Biography of Samuel Lightfoot SMEDLEY (1832-); Delaware County, PA
Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Lew Smedley <smedley.george@att.net>
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SAMUEL LIGHTFOOT SMEDLEY, born Edgmont, 12-29-1832; was named Robert Pennell,
but his father dying when he was less than two years old his mother changed
his name to that of his father. He was carefully educated in select schools
until his thirteenth year,when he entered Westtown Boarding School. Here he
made such rapid progress that at the end of eighteen months he stood at the
head of the senior class. He was then sent to Isaac Morgan's school in
Germantown to perfect himself in the classics, but close application so
injured his health that he was forced to return home, where he remained for
several years upon the old homestead. Convinced that his health required an
active out-door occupation,he determined to adopt the profession of
surveying, which was congenial to his tastes and a love for which he
inherited. Accordingly, in the spring of 1853 he engaged with loseph Fox, a
noted city surveyor, who had laid out most of the northern portion of the
city, and had then recently been engaged to extend the city plan on the west
side of the Schuylkill. Possessed of mathematical talent, and being an apt
draughtsman, he soon mastered the minutiae of his profession,and his
promotion was rapid. In 1856 he was engaged by the commissioners of Blockley
to lay out the streets in that township. He also carried on conveyancing,
and entered largely into the purchase and sale of real estate. About this
time he published a complete atlas of the City of Philadelphia,a laborious
and expensive undertaking, but one which was very successful,and the book
remains to this day a standard work for conveyancers,and is highly prized by
them. In 1858 he was elected a member of the Board of Surveyors, and was
subsequently chosen by the people of the district for three terms of five
years each.
In 1871 his name was presented to the Republican State Convention as a
candidate for the position of Surveyor-General of the State. The novelty of
naming a professional surveyor for that position met with much favor, but
the policy of placing soldiers upon the ticket prevailed, and General Robert
B Beath was nominated and elected, being the last to hold theoffice, as by
the provisions of the new Constitution it was merged into that of Secretary
of Internal Affairs. In 1872 Samuel L. Smedley was elected by the City
Councils to the responsible office of Chief Engineer and Surveyor for the
term of five years. His feelings on this occasion are indicated by the
following letter to his brother:
Philadelphia, Mar. 15th, 1872, 3 P.M.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
The election of Chief Engineer & Surveyor came off yesterday, and resulted
in my election. I received the full Republican vote of 60, with 22 votes for
Alfred Voung and 4 for T. Hastings DuPuy. Some communications from the Reform
Association occasioned discussion, but the vote resulted triumphantly in my
favor. This morning I resigned my position on the Park, and also as Surveyor
& Regulator of the 11th District. I took my qualification at 1 o'clock,
before the Mayor, with cousin Samuel W. present. My certificates were made
out and at 2 o'clock I took possession and am now regularly installed Chief
Engineer and Surveyor of this great City of Philada.
I grieved because I lost the nomination of Surveyor General last Spring,
but I can now see that the words of my consolers,"that it would all be for
the best," is really true. My political experience at that time has been of
great value to me in becoming acquainted with men and measures,and I can in a
great measure attribute my success to my experience and notoriety at that
time. Less than two weeks ago I never dreamed of this, and here I am. Taking
it altogether I think it one of the most remarkable of successes under
considerable adversity.
Affectionately, thy brother,
To WM. P. SMEDLEY. SAM. L. SMEDLEY.
To this position he was re-elected by Councils in 1877, 1882 and 1887, soon
after which the office,by a change in the law, became subject to the
appointment of the Director of Public Works; but at the end of his fourth term
he was continued in office by Director James H. Windrim, who desired to retain
his services as long as possible. Failing health, doubtless caused by his
ardluous labors and the accompanying mental strain, necessitated a rest, in
1892, and this was followed by his resignation of the position, 1,21,1893;
whereupon his first assistant, George Smedley Webster, was appointed to succeed
him.
During his incumbency Samuel L. Smedley had charge of many extensive public
works, among which were the building of the Penrose Ferry bridge, the iron
cantilever bridge at Market Street, and the Fairmount and Girard Avenue bridges;
of which the last is one hundred feet wide, one thousand feet in length,and cost
$1,500,000. He also planned the Walnut Street bridge, which has been completed
by his successor.
In 1865 he visited Europe on a tour of recreation and study, and returned
impressed with the thought; that Philadelphia, to keep pace with other great
cities, should avail herself of her great natural advantages for establishing a
grand park for the enjoyment of the people, and he entered with enthusiasm into
the prospect of securing Lansdowne, an estate of one hundred and fifty acres,
from its English owners, as a nucleus for the park, and was largely instrumental
in bringing about the purchase of that beautiful section of land as a pleasure-
around for the public. He was appointed by the Park Commissioners to make the
original surveys of the territory embraced in the Park, and many of the walks
and drives therein were designed and laid out by him. After 1872,as a Park
Commissioner by virtue of his office, he was active in securing improvements to
the territory under the control of the board. A pet scheme of his was the
construction of a gravity railroad in the Park, by which people could be conveyed
around and through the western section so as to bring the grand views within the
reach of the masses. For this the surveys were made and the project seemed near
realization, but owing to financial disturbances it failed of success at that
time. This was before the advent of the trolley roads, one of which, the Park
Trolley, follows substantially the lines then laid down.
