Seagrave SMITH

1828 - 1898  (69 years)

• Name	Seagrave SMITH
  Birth	16 Sep 1828	Stafford, Tolland County, Connecticut
  	a history of his last wife’s family says he was a native of Colchester, Connecticut
  Gender	Male
  Death	13 May 1898	Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
  Burial	Lakeside Cemetery, Hastings, Dakota County, Minnesota
  Notes	His biography in Atwater’s 1893 history of the city of Minneapolis, per Mocavo: Seagrave Smith was born at Stafford Village in the town of Stafford, Tolland County, Connecticut, on the 16th day of September, 1828. The names of his parents were Hiram and Mary A. Smith; he was their only child. His paternal ancestors were Welch, and were among the early settlers of Scituate, Massachusetts; his maternal ancestors were English and settled at a later period at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. His mother was the daughter of Caleb Seagrave, and he takes the name of his mother as well as that of his father. His father was a farmer and also engaged in dealing in horses and cattle in connection with his farming operations. Young Smith worked upon his father’s farm, attending the summer and winter terms of the public schools until he was fifteen years of age; then he was placed under the tuition of the Rev. George W. Pendleton, a Baptist clergyman, of whose church his father and mother were members, and pursued the studies of the higher branches of mathematics, Latin and Greek for three years or more, and then entered the Connecticut Literary Institution at Suffield, Connecticut, and continued his studies until he graduated from there in 1848. After completing his studies at Suffield he desired to enter upon the study of law and prepare himself for the legal profession, to which his father was very much opposed. His father insisted that he had given him a good education and he ought to have something to say as to what he should do in the future. He desired him to engage in business with him, and offered to transfer to him one half of his property and take him in as an equal co-partner in the business. But young Smith had no taste for that kind of business and was determined to pursue the study of law. His determination so incensed his father that he declined to render him any further financial assistance, although well able to do so, and informed him if he would not comply with his wishes and went to reading law he must rely upon his own resources. Young Smith was not at all discourged by this turn of affairs, but obtained a school and went to teaching. Thereby he obtained means to clothe and support himself for a while. On the 19th day of September, 1849, he registered himself as a student in the law office of Alvin P. Hyde, Esq., at Stafford, his native town. Soon after Mr. Hyde married the daughter of the late Hon. Loren P. Waldo, of Tolland, and entered into a co-partnership with him in the law business. Mr. Smith continued his studies with that firm until he was admitted to practice in the courts of that state on the 13th day of August, 1852. To procure means to support himself he taught school in the winters of 1849, 1850 and 1851. In the spring of 1851 he was appointed Clerk of the Probate Court for the Stafford district, which position he held until he removed to Colchester, Conn., in October, 1852. He had half the emoluments of the office for doing the clerical work, which took a small part of his time, and furnished him with means more than sufficient to pay his way. Soon after he was admitted to practice he made up his mind to go West and enter upon the work of his profession. But an affectionate mother, disliking to be so far removed from her only child, dissuaded him from that determination, and at the same time persuaded his father to let him have $1,000 with which to purchase a law library, if he would not go West, but settle in that state. This influenced Mr. Smith, and he removed to Colchester, New London County, Conn., about the first of October, 1852, opened an office and entered upon the practice of his profession, where he continued to reside and practice until he removed to the Territory of Minnesota in the Spring of 1857. His business at first was very light, but continued to increase until it became a good paying business before he left. In the fall of 1854 he was elected Town Clerk of the town,which office he held one year. The town clerk’s duties among others were that of Register of Deeds for the town. In the spring of 1855, lie was elected as a Democrat to the State Senate from the Eighth Senatorial District. After that he was appointed Clerk of the Probate Court of the Colchester District, which position he held up to the time of his departure for the West in the spring of 1857. In July, 1856, Mr. Smith started for the West on a tour of inspection; visited Kansas, which was then bleeding to free itself from slavery, and not being pleased, either with the country or people, left there for St. Paul, Minnesota. There he found things more in keeping with his ideas of western life. It was all activity and life, real estate booming, money plenty, business good and people social and friendly. After staying a few weeks he returned East fully determined to make Minnesota his future home. Settling up his business that winter as far as possible he returned to Minnesota early in the spring of 1857, and settled at Hastings, in Dakota County, bringing his family (then consisting of a wife and two children), the same season. Soon after his arrival at Hastings he entered into a co-partnership with J. W. De Silva, a young attorney, and opened a law office, and commenced business under the firm name of Smith and De Silva. He after that devoted his whole time to the business of his profession at that place until he removed to the city of Minneapolis in 1877. While residing there he was a member of the following named law firms, besides that of Smith & De Silva, which was of short duration: L. & S. Smith; Smith, Smith & Crosby; Smith & Montgomery; Smith & Babock; Smith, Huddleston & Babcock; Smith & Van Slykc, and Smith & Parlaman. During which time he was attorney for the following named railway companies: The Hastings & Dakota; the St. Paul & Chicago; the Minnesota