USA > Illinois > St Clair County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of St. Clair County, Volume I > Part 98
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
SMITH, George W., lawyer and Congressman, was born in Putnam County, Ohio, August 18, 1846. When he was four years old, his father removed to Wayne County, Ill., settling on a farm. He attended the common schools and graduated from the literary department of Mc- Kendree College, at Lebanon, in 1868. In his youth he learned the trade of a blacksmith, but
486
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
later determined to study law. After reading for a time at Fairfield, Ill., he entered the Law Department of the Bloomington (Ind.) Univer- sity, graduating there in 1870. The same year he was admitted to the bar in Illinois, and has since practiced at Murphysboro. In 1880 he was a Republican Presidential Elector, and, in 1888, was elected a Republican Representative to Congress from the Twentieth Illinois District, and has been continuously re-elected, now (1899) serving his sixth consecutive term as Representative from the Twenty-second District.
SMITH, Giles Alexander, soldier, and Assist- ant Postmaster-General, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1829; engaged in dry- goods business in Cincinnati and Bloomington, Ill., in 1861 being proprietor of a hotel in the latter place; became a Captain in the Eighth Missouri Volunteers, was engaged at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, and promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel in 1862; led his regiment on the first attack on Vicksburg, and was severely wounded at Arkansas Post; was pro- moted Brigadier-General in August, 1863, for gallant and meritorious conduct; led a brigade of the Fifteenth Army Corps at Chattanooga and Missionary Ridge, as also in the Atlanta cam- paign, and a division of the Seventeenth Corps in the "March to the Sea." After the surrender of Lee he was transferred to the Twenty-fifth Army Corps, became Major-General in 1865, and resigned in 1866, having declined a commission as Colonel in the regular army ; about 1869 was appointed, by President Grant, Second Assistant Postmaster-General, but resigned on account of failing health in 1872. Died, at Bloomington, Nov. 8, 1876. General Smith was one of the founders of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee.
SMITH, Gustavus Adolphus, soldier, was born in Philadelphia, Dec. 26, 1820; at 16 joined two brothers who had located at Springfield, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a carriage-maker. In December, 1837, he arrived at Decatur, Ill., but soon after located at Springfield, where he resided some six years. Then, returning to Decatur, he devoted his attention to ·carriage manufacture, doing a large business with the South, but losing heavily as the result of the war. An original Whig, he became a Democrat on the dissolution of the Whig party, but early took ground in favor of the Union after the firing on Fort Sumter; was offered and accepted the colonelcy of the Thirty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, at the same time assisting Governor
Yates in the selection of Camp Butler as a camp of recruiting and instruction. Having been assigned to duty in Missouri, in the summer of 1861, he proceeded to Jefferson City, joined Fre- mont at Carthage in that State, and made a forced march to Springfield, afterwards taking part in the campaign in Arkansas and in the battle of Pea Ridge, where he had a horse shot under him and was severely (and, it was supposed, fatally) wounded, not recovering until 1868. Being compelled to return home, he received authority to raise an independent brigade, but was unable to accompany it to the field. In Sep- tember, 1862, he was commissioned a Brigadier- General by President Lincoln, "for meritorious conduct," but was unable to enter into active service on account of his wound. Later, he was assigned to the command of a convalescent camp at Murfreesboro, Tenn., under Gen. George H. Thomas. In 1864 he took part in securing the second election of President Lincoln, and, in the early part of 1865, was commissioned by Gov- ernor Oglesby Colonel of a new regiment (the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Illinois), but, on account of his wounds, was assigned to court- martial duty, remaining in the service until January, 1866, when he was mustered out with the brevet rank of Brigadier-General. During the second year of his service he was presented with a magnificent sword by the rank and file of his regiment (the Thirty-fifth), for brave and gal- lant conduct at Pea Ridge. After retiring from the army, he engaged in cotton planting in Ala- bama, but was not successful; in 1868, canvassed Alabama for General Grant for President, but declined a nomination in his own favor for Con- gress. In 1870 he was appointed, by General Grant, United States Collection and Disbursing Agent for the District of New Mexico, where he continued to reside.
