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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
the bar in 1831. He came to Illinois in 1838, going first to Chicago, and afterward to Kaskaskia, finally settling at Golconda in 1839, which continued to be his home the remainder of his life. In 1848 he was elected to the Legislature, and re-elected in 1850, '52, and '56, serving three times as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He was one of the members of the first State Board of Education, created by Act of Feb. 18, 1857, and took a prominent part in the founding and organization of the State educational institutions. In 1857 he was elected to the bench of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, and re-elected in 1861, but declined a re-election for a third term. Died, Jan. 15, 1887.
SMITH, Abner, jurist, was born at Orange, Franklin County, Mass., August 4, 1843, of an old New England family, whose ancestors came to Massachusetts Colony about 1630; was educated in the public schools and at Middlebury College, Vt., graduating from the latter in 1866. After graduation he spent a year as a teacher in Newton Academy, at Shoreham, Vt., coming to Chicago in 1867, and entering upon the study of law, being admitted to the bar in 1868. The next twenty-five years were spent in the practice of his profession in Chicago, within that time serving as the attorney of several important corporations. In 1893 he was elected a Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and re-elected in 1897, his term of service continuing until 1903.
SMITH, (Dr.) Charles Oilman, physician, was born at Exeter, N. H., Jan. 4, 1828, received his early education at Phillips Academy, in his native place, finally graduating from Harvard University in 1847. He soon after commenced the study of medicine in the Harvard Medical School, but completed his course at the University of Pennsylvania in 1851. After two years spent as attending physician of the Alms House in South Boston, Mass., in 1853 he came to Chicago, where he soon acquired an extensive practice. During the Civil War he was one of six physicians employed by the Government for the treatment of prisoners of war in hospital at Camp Douglas. In 1868 he visited Europe for the purpose of observing the management of hospitals in Germany, France and England, on his return being invited to lecture in the Woman's Medical College in Chicago, and also becoming co
