The Nassau Guardian February 7, 1931 OBITUARY ROBERT TYNES SMITH We learn with deep regret that news received by cable yesterday, by Mr. W. C. E. Johnson, of the death on this 4th instant of Mr. Robert Tynes Smith, late and last President of the J. S. Johnson Co. of this date at his home at 344 Roland Park, Baltimore, Md. Born at Harbour Island in 1845 Mr. Smith was brought up at Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera. Becoming interested as a lad in the pineapple industry, of which Eleuthera was the centre in those days, he left the Bahamas and lived in Baltimore, where for many years he was in the commission merchants firm of Smith and Wicks which handled consignments of Bahamas Pineapple for the local growers. He afterwards established a can making business known as the R. Tynes Smith Can Co. of Baltimore. Later, after selling out his plant and business to the American Can Co. he took an active interest in the J. S. Johnson Co. and came out to Nassau every summer during the pineapple canning months and also every winter. When he became President of the company eventually and took a very active interest in the pineapple industry generally doing much to assist and encourage planters when the crops fell off and making every effort to stimulate the industry. After the closing down of the J. S. Johnson Co. factory Mr. Smith continued to spend his winters in Nassau and was last here in 1928 when his health failed and he was forced to shorten his stay and return to Baltimore. He would have been 86 years old next month had he lived. Mr. Smith married Miss Mary Hooper of the Woodberry Duck Company of Baltimore and his wife came to Nassau with him for many years until her death. He leaves three sons, two brothers, two sisters and a largo number of grandchildren and other relatives both in the Bahamas and in Baltimore. The death of this old and valued friend of the colony severs another link with the past - we might almost say, with Eleuthera in mind, the glorious past. One can well imagine, the dreams and aspirations of a serious minded youth of the fifties, when Eleuthera was one vast flourishing pineapple plantation, standing on the shore at Governor's Harbour watching the cargoes on pineapples being shipped away in big schooners to the outside world, then so very remot. Small wonder that he longed to go and eventually did go forth on one of those very schooners to seek what the outside world hold for a boy with untiring ambition. Never, however, did he get very far from pineapples. His native land was associated with all his dreams, and as he prospered so he desired the Bahamas to prosper and nobody worked harder to help their pineapple industry. he was a true son of the soil, inspired by the higher patriotism which so many of us fail to reach. Although he had retired from active business for some years Mr. Smith's affection for the colony of his birth still brought him to Nassau for annual visits and his kindly greeting and cheery smile for everyone of his acquaintance -- -and his friends were many in the Bahamas -- have been greatly missed In the past few years. He lived to a ripe old age and was highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him to the end. To his relatives in Baltimore and at Governor's Harbour we extend our sympathy.