A. A. Smith
Sept. 3, 1929; Oregonian, p 28
"Aged Man Disappears"
St. Helens, Or., Sept. 2

   A. A. Smith, 79, a resident of Columbia county for 50 years, dressed himself in his best clothes last Friday, and, telling his daughter he was going to see his sweetheart, left her house here, where he has made his home for the last five years, and disappeared.  When he failed to return at nightfall a search was started.  Early today his hat was found on a post near an old boat landing on the water front.  It is presumed that he drowned himself.

   Smith had been melancholy since the death of his wife six years ago, according to his daughter, Mrs. Laura Stehman, and recently had complained that his old friends had ceased to visit him.  He had declared he would drown himself if he felt he had become a burden, and that when he did so he would never be found.

   The water where Smith is believed to have drowned is very deep and there is a swift current.  Although the vicinity was dragged today, little hope was entertained for finding the body.

   Smith is survived by eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
 
 
Sept. 5, 1929; Oregonian, p 12
"Body of Pioneer Found"
St. Helens, Or., Sept. 4

   The body of A. A. Smith, Columbia county pioneer who disappeared August 30, was found in the Columbia river today by A. Jones, a fisherman.  The body was lodged against some piling near Columbia City, about 1 1/2 miles from the place where Smith was believed to have jumped into the water.  When he left his daughter's home here Friday he kissed his granddaughter, Mrs. Martin Buck, and said he was "going to see his sweetheart," referring, relatives now believe, to his wife who died about four years ago.

   Mr. Smith was born in Iowa in 1850 and when a young man came to Columbia county with his bride.  They took up a homestead near Deer island, but through faulty proceedings lost it.  They moved to a small clearing near Yankton, on Milton creek, and with his ox team Mr. Smith put in enough logs to pay for an 80-acre place on which he lived until about seven years ago, when he traded it for a place in Missouri.  His wife died there and after bringing the body to Columbia county for interment, Mr. Smith sold the farm and lived with his daughter here.

   Funeral services will be held here tomorrow with burial beside the grave of his wife in the Deer island cemetery.

   He is survived by three sons, Sidney of St. Helens, John of Willbridge and Oliver of Portland, and two daughters, Mrs. Laura Stehman of St. Helens and Mrs. Nellie Nichulaus of St. Johns.