— Submitted photo. William Smock was a major contributor in Webster City, being a carriage painter by trade and was an active member of the Methodist Church and the local Grand Army of the Republic chapter.

The neighborhood is alive today; the chirping of innumerable baby birds, scampering squirrels running everywhere and folks walking, jogging (completely foreign to this retired Postal worker), biking or being exercised by their pets, makes it a fun, active environment.

“Pretty as a postcard” would be a good description, when people used to mail postcards. In my own wandering this morning, I was a bit taken aback by a somewhat plain, cast concrete marker with a name and dates hand-drawn on it.

My initial reaction combined surprise and a bit of “what is that doing here?” Surrounded by beautiful, stately markers of marble and granite, it hit me as a bit out of place.

William Smock lived in Webster City for the last 18 or so years of his life, moving here in his mid-60s from Indiana.

His residence here was 633 First St., which is now part of a parking area behind the Availa Bank. He was the father and step-father of many children, having been married three times.

A carriage painter by trade, William was a very well-respected member of the community, active in the Methodist church and also became a high-ranking member of the Masonic Order in Indiana.

Two of his children caught my attention.

A daughter, Cecile, graduated high school here in 1907, collecting the highest grades ever in Webster City, to that date. A son, Robert, served as Assistant City Clerk here, and later as Assistant Auditor for Hamilton County.

William Smock’s obituary notes that he “did not work” for the last six years of his life, due to a lingering illness, which eventually took his life. I find it admirable that he was able to work into his middle 70s!

William was also a veteran, having served during the Civil War in two different Indiana infantry regiments, rising to the rank of First Sergeant by the end of the war.

He was also a member of the GAR Post (think American Legion) here in Webster City.

Having read a synopsis of his life, I have two distinct feelings about Mr Smock.

First, I’d love to have met him and listened to his own stories, especially as he is now a neighbor. Second, I feel a sense of shame at my initial thoughts of his marker.

To assume someone is “less than myself” based on outward appearance (or that of his residence) puts me in a group I try hard to avoid… one of judging without knowing. I see too much of this in the world, without my own addition to it.

Let me, let all of us, have an opportunity to meet and learn of each other, without initially categorizing.

After all, though I feel myself a curmudgeon at times, I certainly don’t appreciate others thinking of me that way.