Biography of Samuel Lightfoot SMEDLEY (1832-); Philadelphia County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lew Smedley Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* 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 This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/philadlephia/bios/smedley-sl.txt