David Allen Smalley
From 1886's Biography of the Bar of Orleans County, Vermont
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont
In office
February 3, 1857 – March 10, 1877
Appointed byFranklin Pierce
Preceded bySamuel Prentiss
Succeeded byHoyt Henry Wheeler
Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
In office
1856–1860
Preceded byRobert Milligan McLane
Succeeded byAugust Belmont
Personal details
Born(1809-04-06)April 6, 1809
Middlebury, Vermont, US
DiedMarch 10, 1877(1877-03-10) (aged 67)
Burlington, Vermont, US
Resting placeGreenmount Cemetery
Burlington, Vermont, US
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLaura Barlow (m. 1833)
RelationsBradley Barlow (brother-in-law)
Children5

David Allen Smalley (April 6, 1809 – March 10, 1877) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.

Education and career

Smalley was born in Middlebury, Vermont, on April 6, 1809.[1] He graduated from the academy in St. Albans,[2] read law[3] with his uncle's firm, Smalley & Adams, and was admitted to the bar in 1831.[4] He practiced in Jericho, Vermont, where he was also postmaster from 1831 to 1836.[3] He subsequently relocated, first to Lowell, Vermont in 1836, and then to Burlington, Vermont from 1836 to 1857.[3] He was a member of the Vermont Senate from 1843 to 1844.[3] He practiced law in Burlington with different partners at different times. One partner was Edward J. Phelps, and the firm of Smalley & Phelps included George F. Edmunds among those who studied law in their offices.[5] At the 1852 Democratic National Convention he was vice chairman of the Vermont delegation, a member of the platform committee and was selected to serve as Vermont's member of the Democratic National Committee.[6] President Franklin Pierce appointed him Collector of Customs for the District of Vermont on April 6, 1853, and he served until February 16, 1857.[7] Again a delegate at the 1856 Democratic National Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was reappointed to the National Committee, and he served as chairman from 1856 to 1860.[8]

1860 Democratic National Convention

As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee it was Smalley's task to open the ill-fated 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.[9][10]

Federal judicial service

Smalley was nominated by President Franklin Pierce on February 2, 1857, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont vacated by Judge Samuel Prentiss.[3] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 3, 1857, and received his commission the same day.[3] His service terminated on March 10, 1877, due to his death in Burlington.[11][12] He was buried at Greenmount Cemetery in Burlington.[13]

Honor

Smalley received an honorary Master of Arts degree from the University of Vermont in 1846.[14]

Family

In 1833, Smalley married Laura Barlow, the daughter of Bradley Barlow (1770–1836), and sister of Congressman Bradley Barlow. They had five children, four of whom lived to adulthood; Henry Adams; Bradley Barlow; Jacob Meack; and Eugene Allen.[2]

Henry A. Smalley (1834–1888) attended Norwich University and the University of Vermont. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy and attained the rank of brevet Brigadier General during the American Civil War. He later worked as an engineer for New York City, and was responsible for the construction of the New Croton Aqueduct.[15]

Bradley B. Smalley (1835–1909) was a Vermont attorney. He served on the staff of Governor Frederick Holbrook with the rank of colonel during the Civil War. Bradley B. Smalley was later appointed Clerk of the United States District Court and Collector of Customs. He also served on the Burlington City Council and was a member of the Democratic National Committee.[16]

Jacob M. Smalley (1837–1874) was a United States Navy veteran who served in the Union Navy during the Civil War.[17] He subsequently served as a Deputy US Customs Collector[18] and Deputy US Marshal[19] for Vermont and engaged in business ventures including an ownership stake in Utah's Bingham Canyon Mine.[20]

Eugene A. Smalley (1839–1913) attended the University of Vermont and Union College. He enlisted for the Civil War as a Private in the 19th Ohio Infantry. He was subsequently commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After his 1866 discharge he was a farmer in Colchester, Vermont, and also worked as Vermont's Deputy Customs Collector and Deputy United States Marshal.[21][22][23]

References

  1. ^ Biographical Directory of the Federal Judiciary. Bernan Press. 2001. p. 765. ISBN 9780890592588. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Baldwin, Frederick W. (May 26, 1886). Biography of the Bar of Orleans County, Vermont. Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press. p. 131. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Internet Archive. David a. smalley vermont.
  3. ^ a b c d e f David Allen Smalley at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  4. ^ Rann, William S. (1886). History of Chittenden County, Vermont. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. p. 236.
  5. ^ Dodge, Prentiss Cutler (1912). Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 1912. Ullery publishing Company. p. 179. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Internet Archive. edmunds smalley .
  6. ^ "Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention". Robert Armstrong. 1852. pp. 7, 11, 18, 30, 39, 42, 45, 71. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Society, Vermont Historical (1915). "Vermont History". Vermont Historical Society. p. 218. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Cincinnati, Democratic Party National convention (1856). Official Proceedings of the National Democratic Convention: Held in Cincinnati, June 2-6, 1856. Enquirer Company steam printing establishment. pp. 47, 66, 72. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Internet Archive. smalley.
  9. ^ "Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention". Democratic National Committee. May 26, 1860. p. 3. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "The Proceedings of the First Day.; Detailed Report from the Charleston Papers". Democratic National Committee. April 27, 1860. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  11. ^ Gilman, Marcus Davis (May 26, 1897). "The Bibliography of Vermont: Or, A List of Books and Pamphlets Relating in Any Way to the State. With Biographical and Other Notes". Free Press association. p. 251. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "Obituary: Hon. David A. Smalley" (PDF). New York Times. March 11, 1877. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "Judge Smalley's Funeral". Free Press & Times. Burlington, VT. March 13, 1877. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Vermont, University of (1901). General Catalogue of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Burlington, Vermont, 1791–1900. Free Press Association. p. 223. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Internet Archive. david allen smalley burlington.
  15. ^ Ellis, William Arba (1911). Norwich University, 1819–1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor – Volume 2. Capitol city Press. pp. 502–503. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Internet Archive. henry a smalley.
  16. ^ Year Book of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Vermont. The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Vermont. 1912. p. 205. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Internet Archive. bradley barlow smalley.
  17. ^ Ellis, William Arba (1911). Norwich University, 1819-1911; her history, her graduates, her roll of honor. Vol. 2. Montpelier, VT: Capital City Press. p. 634 – via Internet Archive.
  18. ^ "Custom House Appointments". Bellows Falls Chronicle. Bellows Falls, VT. December 29, 1866. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Personal: Jacob M. Smalley, Esq". St. Albans Messenger. St. Albans, VT. May 6, 1870. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Personal: Jacob M. Smalley of this city". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT. July 14, 1871. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Vermont, University of (1901). General Catalogue of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Burlington, Vermont, 1791–1900. Free Press Association. p. 116. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Internet Archive. eugene allen smalley.
  22. ^ Council, Union University (Schenectady, N. Y. ) Graduate; Fearey, Thomas Healey (1915). "Union College Alumni in the Civil War, 1861–1865". Union College. p. 70. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Google Books.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Vermont, University of (1914). "University of Vermont Notes – Volumes 6–10". University of Vermont. p. 343. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Google Books.

Sources

Legal offices Preceded bySamuel Prentiss Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont 1857–1877 Succeeded byHoyt Henry Wheeler
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