SMITH, John Corson, soldier, ex-Lieutenant- Governor and ex-State Treasurer, was born in Philadelphia, Feb. 13, 1832. At the age of 16 he was apprenticed to a carpenter and builder. In 1854 he came to Chicago, and worked at his trade, for a time, but soon removed to Galena, where he finally engaged in business as a contractor. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteers, but, having received author- ity from Governor Yates, raised a company, of which he was chosen Captain, and which was incorporated in the Ninety-sixth Illinois Infan- try. Of this regiment he was soon elected Major. After a short service about Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington and Newport, Ky., the Ninety-
487
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
sixth was sent to the front, and took part (among other battles) in the second engagement at Fort Donelson and in the bloody fight at Franklin, Tenn. Later, Major Smith was assigned to staff duty under Generals Baird and Steedman, serv- ing through the Tullahoma campaign, and par- ticipating in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Being promoted to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy, he rejoined his regi- ment, and was given command of a brigade. In the Atlanta campaign lie served gallantly, tak- ing a conspicuous part in its long series of bloody engagements, and being severely wounded at Kenesaw Mountain. In February, 1865, he was brevetted Colonel, and, in June, 1865, Brigadier- General. Soon after his return to Galena he was appointed Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue. but was legislated out of office in 1872. In 1873 he removed to Chicago and embarked in business. In 1874-76 he was a member (and Secretary) of the Illinois Board of Commissioners to the Cen- tennial Exposition at Philadelphia. In 1875 he was appointed Chief Grain-Inspector at Chicago, and held the office for several years. In 1872 and '76 he was a delegate to the National Republican Conventions of those years, and, in 1878, was elected State Treasurer, as he was again in 1882. In 1884 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor, serv- ing until 1889. He is a prominent Mason, Knight Templar and Odd Fellow, as well as a distin- guished member of the Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and was prominently connected with the erection of the "Masonic Temple Build- ing" in Chicago.
SMITH, John Eugene, soldier, was born in Switzerland, August 3, 1816, the son of an officer who had served under Napoleon, and after the downfall of the latter, emigrated to Philadelphia. The subject of this sketch received an academic education and became a jeweler; in 1861 entered the volunteer service as Colonel of the Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry; took part in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, in the battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth; was promoted a Brigadier- General in November, 1862, and placed in com- mand of a division in the Sixteenth Army Corps; led the Third Division of the Seventeentli Army Corps in the Vicksburg campaign, later being transferred to the Fifteentli, and taking part in the battle of Missionary Ridge and the Atlanta and Carolina campaigns of 1864-65. He received the brevet rank of Major-General of Volunteers in January, 1865, and, on his muster-out from the volunteer service, became Colonel of the Twenty- seventh United States Infantry, being transferred,
in 1870, to the Fourteenth. In 1867 his services at Vicksburg and Savannah were further recog- nized by conferring upon him the brevets of Brig- adier and Major-General in the regular army. In May, 1881, he was retired, afterwards residing in Chicago, where he died, Jan. 29, 1897.
SMITH, Joseph, the founder of the Mormon sect, was born at Sharon, Vt., Dec. 23, 1805. In 1815 his parents removed to Palmyra, N. Y., and still later to Manchester. He early showed a dreamy mental cast, and claimed to be able to locate stolen articles by means of a magic stone. In 1820 he claimed to have seen a vision, but his pretensions were ridiculed by his acquaintances. His story of the revelation of the golden plates by the angel Moroni, and of the latter's instruc- tions to him, is well known. With the aid of Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery he prepared the "Book of Mormon," alleging that he had deciphered it from heaven-sent characters, through the aid of miraculous spectacles. This was published in 1830. In later years Smith claimed to have received supplementary reve- lations, which so taxed the credulity of his fol- lowers that some of them apostatized. He also claimed supernatural power, such as exorcism, etc. He soon gained followers in considerable numbers, whom, in 1832, he led west, a part settling at Kirtland, Ohio, and the remainder in Jackson County, Mo. Driven out of Ohio five years later, the bulk of the sect found the way to their friends in Missouri, whence they were finally expelled after many conflicts with the authorities. Smith, with the other refugees, fled to Hancock County, Ill., founding the city of Nauvoo, which was incorporated in 1840. Here was begun, in the following year, the erection of a great temple, but again he aroused the hostility of the authorities, although soon wielding con- siderable political power. After various unsuc- cessful attempts to arrest him in 1844, Smith and a number of his followers were induced to sur- render themselves under the promise of protection from violence and a fair trial. Having been taken to Carthage, the county-seat, all were dis- charged under recognizance to appear at court except Smith and his brother Hyrum, who were held under the new charge of "treason, " and were placed in jail. So intense had been the feeling against the Mormons, that Governor Ford called out the militia to preserve the peace; but it is evident that the feeling among the latter was in sympathy with that of the populace. Most of the militia were disbanded after Smith's arrest, one company being left on duty at Carthage,
488
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
from whom only eight men were detailed to guard the jail. In this condition of affairs a mob of 150 disguised men, alleged to be from Warsaw, appeared before the jail on the evening of June 27, and, forcing the guards-who made only a feeble resistance,-Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were both shot down, while a friend, who had remained with them, was wounded. The fate of Smith undoubtedly went far to win for him the reputation of martyr, and give a new impulse to the Mormon faith. (See Mormons; Nauvoo.)