It was largely through the suggestion and earnest solicitation of Samuel L.
Smedley that Jesse and Rebecca George, the owners of "George's Hill," gave to the
city this beautiful addition to Fairmount Park. Among other benefits which the
city owes to him, was the tunneling of an underground passage for the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad in front of Fairmount Park, thus securing the safety and beauty
of the Green Street entrance to this; grand pleasure-ground.
Largely under his direction there were built four hundred and seventy-six miles
of sewers, including the Cresheim Creek aqueduct, with the extraordinary span of
one-hundred-and-sixteen-foot stone arch, which is next to the largest in this
country. He planned the Manayunk intercepting sewer, commencing below the
Fairmount Water Works, and following the east bank of the Schuylkill to Manayunk
and the Wissahickon Creek to Germantown. He also raised the grade of Market
Street west of the Schuylkill, thus bringing that beautiful part of West
Philadelphia within easy access of the centre of the city.
He was a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania since 1857, and for
fourteen years was its recording secretary. He took much interest in local history
and genealogy, and began the collection of records of the Smedley Family, thus
forming the ground-work of the present volume. He was also a member of the
Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia; honorary member of the Delaware
County Institute of Science; member of the Academy of Natural Sciences,the Franklin
Institute, and of the West Philadelphia Institute; of which last he was for many
years a director and secretary. In addition he was a member of the American Public
Health Association, of the executive committee of the Philadelphia Social Science
Association, the Engineers' Club of Philadelphia, the American Society of Civil
Engineers, and of the Union League and other political clubs.
For perhaps thirty years he made his home in West Philadelphia,in the vicinity of
33rd and Powelton Avenue, and for a great part of this time boarded with Mrs. M. E.
Dunsmoor. His death took place at her home, 118 N. 34th Street, and the interment
at Middletown Meeting (Orthodox), Delaware Co.,Pa.,on the 25th of 7th mo., 1894;
those in attendance proceeding by rail to Media, and thence by carriage to the
grounds.
His membership in the Society of Friends had been transferred from Chester Monthly
Meeting by a certificate which was received at the Monthly Meeting for the Northern
District, Philadelphia, 7,24,1855, and one from the latter, dated 6,21,was received
at the Western District, 7,20, 1870. While not taking an active part in the affairs
of the church, he was a regular attendant at meetings on the first day of the week.
Earnestness of purpose and a conscientious performance of his duties were strong
characteristics which led to success, and his affable manners endeared him to those
with whom he had business or social relations. The ties of consanguinity with him
were strong, and in all family gatherings he was a leading spirit.
The resignation of the office of Chief Engineer and Surveyor by Samuei L. Smedley
was received with regret by the city officials, and resolutions of eulogy and of
friendship and esteem were passed on February 6th, by the Board of Surveyors.
These were followed on Feb. 16, 1893, by a highly appreciative series of
resolutions by both branches of City Councils,which spoke flatteringly of his
efficient and faithful services. Those coming from the Board of Surveyors, with
whom he had been so long and intimately associated, were especially gratifying to
him, and being beautifully engrossed on several sheets and handsomely bound into
a volume, formed a valued memento of the closing of his official career. Reduced
to plain type they read as follows:
THE BOARD OF SURVEYORS
Of the City of Philadelphia,
February 6th,1893.
WHEREAS, The Board of Surveyors has been officially notified of the resignation of
SAMUEL LIGHTFOOT SMEDLEY from the position of Chief Engineer and Surveyor, held by
him for nearly twenty-one years, it is fitting that this body, as a token of
friendship and esteem, express its regrets at his retirement from official
connection with the Board as a member and as its president; and
WHEREAS,During his long official term as district surveyor and Chief Engineer of
the City of Philadelphia, he has been connected with, projected, suggested and
successfully completed many important improvements since Consolidation; therefore
be it
RESOLVED,That in severing the official relations which have bound us together for
so many years, the members of this Board regret the termination of their
companionship, and sincerely assure him that he will always have our best wishes
for his future happiness and prosperity.
RESOLVED,That by his retirement the City of Philadelphia loses a tried and true
official, who during his thirty-five years service as a member of this body, and as
the Chief Engineer and Surveyor, has been alive to its best interests, and an
untiring advocate of permanent improvements for the good of its citizens.
RESOLVED,That we tender him our sincere sympathy in his illness and hope that
rest from the toils of office may soon restore his former vigorous health.
RESOLVED,That these Resolutions be entered in the Minutes of the Board of
Surveyors, and that the Secretary be directed to have a copy suitably engrossed and
presented to Mr. Smedley.
BOARD OF SURVEYORS
President
Geo. S. Webster
1st District Thos. Daly.
2nd District C.W. Close.
3rd District W.C. Cranmer.
4th District F. Bloch.
5th District Walter Brinton.
6th District Joseph Mercer.
7th District Wm.K. Carlile.
8th District C.A. Sundstrom.
9th District Walter Jones.
10th District J.H. Webster,Jr.
11th District Jos. Johnson.
12th District Wm.H. Jones.
13th District H.M. Fuller.
Secretary
Ed.H. Thompson
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