Railway Construction Company, and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company. Mr. Smith, while he lived in Dakota county, took quite an active part in politics and was considered one of the leaders of the Democratic party in that county. He held many important official positions during his residence there. In the fall of 1857 he was elected County Attorney and held that office for two years. In the spring of 1860 he was elected one of the county commissioners, and was Chairman of the Board for two years. In the fall of 1861 he was elected Judge of Probate, re-elected in 1863 and in 1865, holding the office six years. In the fall of 1867 he was elected to the State Senate for a term of two years. In the fall of 1873 he was again elected County Attorney and held that office two years. In 1875 he ran as an independent candidate against the Hon. Ignatius Donnelly, the Democratic nominee, for the State Senate, and was defeated by a small majority. Mr. Smith during his residence in Hastings took much interest in the public schools, was one of the inspectors for a number of years, and assisted at an early date to establish graded schools in that city. In the spring of 1877 he removed with his family from Hastings to the City of Minneapolis, where he has since resided. When he first came to Minneapolis he entered into a partnership with W. E. Hale, Esq., under the firm name of Smith & Hale, which continued until the spring of 1880. From that time until the spring of 1883 he conducted his law business by himself. In the spring of 1883 he entered into a co-partnership in the law business with S. A. Reed, under the firm name of Smith & Reed, which continued up to the time he was appointed Judge of the District Court for the Fourth Judicial District, which was in March, 1889, which position he now holds. During his residence in Minneapolis he has held no official position except that of City Attorney, to which office he was elected by the City Council in the spring of 1887, and continued therein until the first day of January, 1889. During all the time he has been a resident of Minnesota he has devoted himself exclusively to his professional business, connecting with it no other business of importance. It was a business which he loved and took great interest in, and in which lie has been successful. Since his residence in Minnesota he has been supported by his party (which has been a minority party in the state since 1857) for several important district and state offices. In 1864 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for Judge of the District Court for the First Judicial District, but was defeated by the Hon. Charles McClure. In 1869 he was nominated and supported by the Democrats for Attorney General of the State. In 1871 he was again nominated by the Democrats for Judge of the District Court for the First Judicial District, but declined the nomination, which was then given to the late Hon. W. W. Phelps, of Red Wing, who was defeated by Mr. Smith’s former partner, Judge F, M. Crosby, now judge of that district. In 1884 he was nominated by the Democrats and supported for District Judge of the Fourth Judicial District, and was defeated by the Hon. A. H. Young, then one of the judges of that district. In 1888 he was nominated and supported bv the Democrats as a candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and was defeated by the present incumbent, the Hon James Gilfillan. It will be observed that the offices held by Mr. Smith have all been, excepting that of senator, in the line of his profession, and in no way interferred with the prosecution of his professional business. Mr. Smith is not a member of any church, but attends and contributes toward the support of the Baptist Church, the church in which he was brought up. The brief time during which Judge Smith has been on the bench has demonstrated the peculiar fitness of the appointment. Of his legal qualification there was no doubt. The only question which could arise was whether the active part he had taken in political questions would in any respect unfit him for the impartial discharge of judicial duties. This consideration could indeed scarcely give rise to a doubt, for so strong was the confidence in his native integrity and honesty of purpose that many of his strong political opponents were foremost in urging his appointment to the position he so worthily fills. He has those rare judical qualities of mind, which enable him to divest himself of any possible bias or prejudice in regard to parties in any case on trial before him. He goes at once to the merits of the cause, and his close legal training enables him to disentangle knotty points from any amount of voluminous or obscure pleadings and apply the correct legal principles to the proved facts. His appointment was eminently satifactory to the bar of Hennepin County, which lost by his promotion one of its ablest and most esteemed members. At the November election in 1891 four judges were elected. The Democratic and Republican parties made, for the first time, partisan nominations, with one exception—Judge Smith was nominated on both tickets, and polled nearly the full vote of both parties. It was a well deserved tribute to his merits, which is not often bestowed in times of heated political controversy. In an 1857 state census, he, 29, lived in Hastings, Minnesota, with Lewis Smith, 42, and a 14 year-old sibling (presumably), born in New Hampshire, also named Lewis. The senior Lewis was a lawyer. The history of the Dakota County District Attorney’s office includes this on Seagrave: Seagrave Smith (1828-?) Dakota County District Attorney From 1857-1859 The Honorable Seagrave Smith was born on September 16, 1828 in Stafford, Connecticut. He grew up on a farm and attended the village school until he was fifteen. He then received tutelage under Reverend George W. Pendleton, the Baptist clergyman of the church where his mother and father were members. He then entered the Connecticut Literary Institution and graduated in 1848. Judge Smith had made up his mind to become a lawyer, but his father, opposed to the idea, offered to transfer one-half of his property and an equal partnership in the business to Smith. Further, the