Charles Sydney Smith | |
---|---|
16th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island | |
In office January 1891 – January 1892 | |
Preceded by | Henry Rodman Barker |
Succeeded by | William Knight Potter |
Personal details | |
Born | Warren, Rhode Island | October 4, 1828
Died | August 12, 1907 Providence, Rhode Island | (aged 78)
Cause of death | Pneumonia |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lavinia Winberg Gorgas, Mary Ann Fish |
Parent(s) | Elisha Galusha Smith, Abby Carpenter |
Residence | Providence, Rhode Island |
Occupation | Jeweller |
Signature | |
Charles Sydney Smith (October 4, 1828 – August 12, 1907) was 16th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, in office between 1889 and 1891.
Charles Sydney Smith was born October 4, 1828, in Warren, Rhode Island. [1] At age 12 he moved with a relative to Bureau County, Illinois, which was at that time the far West. [1] He spent four years there working on a farm. [1] The nearest school was three miles away, and he attended school only a few weeks each winter. [1]
Smith's first wife was Lavinia Winberg Gorgas, daughter of George Gorgas of Philadelphia. [1] They married on December 12, 1849, and had two children. [1] She died February 26, 1857, aged 23 years. [1] In 1858 Smith married Mary Ann Fish, daughter of John and Nancy Fish of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; they had one daughter. [1]
Smith was an active mason for over forty years. [2] He died in his home at 315 Elmwood Avenue in Providence of pneumonia, early in the morning of August 12, 1907. [2] He had been bedridden for a week, and unconscious for three days. [2]
By age 18, Smith was in Newark, New Jersey, learning the jewelry trade. [1] He returned to Rhode Island, eventually working for Sackett, Davis, & Co, jewelers on Richmond Street in Providence. [1]
Jewelry manufacture and trade was emerging as one of the major industries in Providence at the time. [3] By some accounts, there were 57 firms and 590 workers in the jewelry trade in pre-Civil War Providence. [3]
In September 1861, after the start of the Civil War, Smith joined the 4th Rhode Island Infantry, [2] where he became First lieutenant and quartermaster under General Parke. [1] He took part in Burnside's North Carolina Expedition and participated in the battles of Roanoke, New Bern, and Fort Macon. [1] He returned to Rhode Island in Fall 1862, once again working for Sackett, Davis & Co, [1] where he eventually became superintendent. [2] In 1870 he partnered with Samuel W. Saxton of New York to form Saxton, Smith & Co, which made solid gold chains. [1] [2] He was also president of the United Wire and Supply Company. [1] [4]
Smith served in politics for over thirty years. [1] He served on the common council, state assembly, and state senate before running for mayor. [1] [4] He was elected mayor in 1890 and served for one term. [1] His efforts to bring law and order to Providence resulted in his defeat for re-election by a "tolerant electorate [which was] inclined to look the other way." [4]
After his mayorship, Smith was elected Commissioner of Sinking Funds. [2]
In 1830 there were 27 jewelry firms employing 280 workers in Providence; by 1850, there were 57 firms and 590 workers.
Charles Sydney Smith | |
---|---|
16th Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island | |
In office January 1891 – January 1892 | |
Preceded by | Henry Rodman Barker |
Succeeded by | William Knight Potter |
Personal details | |
Born | Warren, Rhode Island | October 4, 1828
Died | August 12, 1907 Providence, Rhode Island | (aged 78)
Cause of death | Pneumonia |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Lavinia Winberg Gorgas, Mary Ann Fish |
Parent(s) | Elisha Galusha Smith, Abby Carpenter |
Residence | Providence, Rhode Island |
Occupation | Jeweller |
Signature | |
Charles Sydney Smith (October 4, 1828 – August 12, 1907) was 16th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, in office between 1889 and 1891.
Charles Sydney Smith was born October 4, 1828, in Warren, Rhode Island. [1] At age 12 he moved with a relative to Bureau County, Illinois, which was at that time the far West. [1] He spent four years there working on a farm. [1] The nearest school was three miles away, and he attended school only a few weeks each winter. [1]
Smith's first wife was Lavinia Winberg Gorgas, daughter of George Gorgas of Philadelphia. [1] They married on December 12, 1849, and had two children. [1] She died February 26, 1857, aged 23 years. [1] In 1858 Smith married Mary Ann Fish, daughter of John and Nancy Fish of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; they had one daughter. [1]
Smith was an active mason for over forty years. [2] He died in his home at 315 Elmwood Avenue in Providence of pneumonia, early in the morning of August 12, 1907. [2] He had been bedridden for a week, and unconscious for three days. [2]
By age 18, Smith was in Newark, New Jersey, learning the jewelry trade. [1] He returned to Rhode Island, eventually working for Sackett, Davis, & Co, jewelers on Richmond Street in Providence. [1]
Jewelry manufacture and trade was emerging as one of the major industries in Providence at the time. [3] By some accounts, there were 57 firms and 590 workers in the jewelry trade in pre-Civil War Providence. [3]
In September 1861, after the start of the Civil War, Smith joined the 4th Rhode Island Infantry, [2] where he became First lieutenant and quartermaster under General Parke. [1] He took part in Burnside's North Carolina Expedition and participated in the battles of Roanoke, New Bern, and Fort Macon. [1] He returned to Rhode Island in Fall 1862, once again working for Sackett, Davis & Co, [1] where he eventually became superintendent. [2] In 1870 he partnered with Samuel W. Saxton of New York to form Saxton, Smith & Co, which made solid gold chains. [1] [2] He was also president of the United Wire and Supply Company. [1] [4]
Smith served in politics for over thirty years. [1] He served on the common council, state assembly, and state senate before running for mayor. [1] [4] He was elected mayor in 1890 and served for one term. [1] His efforts to bring law and order to Providence resulted in his defeat for re-election by a "tolerant electorate [which was] inclined to look the other way." [4]
After his mayorship, Smith was elected Commissioner of Sinking Funds. [2]
In 1830 there were 27 jewelry firms employing 280 workers in Providence; by 1850, there were 57 firms and 590 workers.