Isabelle married William Marshall Smith August 18, 1880.

Delphos Republican

June 7, 1934

Isabelle Buffington was born December 25, 1864, at Cambridge, Ill., and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Orpha Hughes, near Minneapolis, Kansas May 31st, at 2:10 a.m. aged 69 years, 5 months and 6 days.

She came to Kansas with her parents on August 18, 1870, and was married to William M. Smith in 1880. To this union were born twelve children, seven of whom are living, 4 girls and 3 boys, namely: Mrs. Maude May Teasley, Delphos, Kansas; Mrs. Orpha Montana Hughes, Minneapolis, Kansas; Lillie Ellen Fell of Jamestown, Kansas; Ovid Phillip Smith of Glasco, Kansas; Mrs. Dorothy Agnes Dahlberg, Salina, Kansas; William Walter Smith, Concordia, Kansas; and Lee Machin Smith of Delphos, Kansas. Five children, Mrs. Alice Anna Chockley, Carrie Belle, Mrs. Celia Marguerette Davidson, and 2 babies in early infancy, preceded their mother in death.

Mr. Smith died April 15, 1923.

Besides the immediate family, she leaves 22 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren; one brother, James Machin Buffington, one half-sister, Mrs. Olive Long, of Delphos, Kansas; one half-brother, Arthur Buffington, of Englewood, Colorado; and many other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Smith was a good woman. She loved her home, was always happy doing for her loved ones. No sacrifice was too great to make to help her children.

She has lived in and near Delphos, Kansas most of her life. She was a member of the Delphos Methodist Church and had a large circle of friends.

She was a descendant of Sir Joseph Machin and Lady Mary Anna, who came to America in 1845 from London, England. Their daughter, who was Mrs. Smith's mother, was born in Devonshire, England.

The deceased, familiarly known as Mrs. Belle Smith, will be sadly missed by her family. "Dear little Mother is gone, and is at rest, asleep in Jesus." She once said in the presence of a friend, "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus."

Mother

And while the soul retains the power,

To think upon each faded year,

In every bright – or shadowed hour,

The heart shall hold the Mother, dear,

To love, to feel that in heaven above,

The angels, whispering to one another

Can find among their words of love,

The beautiful name of "Mother".

Almost it seems, her pleasant voice is calling,

All earthly sounds shall be to me. Silence,

If you will speak, O Mother, Mother dear!

No answer comes; I hush my breath to listen;

I can see her eyes look into mine

With patient steady gaze,

I bow my head beneath their rays,

High o'er me, God's hand uplifted.

The secret of the grave she knows

Through wondrous ways, of His own heaven.

She goes – I know

So far; so far; all else might fail,

My Mother's love was certain;

Now, dying, e'en your touch,

I must forego;

Aye, I must linger here,

A frail leaf timely sore, from the tree,

Went down with thee.

Thy spirit has flown,

I gaze above, thy look is imaged there;

I listen, and thy gently tone is on the air.

Funeral services were held at the Delphos Methodist Church Sunday afternoon, in charge of Rev. L.R. Fish. Interment was made in Delphos Cemetery.