492 Ohio Arch. and Hist.
Society Publications.
ZACHARIAH T. SMITH.
[The following article is the expression
of respect to the memory of
Z. T. Smith by J. L. Lewis and published
in an Upper Sandusky news-
paper. Mr. Smith was for many years a
life member of the Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society
and was potently interested in
securing the proper legislation for the
appropriation for the erection of a
building for the Society's Museum and
Library.]
It has oft been said that, "'Tis
not all of life to live; nor all of
death to die." And while many of us
think little of this statement, yet
in fact, it is the real measure of our
earthly existence. To live either
in the higher or lower type of animal
life, is to eat and breathe and sleep;
to give to the organs of the body
nourishment and strength and rest;
and so long as this can be done, we
live. And in thus living only, we
do no more than the lower animals.
But we learn from that oldest of books,
that in the later days of
creation, after all else was finished,
God made man in his own image,
breathed into him the breath of life and
gave him a duty to perform.
Hence 'tis not all of life to live. And
we as human beings should not
take from the world its food and air,
our sustenance, and give nothing
in return.
We owe to our Creator, our fellowman, to
ourselves and to our
surroundings, more than to simply exist.
All nature says to us, "Come
into my store-house and solve my
mysteries." The soil says, "Study
my ingredients and there shall be a
seed-time and a harvest;" the moun-
tains say, "In our depths are the
products of ages, knock and it shall
be opened unto you;" the mighty
ocean says, "On my bosom I will
carry the commerce of the world, bring
it unto me;" the rushing torrent
says, "I will not always destroy,
but if guided aright, I will turn the
wheels of industry;" the babbling
brook says, "I will water the hill-
side and the valley and the sunshine
shall bring forth fruit and flowers
that will surround and beautify the home
of man and the fragrance
thereof shall be his." So man, who
may be the crowning glory of
creation, will be its greatest failure,
unless he responds to the invitation
that on every side bids him to put forth
effort and "ask, that he may
receive."
The good of the world today is measured
by the efforts of men-
not every one, perhaps-but those who
have striven to perform the duties
assigned by him in whose image we are
created.
All can not do the same. It was not so
intended; but each, in his
way, can, if he will, do some part. And
of those who have lived in this
community, we find in the life of Z. T.
Smith of Pitt Township, Wyandot
County, Ohio, a most representative
example of willingness and work and
a life that is well worthy of imitation.
Born and reared upon a farm, in his
boyhood days, he did not have