THE LATE MRS. E. C. SMITHSON

Chronicle (Levin), 18 April 1946, Page 4

THE LATE MRS. E. C. SMITHSON

The death occurred recentiy at her residence in Levin of Mrs. Elizabeth Charlotte Smithson, at the age of 85 years. Mfs. Smithson had oeen in poor health for the last two years. The late Mrs: Smithson was born at EtOii, Buckihghamshii'e, 'England, in 1861, and was brought with her sistefS to New Zealand by her father in 1869. The family first settted in Palmerston NOrth, where their fathSi* folloWed tfie trade of umbrella maker. From Palmerston North they -nloVfed- to Feilding and Whiteniah's Valley, coming to Levin in 1888 aiid opening the first store Und bakery. The late Mrs. Sihithson then took up nursing, particularly midwifery. She had already brought over 300 children into the world before being registered in 1911 — the first registered hiidWife in Levin. From 1911 to' her retireinent in 1987 Mrs. Smithson attended to more than 500 maternity cases, and established a notable record of having never lost a c&se, either a mother or a child. MrS. Smithson was marfied in i&79 to Mr. W. W. Smithson, who died .soirie tWenty-three years ago. There were six children^ three of Whoffi died in theii* childhood. She is surVived by the three remaining children, Mrs. E. C. Burt, of Levin, Mr. W. W. Smithson, of Wellington, |ttd Mfs. M,.R. Jones of Auckland. There are tweive grandchildren and thirty-four great-grandchildren.