- NICHOLAS SMITH was born Oct. 31, 1836 or 1837, at Blackburn,
England. His mother died
- in October, 1840, and the next year, he and his elder brother
James, came to this country with an aunt, who settled at Fall
River, Mass. His father followed a year later, and found employment
as a cotton weaver in that city. In the fall of 1844, he emigrated
West, locating near Fair Play, Grant Co., in this State. In a
few months after, Nicholas entered the family of a farmer named
James VIRDEN, to whom he was bound until he should reach his
majority. His father remarried in 1847, when VIRDEN relinquished
all further claim to young SMITH's services, and he went to live
with his father at Hazel Green, Grant Co. At the age of 11, he
was put to work with his brother James in the lead mines. In
1849, the family removed to La Fayette Co. near Benton, where,
for eleven years, the subject of this sketch worked on the farm
in summer, and in the lead mines in the winter. He became a practical
miner, learning thoroughly all the details of the business, from
running the windlass to sinking shafts, and managing the most
difficult feats of blasting. In the fall and winter of 1860 and
1861, he taught a country school for $12 per month. In April,
1861, he entered the law office of Hon. John K. WILLIAMS, of
Shullsburg, with a view of preparing himself for the legal profession.
Never having attended school, and his education being comparatively
limited, he found much difficulty in attempting to master Blackstone
and Kent's commentaries. He worked hard, however, and through
a vast amount of office work, he was admitted to the bar in April,
1862, which was an ill-timed step, but taken at the advice of
his friends. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 33d Wis. Inf.,
and on the 14th of the same month, married J. Clara, the second
daughter of the late Dr. Moses MEEKER, of Meeker's Grove, La
Fayette Co. While in camp at Racine, he was commissioned 2d Lieutenant
of Co. H. On the 12th of November, 1862, the regiment started
for Memphis, Tenn., and took part in the Oxford and Holly Springs
campaigns. In April, 1863, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant,
and immediately after the siege of Vicksburg, to Captain of Co.
H. In August, 1863, he was appointed Acting Assistant Adjutant
General on Col. Pugh's staff, who commanded the 1st Brigade of
the 4th Division of the 17th Corps, but he declined the appointment.
Mr. SMITH served in the 33d until January, 1865, when, in consequence
of an injury in the feet, he was compelled to resign. He returned
to Shullsburg, became Mr. WILLIAMS' law partner and, in April,
1866, settled in Prairie du Chien, and entered the office of
Hon. O. B. THOMAS, as partner. Being convinced that he was not
"cut out" for a lawyer, and disliking the court business,
he abandoned the profession. In 1867, was appointed Deputy Collector
of Internal Revenue, a position he held until July, 1868, when
he went to Waukesha, and edited and published the Waukesha Freeman
until May, 1870, when he was strongly urged to return to Prairie
du Chien, and edit the Union. He bought that paper, and
edited it until September, 1874, when he became city editor of
the Janesville Daily Gazette, and on the 1st day of January,
1878, he succeeded Gen. James BINTLIFF as editor of that paper.
At the sessions of the Legislature, in 1871 and 1872, he was
Clerk of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and during ten sessions
was the correspondent of the Milwaukee Sentinel. During
the first session of the XLIIId Congress, he was the Washington
Correspondent for that paper. Mr. SMITH's family consists of
three children - Paulina Lorena, Jesse Florence and Marshall
Denison. Charles Fenton died April 26, 1874, aged 6 years.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, p. 724-725.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|