elder Smith threatened to withhold any further financial assistance if Smith did not accept the offer. But Smith was not deterred. He began teaching school and reading law in the office of Alvin T. Hyde of Stafford, Connecticut in September 1849. Smith was admitted to the Bar on August 13, 1852. Moving West, Judge Smith settled in Hastings in the spring of 1857. That same year he was elected Dakota County District Attorney. Smith was elected County Commissioner in 1860 and Judge of Probate in 1861, 1863, and 1865. He was elected to the State Senate in 1868 and 1869, and again elected County Attorney in 1871. In 1887, he was elected City Attorney. In March 1889, he was appointed Judge of the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District. Judge Smith was married three times. His first marriage was to Miss S. Almira Cady. They had four children before she died. His second marriage was to Mrs. Fidelia P. Hatch, and they had one son. His third marriage was to Mrs. Harriet P. Norton. Judge Smith was very domestic and when not engaged in business he could always be found at home. Judge Smith was especially interested in the public school system, and was influential in establishing the graded schools of Hastings. Judge Smith was well known for his superior ability and strict integrity. He discharged his duties in a manner which commanded the confidence and respect of his peers and the public. In the 1860 federal census, he was a lawyer in Hastings. The household consisted of Seagrave, 31, Elmira C, 28, Jennie L., 5, son Cally, 4, Clara Belle, 2, and Seagrave, 3 months. The younger two children were born in Minnesota, the older daughter and her mother in Massachusetts, the older son and his father in Connecticut. In the 1865 state census, he lived in Hastings, Minnesota, with Hiram, Mary A, Jennie S, Cady, and Clarabel. Frank P. Smith was also in the household. The Dalby Database has him as a judge of probate and attorney at law in Hastings in 1865. He was a state senator from Hastings in 1867. He served six years as probate judge in Hastings and he also served as Dakota County attorney. He and his wife escaped the fire at the International Hotel in St. Paul in February of 1869. They were “taken out by ladders put up to the windows of their room.” In the 1870 census, he was a “lawyer, editor, and farmer” living with his family in Hastings. The household consisted of Seagrave, 41, Fidelia, 31, Jennie L., 15, Cady, 14, Clarabel, 12, Frank P., 10, and Theron S., 6 months. The household also consisted of Katie L. Hatch, 11, Dora H Hatch, 5, George Howes, 67, farmer, Katie Ault, 14, nurse girl, and Betsy Danby, 22, domestic servant. In the 1875 state census, he was still in Hastings. The household consisted of S Smith, 47, J L Smith, female, 20, C Smith, 18, male, C Smith, 16, female, F P Smith, 14, male, and T S Smith, 5, male. In the 1877 Minneapolis city directory, Seagrave Smith, of Smith & Hale, resided at 91 S 7th. In the 1880 census, he was a 51 year-old lawyer in Minneapolis. Living with him at 2416 South 7th Street were Cady, 24, a student of law, Clarabel, 21, a teacher, Frank, 20, a railroad employee, Theron, 10, and Kate, 26, “daughter.” Also in the household were his mother, Mary E, 75, Kate’s husband Henry M Tuelle, 28, and a 22 year-old servant, Josephine Olson. In the 1884 Minneapolis city directory, Seagrave Smith, of Smith & Reed, lived at 1515 Hawthorne Ave. In the 1885 state census, he was a 56 year-old living in Minneapolis with 52 year-old “H.P.N.”, Clara B, 26, and Theron S., 15. A history of Minneapolis records Seagrave Smith as the city attorney as of the A.A. Ames administration elected on April 5, 1887. The 1889-1891 Minneapolis city directory records him as Seagrave Smith, judge, 4th judicial district, residing at 1515 Hawthorn Ave. In 1894, the Democrats nominated Seagrave Smith for chief justice of the state supreme court. In the 1895 state census, he lives in Minneapolis with Harriet P. Also in the household is 36 year-old Carlina Smith, female, born in Massachusetts, and 21 year-old Mary Farsberg, born in Ireland and probably a domestic servant. Buried with Seagrave Smith in Hastings’ Lakeside cemetery are Hiram R Smith, who died 18 Feb 1866 at age 64, and Mary A Smith, Hiram’s wife, who died 18 Oct 1880 at the age of 75. These two would seem to be Seagrave’s parents. A discussion of the Brooks house, 432 Ridgewood Avenue, in angelfire.com, includes a brief mention of him: “Seagrave Smith (1828-1887) was born in Stafford, Connecticut, entered the Connecticut Literary Institution and graduated in 1848, taught school and read the law in the office of Alvin T. Hyde of Stafford, Connecticut, in 1849, was admitted to the bar in 1852, settled in Hastings, Minnesota, in 1857, was elected Dakota County District Attorney in 1857, was elected Dakota County Commissioner in 1860, was elected Judge of Probate in 1861, 1863, and 1865, was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1868 and 1869, was again elected Dakota County Attorney in 1871, was elected Hastings, Minnesota, City Attorney in 1871, was selected Minneapolis City Attorney in 1887, was married three times, to S. Almira Cady, then upon her death to Mrs. Fidelia P. Hatch, and then upon her death to Mrs. Harriet P. Norton, was a staunch Democrat, later became a federal judge, died in Minneapolis, and is buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Hastings, Minnesota.” A brief article in the May 25, 1898, edition of the Star says that Seagrave Smith left no will and little property in his own name. He (or, perhaps, she) had managed to put most of his property in his wife’s name (Harriet P. N. Smith). The heirs to what amounted to $1000 in personal property and $21,000 in real estate (“mostly city property” according to a corresponding article in the St. Paul Globe) were Cady Smith, Claribel Smith, and Theron S. Smith. The May 25th articles noted that Harriet had filed a petition in probate court for letters of administration of her late husband’s estate. In 1909, Claribel and Fred J Smith sold several lots on S Clinton Avenue to Harriet for $250.
  Person ID	I17923	Don Carlson's Tree
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2022

