Person:James Smalley (19)

Information on James J. Smalley

James J. Smalley was born on June 10, 1812 in Phillipstown, in what was then Dutchess County, New York (Just two days later on June 12th, Phillipstown was located in that part of Dutchess County that became Putnam County, New York). He was the seventh and youngest child of Isaac Smalley and Elizabeth Russell. Isaac Smalley died in 1812 and his wife Elizabeth (Russell) Smalley died in December, 1819, so it was unlikely that he remembered much of either of his parents. He likely was raised by another relative (grandparents or aunts, uncles) in the Putnam County area.

James J. Smalley served as Sheriff in Putnam County, New York, from 1850-1852. (http://www.putnamsheriff.com/content/sheriffs-putnam-county) He served in the New York State Assembly in 1849 and from 1854-1855. (http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/smalley-smit.html#1HV0PVNU0) James J. Smalley also served as coroner and treasurer of Putnam County during various times, and in addition was the owner of the "Smalley's Inn & Restaurant" in Carmel, which he established after purchasing a hotel in 1852. There are various stories of "ghost hauntings" during recent years at Smalley's Inn & Restaurant, supposedly surrounding the killing of James' daughter Elizabeth, who was killed as a toddler on Sept. 16, 1849, when she was about two years old. Witnesses have supposedly had their clothing tugged on, have seen ghostly figures of a man, woman and child, and, on one occasion, every cell and house phone went off at the exact same time, with each call originating from a phone within the building.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smalley's_Inn_&_Restaurant)

In addition to the hotel, Mr. Smalley also buit a race track out on Carmel's Fair Street, which many people thought was scandalous at the time. But as Sheriff, he was tired of the young men racing their horses down main street (probably a precursor to drag racing) at risk to the public and raising a lot of dust. He thought that it was just "boys being boys" but that they should take it elsewhere. So he built the track. It was a horse farm for many years, now it is a golf course. He was straight-laced, generally, but good natured and affable, according to family lore.

Mr. Smalley was married twice, to two sisters. He married Harriett Phillps before 1842, who died on 6 Apr. 1850; and second he married Harriett's younger sister, Emily Lyon Phillips sometime around 1851-1852, most likely in Putnam County. He had four children with his first wife and six with his second.

James J. Smalley died on May 29, 1867 of a sudden, morning heart attack in Carmel, Putnam County, New York. It has been told that the number of people at Mr. Smalley's funeral was quite impressive for a small town of that time period.

James Smalley's son, John J. Smalley served as Sheriff of Putnam County, New York from 1865-1867.

(Some of the above narrative was provided by Claudia H. Allen ([email protected]))

Note: Not all information on James J. Smalley's wives and children's birthdates has been verified, additional information is necessary to place them in the correct position.

Obituaries of James J. Smalley

Photograph of James J. Smalley - undated, provided by Claudia H. Allen ([email protected])

Obituary of James J. Smalley, Issue of Putnam County Courier, June 8th, 1867, provided by Claudia H. Allen:

FUNERAL OF JAS J. SMALLEY

The remains of the lamented Sheriff Smalley were deposited in the Kelley Cemetery, Carme, on Sunday last, and was followed to the grave by a concourse of people seldom if ever witnessed upon such occasions in this section of Country. The number in attendance has been variously estimated at from two to three thousand. Almost every town within fifty miles was represented at the funeral.

Our hotels were thrown open to the public and dinner furnished to any and all without money and without price. In all the churches except the Baptist (where the funeral service was preached) the usual sermon was dispensed with - the different congregations desiring to unite in following the body of the deceased to the grave.

At an early hour the Masonic fraternity began to gather at the Smalley house, and at the time appointed for the funeral to take place the following Lodges were represented, viz: Phillipstown No. 236 of Cold Spring, Courtland No. 189 of Peekskill, Croton, No. 368 of Croton Falls, Hopewell No. 596 of Fishkill Plains, and a large delegation from Union Lodge No. 40 of Danbury, Conn. The procession moved in the following order;

Tyler with drawn sword,

Steward with white rods,

Master Masons.

Senior and Junior Deacons,

Secretaries and Treasurers,

Senior and Junior Wardens,

Past Masters.

The Holy Writings on a cushion covered with black cloth carried by John Griffin, the oldest member of Phillipstown Lodge.

About half-past nine o’clock he was siezed with cramps and pains in the region of the heart, and expired in less than two hours thereafer. Medical aid was immediately summoned out all to no purpose. The fiat had gone forth, and he must obey the summons.