SMITH, Justin Almerin, D.D., clergyman and editor, was born at Ticonderoga, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1819, educated at New Hampton Literary and Theological Institute and Union College, gradu- ating from the latter in 1843; served a year as Principal of the Union Academy at Bennington, Vt., followed by four years of pastoral work, when he assumed the pastorate of the First Bap- tist church at Rochester, N. Y., where he remained five years. Then (1853) he removed to Chicago to assume the editorship of "The Chris- tian Times" (now "The Standard"), with which he was associated for the remainder of his life. Meanwhile he assisted in organizing three Baptist churches in Chicago, serving two of them as pastor for a considerable period; made an ex- tended tour of Europe in 1869, attending the Vatican Council at Rome; was a Trustee and one of the founders of the old Chicago Univer- sity, and Trustee and Lecturer of the Baptist Theological Seminary; was also the author of several religious works. Died, at Morgan Park, near Chicago, Feb. 4, 1896.
SMITH, Perry H., lawyer and politician, was born in Augusta, Oneida County, N. Y., March 18, 1828; entered Hamilton College at the age of 14 and graduated, second in his class, at 18; began reading law and was adınitted to the bar on com- ing of age in 1849. Then, removing to Appleton, Wis., when 23 years of age he was elected a Judge, served later in both branches of the Legislature, and, in 1857, became Vice-President of the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railway, retaining the same position in the reorganized corporation when it became the Chicago & Northwestern. In 1856 Mr. Smith came to Chi- cago and resided there till his death, on Palm Sunday of 1885. He was prominent in railway circles and in the councils of the Democratic party, being the recognized representative of Mr. Tilden's interests in the Northwest in the cam- paign of 1876.
SMITH, Robert, Congressman and lawyer, was born at Petersborough, N. H., June 12, 1802;
was educated and admitted to the bar in his native town, settled at Alton, Ill., in 1832, and engaged in practice. In 1836 he was elected to the General Assembly from Madison County, and re-elected in 1838. In 1842 he was elected to the Twenty-eighth Congress, and twice re-elected, serving three successive terms. During the Civil War he was commissioned Paymaster, with the rank of Major, and was stationed at St. Louis. He was largely interested in the construction of water power at Minneapolis, Minn., and also in railroad enterprises in Illinois. He was a promi- nent Mason and a public-spirited citizen. Died, at Alton, Dec. 20. 1867.
SMITH, Samuel Lisle, lawyer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1817, and, belonging to a wealthy family, enjoyed superior educational advantages, taking a course in the Yale Law School at an age too early to admit of his receiv- ing a degree. In 1836 he came to Illinois, to look after some landed interests of his father's in the vicinity of Peru. Returning east within the next two years, he obtained his diploma, and, again comning west, located in Chicago in 1838, and, for a time, occupied an office with the well-known law firm of Butterfield & Collins. In 1839 he was elected City Attorney and, at the great Whig meeting at Springfield, in June, 1840, was one of the principal speakers, establishing a reputation as one of the most brilliant campaign orators in the West. As an admirer of Henry Clay, he was active in the Presidential campaign of 1844, and was also a prominent speaker at the River and Harbor Convention at Chicago, in 1847. With a keen sense of humor, brilliant, witty and a mas- ter of repartee and invective, he achieved popu- larity, both at the bar and on the lecture platform, and had the promise of future success, which was unfortunately marred by his convivial habits. Died of cholera, in Chicago, July 30, 1854. Mr. Smith married the daughter of Dr. Potts, of Philadelphia, an eminent clergyman of the Episcopal Church.
