David Allen Smalley

Smalley was born in Middlebury, Vermont, on April 6, 1809.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2LxFAQAAIAAJ&q=%22smalley+David+allen%22|title=Biographical Directory of the Federal Judiciary|date=2001|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Bernan Press|via=Google Books|page=765|isbn=9780890592588}} He graduated from the academy in St. Albans,{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/biographyofbarof01bald|quote=David a. smalley vermont.|title=Biography of the Bar of Orleans County, Vermont|first=Frederick W.|last=Baldwin|date=May 26, 1886|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press|via=Internet Archive|page=[https://archive.org/details/biographyofbarof01bald/page/131 131]}} read law{{FJC Bio|2210|nid=1387926|name=David Allen Smalley}} with his uncle's firm, Smalley & Adams, and was admitted to the bar in 1831.{{cite book |last=Rann |first=William S. |date=1886 |title=History of Chittenden County, Vermont |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924028837536 |location=Syracuse, NY |publisher=D. Mason & Co. |page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924028837536/page/n253 236]}} He practiced in Jericho, Vermont, where he was also postmaster from 1831 to 1836. He subsequently relocated, first to Lowell, Vermont in 1836, and then to Burlington, Vermont from 1836 to 1857. He was a member of the Vermont Senate from 1843 to 1844. He practiced law in Burlington with different partners at different times. One partner was Edward J. Phelps, and the firm of Smalley & Phelps included George F. Edmunds among those who studied law in their offices.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tt2_3hTQxFMC|quote=edmunds smalley .|title=Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 1912|first=Prentiss Cutler|last=Dodge|date=1912|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Ullery publishing Company|via=Internet Archive|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_tt2_3hTQxFMC/page/n191 179]}} At the 1852 Democratic National Convention he was vice chairman of the Vermont delegation, a member of the platform committee and was selected to serve as Vermont's member of the Democratic National Committee.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCg2AQAAMAAJ&q=smalley&pg=RA1-PA42|title=Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention|date=1852|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Robert Armstrong|via=Google Books|pages=7, 11, 18, 30, 39, 42, 45, 71}} President Franklin Pierce appointed him Collector of Customs for the District of Vermont on April 6, 1853, and he served until February 16, 1857.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=his7AAAAIAAJ&q=%22David+allen+smalley%22+vermont+district+judge&pg=PA218|title=Vermont History|first=Vermont Historical|last=Society|date=1915|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Vermont Historical Society.|via=Google Books|page=218}} Again a delegate at the 1856 Democratic National Convention held in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was reappointed to the National Committee, and he served as chairman from 1856 to 1860.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/officialproceedi00demorich|quote=smalley.|title=Official Proceedings of the National Democratic Convention: Held in Cincinnati, June 2-6, 1856|first=Democratic Party National convention|last=Cincinnati|date=1856|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Enquirer Company steam printing establishment|via=Internet Archive|pages=[https://archive.org/details/officialproceedi00demorich/page/47 47], 66, 72}}

As Chairman of the Democratic National Committee it was Smalley's task to open the ill-fated 1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston, South Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T75VAAAAYAAJ&q=%22David+a.+smalley%22+democratic+convention+1860&pg=PA3|title=Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention|date=May 26, 1860|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Democratic National Committee|via=Google Books|page=3}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1860/04/27/archives/the-proceedings-of-the-first-day-detailed-report-from-the.html|title=The Proceedings of the First Day.; Detailed Report from the Charleston Papers|date=April 27, 1860|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Democratic National Committee|via=NYTimes.com}}

Smalley was nominated by President Franklin Pierce on February 2, 1857, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Vermont vacated by Judge Samuel Prentiss. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 3, 1857, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on March 10, 1877, due to his death in Burlington.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T1I0AAAAMAAJ&q=%22smalley+David+allen%22&pg=PA251|title=The Bibliography of Vermont: Or, A List of Books and Pamphlets Relating in Any Way to the State. With Biographical and Other Notes|first=Marcus Davis|last=Gilman|date=May 26, 1897|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Free Press association|via=Google Books|page=251}}{{cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1877/03/11/79828015.pdf|title=Obituary: Hon. David A. Smalley|work=New York Times|date=March 11, 1877|access-date=May 26, 2019}} He was buried at Greenmount Cemetery in Burlington.{{cite news |date=March 13, 1877 |title=Judge Smalley's Funeral |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40112519/the_burlington_free_press/ |work=Free Press & Times |location=Burlington, VT |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Smalley received an honorary Master of Arts degree from the University of Vermont in 1846.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_FCLOAAAAMAAJ|quote=david allen smalley burlington.|title=General Catalogue of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Burlington, Vermont, 1791–1900|first=University of|last=Vermont|date=1901|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Free Press Association|via=Internet Archive|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_FCLOAAAAMAAJ/page/n224 223]}}

In 1833, Smalley married Laura Barlow, the daughter of Bradley Barlow (1770–1836), and sister of Congressman Bradley Barlow. They had five children, four of whom lived to adulthood; Henry Adams; Bradley Barlow; Jacob Meack; and Eugene Allen.