Sheriff Smalley, as he was generally termed, was born in the town of Kent of this County on 10 day of June 1812 and was consequently fifty-five years of age at the time of his death. He has held every important official station in the gift of our people, and discharged the duties of all in a manner which commanded universal approbation. Few men possessed so large a share of public confidence and esteem. Kind and generous to a fault, a good citizen and neighbor, few there are in our community who will not miss his presence. Independent and manly in his thoughts and actions, a friend to those who needed assistance, he will not soon be forgotten. Many a moist eye will there be, and many a whispered word of sorrow in circles where he was known when it is said, “Sheriff Smalley is dead.”

If the departed are cognizant of the acts of those who survive, if the soul may look upon the scenes transpiring there, then may the spirit of our friend be able to feel and know that the tribute we bring this day is the heart-felt offering of one who knew him well in life, and thus knowing him, would not insult his memory with words that are but flatteries with praises that are spoken but to garnish and deceive.

Jas J Smalley in all the relations he sustained in life was a man of truth, probity, and honor, as a citizen mingling with us from day to day and from year to year, we had all come to prize him for his public spirit, his readiness to engage in and help forward by his means and influence, any project or interest which his judgement assured him was promotive of the welfare and prosperity of this community.

In the social circle, the kindly and generous impulses of his nature served to strengthen the cords of respect and affection which bound him to the hearts of those more intimate friends who mourn his absence today as a brother and friend, whose place in their memories shall ever be green, and over whose grave they have shed such bitter tears as issue only from the fountains of sorrow deep unfeigned.

It is hard to realize that in our walks through these streets we shall recognize that well-known form no more; that nevermore shall our hands grasp the hand of him we have known and loved so well. His dearest friends, we know, forgetting for th emoment the crushing, irreversible fact of his death, will be startled by that strange mental fiction which sometimes gleams through the mind, bringing back the dead to our side, or leading us to look for them in places which, alas! shall know them no more forever.

We would if we could send some cheering ray of light through the yonder desolate dwelling; but there are depths of grief which none but God can know; which none but He can mitigate or assuage.

Obituary of James J. Smalley, published in newspaper (exact source unknown), obtained from Nancy G. Ballard:

James J. Smalley

James J. Smalley was born in the town of Philipstown, in 1813, where his parents, John (S/B ISAAC) and Elizabeth Smalley, spent their entire lives and reared their 4 sons.

The educational advantages afforded Smalley were those of public schools near his home, so he began life on his own account as a day laborer, building many of the stone walls in his native county.

Later he owned a small place at Farmers Mills and in 1852 purchased the hotel at Carmel which he greatly improved, re-named and successfully conducted as the Smalley Hotel until his death in 1867.

His native American spirit and great energy enabled him fo rise from a lowly position in life to one of affluence, for he truly was a self-made man. His life illustrates in no uncertain manner what is possible to accomplish when perseverence and determination from the keynote of a man's character.

Smalley was a recognized leader of the Democratic Party in P.C. (Putnam County) serving first as coroner. For 2 terms he was an efficient sheriff of the county and was serving his 3rd term as county treasurer at the time of his death.

In 1849, he was elected a member of the Assembly and was re-elected to the post in 1854. While a member of that body he was associated with Saxon Smith of Putnam County and A.J. Coffin of Dutchess County. He also became a staunch friend of Hamilton Fish, former governor of New York and Secretary of State under General Grant.

He died at the age of 54 in 1867.

Records of James J. Smalley in Putnam County, NY

Number 1678

COUNTY OF PUTNAM

SURROGATE'S COURT

To Edward Wright, Surrogate of the County of Putnam

The petition of Emily L. Smalley, and Administratrix and John Cornish, Benjamin T. Crane and Robert D. Wixsom the administrators of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said James J. Smalley, late of the town of Carmel, in the County of Putnam, deceased, intestate respectfully showeth:

That the said James J. Smalley, departed this life on the twenty-ninth day of May in the year 1867, and that your petitioners were appointed duly such Administratrix and Administrators aforesaid by the Surrogate of the County of Putnam on the 5th day of June, in the year, 1867. (The rest of this petition tells about property real and personal)

Your petitioners further show that the widow of said James J. Smalley , dec'd is one of your petitioners, Emily L. Smalley & the heirs of the said James J. Smalley, deceased, are Victoria Waters, Annie Smalley, John J. Smalley all over the age of twenty one years and Hattie Smalley, Elizabeth Smalley, minors over fourteen years of age, having no general guardian, and Joseph B. Smalley, James S. Smalley and Adah E. Smalley, minors under the age of fourteen years also having no general guardian all residing in the town of Carmel in said County of Putnam and Julia A. Shaw residing in the City of New York, his only children. List of Settlements to follow.

Dated this 19th day of November, A. D. 1867.

EMILY SMALLEY, JOHN CORNISH, B.T. CRANE, R.D. WIXSOM

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