SMITH, Sidney, jurist, was born in Washing- ton County, N. Y., May 12, 1829; studied law and was admitted to the bar at Albion, in that State, in 1851; came to Chicago in 1856 and entered into partnership with Grant Goodrich and Will- iam W. Farwell, both of whom were afterwards elected to places on the bench-the first in the Superior, and the latter in the Circuit Court. In 1879 Judge Smith was elected to the Superior Court of Cook County, serving until 1885, when he became the attorney of the Chicago Board of Trade. He was the Republican candidate for
489
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
Mayor, in opposition to Carter H. Harrison, in 1885, and is believed by many to have been honestly elected, though defeated on the face of the returns. A recount was ordered by the court, but so much delay was incurred and so many obstacles placed in the way of carrying the order into effect, that Judge Smith abandoned the con- test in disgust, although making material gains as far as it had gone. During his professional career he was connected, as counsel, with some of the most important trials before the Chicago courts; was also one of the Directors of the Chi- cago Public Library, on its organization in 1871. Died suddenly, in Chicago, Oct. 6, 1898.
SMITH, Theophilus Washington, Judge and politician, was born in New York City, Sept. 28, 1784, served for a time in the United States navy, was a law student in the office of Aaron Burr, was admitted to the bar in his native State in 1805, and, in 1816, came west, finally locating at Edwardsville, where he soon became a prominent figure in early State history. In 1820 he was an unsuccessful candidate before the Legislature for the office of Attorney-General, being defeated by Samuel D. Lockwood, but was elected to the State Senate in 1822, serving four years. In 1823 he was one of the leaders of the "Conventionist" party, whose aim was to adopt a new Constitution which would legalize slavery in Illinois, during this period being the editor of the leading organ of the pro-slavery party. In 1825 he was elected one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, but resigned, Dec. 26, 1842. He was im- peached in 1832 on charges alleging oppressive conduct, corruption, and other high misdemean- ors in office, but secured a negative acquittal, a two-thirds vote being necessary to conviction. The vote in the Senate stood twelve for convic- tion (on a part of the charges) to ten for acquittal, four being excused from voting. During the Black Hawk War he served as Quartermaster- General on the Governor's staff. As a jurist, he was charged by his political opponents with being unable to divest himself of his partisan bias, and even with privately advising counsel, in political causes, of defects in the record, which they (the counsel) had not discovered. He was also a member of the first Board of Commission- ers of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, appointed in 1823. Died, in Chicago, May 6, 1846.
SMITH, William Henry, journalist, Associ- ated Press Manager, was born in Columbia County, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1833; at three years of age was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he enjoyed the best educational advantages that
State at the time afforded. After completing his school course he began teaching, and, for a time, served as tutor in a Western college, but soon turned his attention to journalismn, at first as assistant editor of a weekly publication at Cincin- nati, still later becoming its editor, and, in 1855, city editor of "The Cincinnati Gazette," with which he was connected in a more responsible position at the beginning of the war, incidentally doing work upon "The Literary Review." His connection with a leading paper enabled him to exert a strong influence in support of the Govern- ment. This he used most faithfully in assisting to raise troops in the first years of the war, and, in 1863, in bringing forward and securing the election of John Brough as a Union candidate for Governor in opposition to Clement L. Vallandi- gham, the Democratic candidate. In 1864 he was nominated and elected Secretary of State, being re-elected two years later. After retiring from office he returned to journalism at Cincinnati, as editor of "The Evening Chronicle," from which he retired in 1870 to become Agent of the West- ern Associated Press, with headquarters, at first at Cleveland, but later at Chicago. His success in this line was demonstrated by the final union of the New York and Western Associated Press organizations under his management, continuing until 1893, when he retired. Mr. Smith was a strong personal friend of President Hayes, by whom he was appointed Collector of the Port of Chicago in 1877. While engaged in official duties he found time to do considerable literary work, having published, several yearsago, "The St. Clair Papers," in two volumes, and a life of Charles Hammond, besides contributions to periodicals. After retiring from the management of the Associated Press, he was engaged upon a "His- tory of American Politics" and a "Life of Ruther- ford B. Hayes," which are said to have been well advanced at the time of his death, which took place at his home, at Lake Forest, Ill., July 27, 1896.
