioneer and leading citizen of Phoenix, died last week in Los Angeles. Funeral exercises were held in Phoenix on Sunday and practically everybody in that city was in attendance, which shows the high esteem in which he was held by his friends. ~~~~~~~~~~ Coconino Sun (Flagstaff AZ) Saturday, July 18, 1903, p 8 John Y.T. Smith died in Los Angeles on the 16th inst. He was one of the pioneers of Arizona having come to the territory in 1872 and was identified with the interest of the territory ever since. He was married in Prescott to Miss Ellen E Shaver, who in 1873 taught the first school in Phoenix. Their children are Mrs George Buxton, Bertam Smith and Miss Mary E Smith. Politically, Mr Smith was always a staunch Republican, and in days when republicans were almost a curiosity in these parts. He served in the Phoenix city council in the early days, and in 1868 was elected to the territorial legislature, serving in the session of 1869. He was elected again in 1886 from this county and in 1888 was re-elected, serving in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth assemblies. During the latter he was influential in the enterprise of moving the capital from Prescott to Phoenix. He was also speaker of the Fifteenth assembly. In 1889 he was appointed territorial treasurer, a position he held for two years, and subsequently he was a member of the territorial board of equalization. Prominent in Masonry, Mr Smith was a past deputy grand master of the grand lodge of Arizona, and as a member of the G.A.R. was a past commander of J W Owens post of this city. He was also connected with the California commandry of the Society of California Volunteers.