Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Smith, Francis O.J. |
Othernames |
F.O.J. Smith Francis Ormond Jonathan Smith |
Born |
23 Nov 1806 |
Birthplace |
Brentwood, New Hampshire |
Education |
Philips Academy, Exeter, NH Studied law with Hon. Ichabod Bartlett, Portsmouth, NH |
Spouse |
Junia Loretta Bartlett, m 4 Dec 1828; d circa 1853. Ellen Groton |
Children |
Several children, including: Lizzie G. Smith, d 16 Feb 1867 in Brooklyn, NY (11 yrs old) |
Occupation |
Law practice in Portland, Maine Published legal writings Political writer for the Argus newspapers He became interested in Professor Morse's telegraphic invention and spent many years promoting it, experimenting with lines (putting them underground), and built a line of poles from New York to Boston, then to Portland He contributed most of the capital for the construction of the Portland Gas Works He helped to establish the York and Cumberland Railroad, and served as its president He built the Buckfield Branch Railroad He purchased and ran the Cumberland and Oxford Canal until its demise |
Titles & honors |
1826, admitted to the Bar in Maine 1831, elected to represent Portland in the Maine Legislature 1833, elected to the Maine Senate; served as President of the Maine Senate 1833-1839, elected to United States Congress 1836, admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington in January |
Notes |
He was descibed in his passport as 5' 7" tall, brown hair, blue eyes, aquiline nose, and light complexion Owned a large home and property in Deering [now Portland], Maine, on Stevens Avenue. The property was referred to as Forest Home. After his death, the property was taken over by the Catholic Diocese and Percival Baxter, becoming the site of St. Joseph's Convent and Baxter Woods Owned a large tract of land along Anthoine Street in Cape Elizabeth [South Portland] that became the site of Barnum's Bathing Rooms |
Deceased |
14 Oct 1876 |
Deceased where |
Deering [Portland], Maine |
