Mrs Arvilla A. Smith died on April 15, 1895 at the home of her Daughter, Mary Jane Wolfe on East Eighth Street on Tuesday afternoon, aged eighty-seven years. Mrs. Smith was one of the noted pioneer women of the state of Michigan, one who far more than almost any other helped to make the state in its early days, and that through years of hardship and trial that were exceptional. Many of the readers of the Herald remember her sketches published in this paper a few years ago under the head of "A Pioneer Woman." These sketches attracted much attention both at home and throughout the state, and indeed, they read more like a romance than like the veritable records they are. From them are briefly gathered the following facts.

Mrs. Smith was born in St. Albans, Vermont, in 1808, and was married to Reverend George N. Smith in 1830. In 1833 she and her husband came to Michigan and, in the employ of the American Home Missionary Society located in Kalamazoo County. In 1838 Mr. Smith held council with the Ottawa Indians, as O-ge-mah-win-i-ne, their chief, had been making a strong appeal for a Christian minister and teacher, and soon he received his appointment from the missionary society as their spiritual guide and removed to Allegan County. Some nine years later the Indians became dissatisfied and removed to Grand Traverse Bay. Mr. and Mrs. Smith followed them, locating to what is now Northport, but then an unbroken wilderness. Here they made their home. Those who read Mrs. Smith's autobiography written at the age of 84, will remember what incredible hardships they labored faithfully and well with their heathen flock. These ministrations continued until the necessity for them had in a measure ceased.

Mrs. Smith was a woman of wonderful strength of mind and retained her faculties in a remarkable degree up to the time when she was taken ill, some ten weeks ago. Her sufferings in her last illness were great, but borne with Christian fortitude, and she died in full hope of a happy thereafter.

Brief funeral services were held at the house Tuesday afternoon, Reverend J.W. Miller officiating, and her remains were taken to Northport on the Columbia yesterday afternoon for internment. A pretty cross of roses accompanied them in memory of the early days from a few of the pioneers who were her friends and neighbors thirty and forty years ago. Her immediate surviving relatives are her son Reverend George N. Smith Jr., of Grand Rapids and two daughters, Mary Jane Wolf of Traverse City and Arvilla Aurelia Voice of Norhtport.