Charles Sydney Smith (mayor)

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 (1828-10-04)October 4, 1828
Warren, Rhode Island
Died August 12, 1907(1907-08-12) (aged 78)
Providence, Rhode Island
Cause of death Pneumonia
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Lavinia Winberg Gorgas, Mary Ann Fish
Parents 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 1889-1891.

Personal life

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]

Jewelry career

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]

The jewelry 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]

Civil War

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]

Political life

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 a Commissioner of Sinking Funds.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island. II. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co. 1908. pp. 138–140.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Ex-Mayor C. S. Smith Dead of Pneumonia". Providence, Rhode Island: The Providence Daily Journal. 12 Aug 1907. p. 1.
  3. 1 2 "The History of the Jewelry District". Historic Jewelry District. Providence: The Jewelry District Association. Retrieved 27 July 2016. In 1830 there were 27 jewelry firms employing 280 workers in Providence; by 1850, there were 57 firms and 590 workers.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mayors of the City of Providence". The City of Providence website.
Political offices
Preceded by
Henry Rodman Barker
Mayor of Providence
1891-1892
Succeeded by
William Knight Potter
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