117 Years Ago
The October 14, 1909 Colorado Transcript included the obituary for a lady who lived a long and remarkable life.
Juanita Ortiz Smith was born in Santa Fe in 1817. Her family held a Spanish land grant. She married Ensign Smith in 1833.
Her husband was engaged in business which many times took him off the old Santa Fe trail into the wilds, and on many occasions he was accompanied by his wife. Times without number they were attacked by the hostile Indians barely escaping with their lives. On the occasion of their trip from Santa Fe to Texas at the time of the outbreak of the Mexican War they were captured by Indians. Mr. Smith was horribly wounded and left for dead on the desert. His wife was taken captive, but managed to escape at night and make her way back to her husband, whom she nursed back to health.
Colorado Transcript - October 14, 1909
The couple's later adventures took them to Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and finally to Colorado for the 1859 gold rush. Mr. Smith signed the charter that created Golden as a City. The Transcript credited the Smiths with building the second residence in town.
Mr. Smith worked with William Loveland to build the toll road through Golden Gate Canyon. Mrs. Smith raised many children and was known for her good works in the community.
Mrs. Smith was of a distinctly charitable disposition, and even when feeble in old age was able to do many acts of kindness.
Mrs. Smith was survived by several brothers and sisters, one of whom was the Mexican Vice-Consul in Denver. She also left a number of sons and daughters. She was interred in the Golden Cemetery, beside her husband. She was 92 at the time of her death.
