Bio: Smart, Mrs. (17 June 1885)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Smart, Robertson

Source: Weekly Wis. (Milwaukee, Wis.) 17 June 1885, p 4, c 4

WAUSAU, Wis., June 10.—Mrs. Smart, a young divorced woman living at Kickbush, north of this city, has been missing since last Monday, and there are strong suspicions of foul play. She came to Wausau by rail on the evening of that day, got the mail and started home on foot. She has not been seen since. A basket containing mail for parties at Kickbush and torn pieces of her clothing were found on the river bank, and there are evidences of a struggle. It is feared that she has been ravished and drowned.

Source: Weekly Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Wis.) 1 July 1885, p 7, col 2

The Wausau Central Wisconsin says: “The mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Smart, daughter of Mr. Robertson, of Trapp, remains unsolved. The gates at the locks were raised and the water drawn as low as possible, but the search was unsuccessful. The general belief now is that her body is fast among the jam of logs that lie in the river below where she was last seen. Mrs. Smart left her husband and three children in Scotland some time ago, and came to Marathon County to live with her father, the intention being that if she was satisfied with the situation here, her husband and children were to follow.”

Source: Weekly Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Wis.) 22 July 1885, p. 5, col. 5

Wausau, Wis., July 18 – The body of Mrs. Smart, the woman who so mysteriously disappeared about six weeks ago, was found in the Wisconsin River, north of this city, last night. The body had floated down the river about a mile from the place where she was last seen, and lodged in the logs. When found, it was so decomposed as to be unrecognizable except from the clothing upon it. A bottle partly filled with liquor was found in one of the pockets, which probably accounts for her disappearance.