Henry A. Smalley (1834–1888) attended Norwich University and the University of Vermont. He was a graduate of the United States Military Academy and attained the rank of brevet Brigadier General during the American Civil War. He later worked as an engineer for New York City, and was responsible for the construction of the New Croton Aqueduct.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/norwichuniversit02elli|quote=henry a smalley.|title=Norwich University, 1819–1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor – Volume 2|first=William Arba|last=Ellis|date=1911|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Capitol city Press|via=Internet Archive|pages=[https://archive.org/details/norwichuniversit02elli/page/502 502]–503}}

Bradley Smalley (1835–1909) was a Vermont attorney. He served on the staff of Governor Frederick Holbrook with the rank of colonel during the Civil War. Bradley B. Smalley was later appointed Clerk of the United States District Court and Collector of Customs. He also served on the Burlington City Council and was a member of the Democratic National Committee.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_kmIUAAAAYAAJ|quote=bradley barlow smalley.|title=Year Book of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Vermont|date=1912|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Vermont|via=Internet Archive|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_kmIUAAAAYAAJ/page/n165 205]}}

Jacob M. Smalley (1837–1874) was a United States Navy veteran who served in the Union Navy during the Civil War.{{cite book |last=Ellis |first=William Arba |date=1911 |title=Norwich University, 1819-1911; her history, her graduates, her roll of honor |volume=2 |url=https://archive.org/details/norwichuniversit02elli |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Capital City Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/norwichuniversit02elli/page/634 634] |via=Internet Archive}} He subsequently served as a Deputy US Customs Collector{{cite news |date=December 29, 1866 |title=Custom House Appointments |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40112543/vermont_chronicle/ |work=Bellows Falls Chronicle |location=Bellows Falls, VT |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} and Deputy US Marshal{{cite news |date=May 6, 1870 |title=Personal: Jacob M. Smalley, Esq. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40112599/the_st_albans_weekly_messenger/ |work=St. Albans Messenger |location=St. Albans, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} for Vermont and engaged in business ventures including an ownership stake in Utah's Bingham Canyon Mine.{{cite news |date=July 14, 1871 |title=Personal: Jacob M. Smalley of this city |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40112567/burlington_weekly_free_press/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Eugene A. Smalley (1839–1913) attended the University of Vermont and Union College. He enlisted for the Civil War as a Private in the 19th Ohio Infantry. He was subsequently commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After his 1866 discharge he was a farmer in Colchester, Vermont, and also worked as Vermont's Deputy Customs Collector and Deputy United States Marshal.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_FCLOAAAAMAAJ|quote=eugene allen smalley.|title=General Catalogue of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, Burlington, Vermont, 1791–1900|first=University of|last=Vermont|date=1901|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Free Press Association|via=Internet Archive|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_FCLOAAAAMAAJ/page/n117 116]}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eqcaAAAAYAAJ&q=%22eugene+allen+smalley%22+died&pg=PA70|title=Union College Alumni in the Civil War, 1861–1865|first1=Union University (Schenectady, N. Y. ) Graduate|last1=Council|first2=Thomas Healey|last2=Fearey|date=1915|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=Union College|via=Google Books|page=70}}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7sUgAAAAMAAJ&q=%22eugene+allen+smalley%22|title=University of Vermont Notes – Volumes 6–10|first=University of|last=Vermont|date=1914|access-date=May 26, 2019|publisher=University of Vermont|via=Google Books|page=343}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{FJC Bio|2210|nid=1387926|name=David Allen Smalley}}
• [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/smalley-smit.html David A. Smalley] at [http://politicalgraveyard.com/ The Political Graveyard]

{{s-start}}

{{s-legal}}

{{s-bef|before=Samuel Prentiss}}

{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont}}|years=1857–1877}}

{{s-aft|after=Hoyt Henry Wheeler}}

{{s-end}}

{{DNCchairmen|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smalley, David Allen}}

Category:1809 births

Category:1877 deaths

Category:People from Middlebury, Vermont

Category:Democratic Party Vermont state senators

Category:Vermont lawyers

Category:Vermont postmasters

Category:Democratic National Committee chairs

Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Vermont

Category:United States federal judges appointed by Franklin Pierce

Category:19th-century American judges

Category:United States federal judges admitted to the practice of law by reading law

Category:19th-century members of the Vermont General Assembly