SMITH, William M., merchant, stock-breeder and politician, was born near Frankfort, Ky., May 23, 1827; in 1846 accompanied his father's family to Lexington, McLean County, Ill., where they settled. A few years later he bought forty acres of government land, finally increasing his holdings to 800 acres, and becoming a breeder of fine stock. Still later he added to his agricultural pursuits the business of a merchant. Having early identified himself with the Republican party, he remained a firm adherent of its prin- ciples during the Civil War, and, while declining
490
HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
a commission tendered him by Governor Yates, devoted his time and means liberally to the re- cruiting and organization of regiments for serv- ice in the field, and procuring supplies for the sick and wounded. In 1866 he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, and was re-elected in 1868 and '70, serving, during his last term, as Speaker. In 1877 he was appointed by Governor Cullom a member of the Railroad and Warehouse Commission, of which body he served as President until 1883. He was a man of remarkably genial temperament, liberal impulses, and wide popu- larity. Died, March 25, 1886.
SMITH, William Sooy, soldier and civil engi- neer, was born at Tarlton, Pickaway County, Ohio, July 22, 1830; graduated at Ohio University in 1849, and, at the United States Military Acad- emy, in 1853, laving among his classmates, at the latter, Generals McPherson, Schofield and Sheri- dan. Coming to Chicago the following year, he first found employment as an engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad, but later became assist- ant of Lieutenant-Colonel Graham in engineer service on the lakes; a year later took charge of a select school in Buffalo; in 1857 made the first surveys for the International Bridge at Niagara Falls, then went into the service of extensive locomotive and bridge-works at Trenton, N. J., in their interest making a visit to Cuba, and also superintending the construction of a bridge across the Savannah River. The war intervening, he returned North and was appointed Lieutenant- Colonel and assigned to duty as Assistant Adju- tant-General at Camp Denison, Ohio, but, in June, 1862, was commissioned Colonel of the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteers, participating in the West Virginia campaigns, and later, at Shiloh and Perryville. In April, 1862, he was promoted Brigadier-General of volunteers, commanding divisions in the Army of the Ohio until the fall of 1862, when he joined Grant and took part in the Vicksburg campaign, as commander of the First Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps. Subsequently he was made Chief of the Cavalry Department, serving on the staffs of Grant and Sherman, until compelled to resign, in 1864, on account of impaired health. During the war General Smith rendered valuable service to the Union cause in great emergencies, by his knowl- edge of engineering. On retiring to private life he resumed his profession at Chicago, and since has been employed by the Government on some of its most stupendous works on the lakes, and has also planned several of the most important railroad bridges across the Missouri and other
streams. He has been much consulted in refer- ence to municipal engineering, and his name is connected with a number of the gigantic edifices in Chicago.
SMITHBORO, a village and railroad junction in Bond County, 3 miles east of Greenville. Population, 393; (1900), 314.
SNAPP, Henry, Congressman, born in Livings- ton County, N. Y., June 30, 1822, came to Illinois with his father when 11 years old, and, having read law at Joliet, was admitted to the bar in 1847. He practiced in Will County for twenty years before entering public life. In 1868 lie was elected to the State Senate and occupied a seat in that body until his election, in 1871, to the Forty- second Congress, by the Republicans of the (then) Sixth Illinois District, as successor to B. C. Cook, who had resigned. Died, at Joliet, Nov. 23, 1895.
SNOW, Herman W., ex-Congressman, was born in La Porte County, Ind., July 3, 1836, but was reared in Kentucky, working upon a farm for five years, while yet in his minority becoming a resident of Illinois. For several years he was a school teacher, meanwhile studying law and being admitted to the bar. Early in the war he enlisted as a private in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, rising to the rank of Captain. His term of service having expired, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois, and was mustered out with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After the close of the war he resumed teaching at the Chicago High School, and later served in the General Assembly (1873-74) as Representative from Wood- ford County. In 1890 he was elected, as a Demo- crat, to represent the Ninthi Illinois District in Congress, but was defeated by his Republican opponent in 1892.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.