Background
Smith, Nicholas was born on October 31, 1836 in Blackburn, England. Son of William and Sarah (Bailey) Smith.
Smith, Nicholas was born on October 31, 1836 in Blackburn, England. Son of William and Sarah (Bailey) Smith.
Never attended school. Went to Wisconsin, 1844. Worked in lead mines winters and on the farm summers, 1847-1860.
Studied law.
Admitted to bar, 1862.
Doctor Moses Meeker, August 14, 1862. Private 33d Wisconsin Infantry, August 1862. Second lieutenant, October 1862.
First lieutenant, May 1863.
Captain, August 1863. Took part in Grant’s and Sherman’s expedition through Central Mississippi, 1862-1863.
Siege of Vicksburg and capture of Jackson, 1863. Military commander ill-fated steamer John Warner on Red River expedition, spring of 1864.
On expedition against Marmaduke, fall of 1864.
Resigned January 1865, on account of disability. Began newspaper work on Waukesha (Wisconsin) Freeman, 1869. Editor Janesville (Wisconsin) Daily Gazette, 1874-1891.
Fond du Lac Daily Commonwealth, 1895-1899.
Chairman Republican State Central Committee, 1891-1894. Commissioned colonel on Governor West. East. Smith’s staff, 1880.
Member state board supervision of charitable, reformatory and penal institutions, 1885-1891. Author: Stories of Great National Songs, 1899.
Hymns Historically Famous, 1901.
Songs from the Hearts of Women, 1903. Our National Flag—In History and Incident. Masters of Old Age, 1905.
Grant—The Manitoba of Mystery.
Special contributor to History of Milwaukee, 1894. Address: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Member state board supervision of charitable, reformatory and penal institutions, 1885-1891.
Married Julia Clara, daughter