Charles O. Smedley

Charles O. Smedley, a prominent attorney at law, of Grand Rapids, is a native of the Buckeye state, he was born in Massillon, Ohio, December 27, 1836, and a son of William and Mary (Lowe) Smedley, natives of Rusholm, near Manchester, England.

William Smedley, with his wife and a large family, came to the United States in 1852 and located in Massillon, Ohio, where he was employed as a stationary engineer. In 1857 the family removed to Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, where they lived until 1875, when Mr. Smedley and his family came to Michigan. They lived in Grand Rapids one year, and then moved onto a farm in the township of Blendon, Ottawa county, where the parents spent their last days. William Smedley’s wife died in 1888, and he died in 1893. He was a hard working, earnest man, was a republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. She was a noble woman, loved by all who knew her, and revered by her children.

Charles O. Smedley received his early education in Wooster, Ohio, which city is noted for its splendid schools and university. Here he attended the public schools until seventeen years of age, when he came to Ottawa county, Mich., and engaged in teaching, he taught school in district No. 1, of Blendon, Ottawa county, the winter of 1874-75; this was his first winter in Michigan; he boarded one and one-half miles from the school house and often had to walk through an unbroken road when the snow was four feet deep and the thermometer at thirty-five degrees below zero; all the peach trees and some other fruit trees were killed that winter.

In 1875-76 he taught the graded school in Ferrysburg, Ottawa county, Mich., as principal, he also taught school in Allendale, Blendon, Eastmanville, and Georgetown, all in Ottawa county, teaching in all about eight years. In April, 1878, he was elected township superintendent of schools of the township of Blendon, and did much towards the improvement of the public schools of that township.

In 1881 he engaged in the mercantile business at Bauer, Ottawa county, Mich., with his brother, Thomas, under the firm name of Smedley Brothers, dealers in general merchandise. Here he established the Bauer post-office and was its first postmaster. In 1881 he was elected a justice of the peace for the township of Georgetown. This first interested him in the study of law; and he soon had Blackstone, reading it nights and at odd times while clerking in the store. In the spring of 1882, he entered the law office of Turner & Carroll, in the city of Grand Rapids, to study law. Mr. Turner was elected prosecuting attorney in the fall of 1882, and Mr. Smedley was soon made his deputy; he continued the study of law with Turner & Carroll, and on the 7^th day of July, 1884, he was admitted to the bar in Kent circuit court; and in in the supreme court on the 17^th day of March, 1885, and in the United States circuit and district courts the 3^rd day of June, 1890. He entered the law department of the university of Michigan, and graduated in June, 1885. Returning to Grand Rapids in 1885, he entered into practice of the law, with a good education, but with an empty pocket-book, being obliged to borrow money to buy his first law library; he immediately formed a partnership with William W. Irwin, a graduate of the same law class, whose acquaintance he had made at Ann Arbor; they opened an office at 14 Canal street under the firm name of Smedley & Irwin, which partnership continued until July, 1889; then he opened an office and practiced law without a partner, at 12 Canal street, where he continued until 1893; then he removed to his present quarters, 15, 16 and 17 New Houseman Building. On acount of increasing business, he found a partnership, January,1899, with Benn M. Corwin; under the firm name of Smedley & Corwin; theser gentlemen now hold a large and remunerative line of practice in their profession; they have made commercial and corporation law their specialty.

In addition to his law business, Mr. Smedley owns and is interested extensively in real estate in the city of Grand Rapids. He has attained his present position through hard, steady work, and careful attention to his business.

Mr. Smedley was married September 3, 1890, to Miss Lillian M. Hinsdill, of Grand Rapids; she was born in North Bennington, Vt., June 30, 1868, and is a daughter of Edward and Nancy M. (Towsley) Hinsdill; they have two children, a son and a daughter. Harold Hinsdill Smedley, born September 29, 1893; and Myla Rosamond Smedley, born September 6, 1897.

Mr. and Mrs. Smedley have broad views as to matters of religion and attend the Universalist church. Mr. Smedley is a master Mason and a member of the Valley City lodge, No. 86, and is a member of several fraternal societies.