For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 30
ABRAHAM SMALLEY. When Iowa was under territorial rule, when its great large prairies were covered with their native grasses, when deer and other wild game was to be had in abundance and when the Indians roamed at will over the vast stretches of the state, Abraham Smalley came to Muscatine. From that time until his death, which occurred sixty-four years later, he was numbered among the valued and representative residents of the county, his labors contributing in substantial measure to the material upbuilding and progress of this portion of the state.A native of New Jersey, Mr. Smalley was born in Boundbrook in Somerset county, October 24, 1815. His parents were Andrew and Rhoda ( Sheperd ) Smalley, and he was a representative of one of the oldest families of New Jersey. The great grandfather also bore the name of Abraham Smalley and was born in that state. Andrew Smalley was born in Middlesex county, New Jersey, May 22, 1795, and on the 23d of June, 1814, he married Rhoda Sheperd, a daughter of Thomas and Nella ( Schenk )Shepard. Mrs. Smalley was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 9, 1797. In the year 1816 Andrew and Rhoda ( Sheperd ) Smalley removed westward to Ohio, settling near Cincinnati, while later they became residents of Carthage, Hamilton county, Ohio, where Andrew Smalley conducted a hotel and also acted as postmaster, although the duties of the post office were largely performed by his son Abraham. A few years later the father opened a general store and the son had the management of the business. In the month of August, 1838, Abraham Smalley left Ohio and made his way to what was then the territory of Iowa. In the township of Bloomington, Muscatine county, he purchased a claim for his father, and having thus made arrangements for a home for the family, they came to Iowa on the 18th of April, 1839. At that time the city of Muscatine was called Bloomington and was a mere trading post upon the western frontier. Not long after their arrival the father's health failed, and on the 3d of August, 1839, he passed away. His widow long survived him, her death occurring August 4, 1883, when she was eighty-six years of age. In their family there were fourteen children, eleven of whom reached maturity: Abraham, Shepherd, Catharine, Tyler, Jane, John, Andrew J., William, Henry, Rhoda, and Emeline.
Owing to the early death of the father, the responsibility of providing for the family fell upon Abraham Smalley, the eldest child. For several years he had the management of family affairs, and bravely bore the cares and labors that thus devolved upon him. His life was one of untiring industry and perseverance guided by intelligence, and integrity also stood as an unquestioned fact in his business career. In 1843 he began the manufacture of fanning mills and plows in Muscatine and afterward erected a mill at the corner of third and Cherry streets, where he engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. He was thus closely associated with the industrial interests of the city, and his enterprise proved not only a source of profit to himself, but also of benefit to the community, in that it furnished employment to a number of workmen. He also engaged in the manufacture of cultivators on a large scale for those times, the output amounting to over five hundred machines each year. These were hauled into the country and sold from wagons, and the fanning mills were likewise disposed of in the same way. For twelve years Mr. Smalley conducted a prosperous business along that line, but sold out in 1855 and began dealing in real estate. The following year, with the firm of Green & Stone and Jacob Butler, he laid out the town of South Muscatine and subsequently laid out Musserville, which now forms a part of that city. He also laid out a second and third addition to South Muscatine, and his business activities in this line proved a substantial element in the growth and progress of the county. Mr. Smalley well deserves to numbered among the pioneer business men who laid broad and deep the foundation upon which the later developement and growth of Muscatine county has been built.
On the 26th of May, 1850, was celebrated the marriage of Abraham Smalley and Miss Sicha W. Nichols, who was born December 29, 1820, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth ( Dawson ) Nichols. There were three children of that marriage: David, Imogene and George W. After traveling life's journey happily together for ten years, Mr. and Mrs. Smalley were separated in the death of the wife, who passed away April 27, 1860, at the age of thirty-nine years, three months and twenty-seven days. The elder son died on the 2d of May, 1866, at the age of fourteen years, nine months and eleven days, and the daughter's death occurred May 7, 1873, when she had reached the age of twenty years, one month and fifteen days. The younger son George W., grew to manhood and was married May 6, 1885, to Mary B. Lewis, by whom he had five children, namely: Rhoda S., Walter L., Allan G., Ralph M. and Abraham. George W. died on the 8th of October, 1910, at the age of fifty-three years.
For his second wife Mr. Smalley chose Miss Eliza E. Mathis whom he wedded on the 6th of June, 1861. She was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, July 27, 1826, and came to Iowa in 1858 with her parents, Micajah and Ann ( Gamage ) Mathis. The children of this marriage are : Esther M., the wife of Joseph W. Eells, a well known lawyer of Muscatine; Harry E., of Vicksburg, Mississippi, who was married September 19, 1894, to Edna McElravy, of West Liberty, Iowa to whom a son was born, William Abraham. For his second wife, Harry Smalley wedded Ella Hawkins, of Jackson, Mississippi, on the 21st of April, 1901, and they have two children, Riva and Esther. The death of Mrs. Eliza E. Smalley occurred June 26, 1901, when she was in her seventy-fifth year. Mr. Smalley survived for only a few months and passed away March 13, 1902, in his eighty seventh year. The father of Mrs. Smalley was a son of Daniel and Phoebe Mathis and in early manhood wedded Ann Gamage. Both lived to a ripe old age, and they reared a family of four daughters and a son: Phoebe, Harriet C., Anna Maria, Eliza E. and Theopilus S.
For a number of years prior to his death Mr. Smalley was regarded as one of the revered patriarchs of the community. He was one of the first settlers here and not only did he make for himself a prominent position in business circles, but was also a man of considerable influence with the public life of the community. He held the office of clerk of the board of county commissioners when Iowa was a territory, and for three years served on the school board. His early political allegience was given to the democratic party and when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery into the north he joined its ranks and continued one of its earnest advocates until his demise. His particular method of selling real estate was to dispose of it on terms so easy that poor people could secure homes without feeling the burden of indebtedness. This plan led to the building of hundreds of homes in South Muscatine and Musserville. This was but one instance of the broad humanitarian spirit which ever characterized him and made him one of the most highly respected business men of the city. He was willing to extend a helping hand to those who needed assistance and his kindly spirit was again and again manifes
Back to Biographical Index Page