  
  

  Father	Hiram SMITH,   b. Abt 1801, Connecticut d. 18 Feb 1866, Minnesota (Age 65 years)
  Mother	Mary A WHITEHOUSE,   b. Abt 1805   d. 18 Oct 1880, Minnesota (Age 75 years)
  Family ID	F13029	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Susan Almira CADY,   b. Abt 1832, Monson, Hampden, Massachusetts d. 13 Aug 1864, Hastings, Dakota County, Minnesota (Age 32 years)
  Marriage	8 Dec 1853	Monson, Hampden, Massachusetts
  	This is from the Massachusetts marriage record. Other sources say that the couple was married in Connecticut on 17 Dec 1853. Perhaps both are right and they were married twice.
  Children	1. Jennie L SMITH,   b. 14 Oct 1854, Monson, Hampden, Massachusetts d. 1876 (Age 21 years)   2. Charles Cady SMITH,   b. Abt 1856, Connecticut d. 10 Jul 1898, Spokane County, Washington (Age 42 years)   3. Claribel SMITH,   b. 23 Jul 1858, Hastings, Dakota County, Minnesota d. 12 Jul 1941, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota (Age 82 years)   4. Frank P SMITH,   b. Abt 1860, Minnesota d. 29 Dec 1887, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota (Age 27 years)
  Family ID	F13028	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Mar 2014

  
  

  Family 2	Fidelia P HOWES,   b. 4 Apr 1838, Vermont d. 12 Jan 1872, Dakota County, Minnesota (Age 33 years)
  Marriage	9 Oct 1867	Hastings, Dakota County, Minnesota
  Children	1. Theron Seagrave SMITH,   b. 9 Dec 1869, Minnesota d. 14 Mar 1903, St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota (Age 33 years)
  Family ID	F13046	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	9 May 2011

  
  

  Family 3	Harriet P NORTON,   b. 21 Mar 1830, Massachusetts d. 10 Mar 1917, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota (Age 86 years)
  Marriage	Bef 1885
  Family ID	F13048	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	4 Apr 2021