Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/613

Rh ducted a prosperous business for many years. He began tin' project 'if navigating the Atlantic ocean with steamships in is:!3, published a prospectus of the enterprise in is:!5, in 1836 established the British and American steam navigation company. and in the spring of 1838 proved the t'c.-isiliility of the -chemebv the crossing of the steamer " Sir! us." I 'apt. Moses Rogers had crossed in the "Savannah." using both sails and strain, in 1819. Mr. Smith's anticipation of the pecuniary advantages of the p.-oject were not realized, and he abandoned it, en- gaging in the introduction of the tea-plant into South Carolina. He purchased an extensive planta- tion near Greenville, and was endeavoring to prose- cute the industry at llie time, of his death. Yale gave him the degree of LL. D. in 1840.

SMITH, Justin Almerin, clergyman, b. in Ticonderoga, N. Y., 29 Dec., 1819; d.'in Chicago, 4 Feb., 1896. He was graduated at Union college, and was principal of Union academy, East In-n- nington, Vt. Having been ordained to the minis- try, he was pastor of a Baptist church at North Bennington, Vt., from 1845 till 1849, and at Roches- ter, X. Y., from 1849 till 1853. In the last-named year he became editor of "The Christian Times/' now " The Standard," in Chicago, 111., and he had continued in that relation ever since. " The Stand- ard " is the chief Baptist journal of the northwest, and its prosperity is largely due to the ability and tan that have marked its editorial management. From 1861 to 1866 he united with his journalistic labors the pastoral care of the Indiana avenue Bap- tist church, Chicago. Shurtleff college. 111., gave him the degree of D. D. in 1858. Dr. Smil h was a member of the board of trustees of the University of Chicago, and of that of Morgan park theological seminary. His publications include "The Martyr of Vilvorde," a sketch of William Tyndale, for chil- dren (New York, 1856): "Sinclair Thompson, the Sli.'iland Apostle" (Chicago, 1867); "The Spirit in tin' Word" (18(58): " Memoir of Nathaniel Col- der" (Boston. 1871); "Uncle John upon his Travels," a book for children (1871 1: " I'atmos, or the Kingdom and the Patience" (1874); "Memoir of John Bates " (Toronto. 1877) ; " Commentary on the Revelation" (Philadelphia, 1884); and "Mod- ern Church History" (New Haven, 1887).

SMITH, Lucius Edwin, educator, b. in Williamstown, Mass., 29 Jan., 1822. He was graduated at Williams college in 1843, studied law in Williamstown, and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He served during 1847-'8 as associate editor of the Hartford &ldquo;Courant,&rdquo; and in 1849 as associate editor, with Henry Wilson, of the &ldquo;Boston Republican.&rdquo; From 1849 till 1854 he was assistant corresponding secretary of the American Baptist missionary union, Boston. The next three years he spent in Newton theological seminary, where he was graduated in 1857, and became in 1858 pastor of the Baptist church in Groton, Mass., whence he was called in 1865 to the professorship of rhetoric, homiletics, and pastoral theology in Bucknell university, at Lewisburg, Pa. From 1868 till 1875 he was literary editor of the New York &ldquo;Examiner.&rdquo; In 1877 he became editor of the &ldquo;Watchman,&rdquo; Boston, of which journal since 1881 he has remained associate editor. While he was professor at Bucknell university he edited the &ldquo;Baptist Quarterly.&rdquo; He received from Williams the degree of D. D. in 1869. Besides contributing numerous articles to periodicals, Prof. Smith has edited &ldquo;Heroes and Martyrs of the Modern Missionary Enterprise&rdquo; (Hartford, Conn., 1852).

'''SMITH. Luella Dowd''', author, b. in Sheffield, Berkshire co., Mass., 16 June, 1847. She was gradu- ated at the State normal school in Westfleld, Mass., in 1866. and at Temple Grove seminary, Saratoga, N. Y.. in ISIiS. Since the latter date she has been a principal of public schools in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. She married J. Had- ley Smith in 1875. Mrs. Smith has written numer- ous newspaper articles and published " Wayside Lea.ves " under the pen-name of " J. Luella Dowd " (Boston, 1879), and " Wind-Flowers" (1887).

SMITH, Martin Luther, soldier, b. in New York city in 1819: d. in Rome. Ga.. 29 July, 1866. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1*42. served in the Mexican war as lieutenant of topographical engineers, became 1st lieutenant in 1853 and captain in 1856, and resigned 1 April, 1861. He then entered the Confederate service, became a brigadier-general, commanded a brigade in defence of New Orleans, was at the head of the engineer corps of the army, and planned and con- structed the defences of Vicksburg, where he was taken prisoner. He subsequently attained the rank of major-general. After the war he became chief engineer of the Selma. Rome, and Dayton railroad.

'''SMITH. Mary Louise Riley''', author, b. in Brighton, Monroe co., N. Y., 27 'May, '1842. Her maiden name was Riley. She was educated at Brockport (N. Y.) collegiate institute, and in 1869 married Albert Smith, of Springfield, 111., with whom she afterward removed to New York city. She has published " A Gift of Gentians, and other Verses " (New York, 1882), and " The Inn of Rest " (1888). Some of her short poems, notably " Tired Mothers," have been widely popular, anil several of them, including " His Name " and " Sometime," have been published separately as booklets, and had a large circulation.

'''SMITH. Mary Prudence Wells''', author, b. in Attica, N. Y., 30 July, 1840. She was graduated at the Greenville, Mass.. high-school in 1857, and at Hartford female seminary in 1859, taught in Greenville in 1859-'61, and iii 1864-'72 was a clerk in Franklin savings institution, being the first woman employed in a bank in Massachusetts. She was secretary of the Greenville freedmen's aid so- ciety in 1865-'6, and school commissioner in 1N74. She married Judge Fayette Smith, of Cincinnati, in the latter year, and since 1881 has been president of the Cincinnati branch of the Woman's auxil- iary conference of the Unitarian church. She has published many magazine articles under the pen- name of " P. Thorne," and " Jolly Good Times, or Child Life on a Farm" (Boston, 1875); "Jolly Good Times at School" (1877); "The Browns" (1884) : and " Miss Ellis's Mission " (1886).

'''SMITH. Melancton''', Continental congressman, b. in Jamaica, L. I., in 1724; d. in New York city, 29 July, 1 798. He was educated at. home, settle'd in business in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1744, be- came sheriff of Dutchess county in 1777, and. says Chancellor Kent, was early noted " for his love of reading, tenacious memory, powerful intellect, and for the metaphysical and logical discussions of which he was a master." He was a member of the first Provincial congress that met in New York city. 23 May, 1775, and a commissioner in 1777 for detecting and defeating all conspiracies formed in the state, served in the Continental congress in 1785-'8, and in the latter year represented Dutchess county in the convention' that met at Poughkeepsie to consider the ratification of the Federal constitution of 1787. In the deliberations of that body he exhibited talents of a high order, and ably supported Gov. George Clinton and the State-rights party. He removed to New York city about 1785 and largely engaged in mercantile pursuits, at the