Oswego, NY
was the center of Gerrit Smith's most valuable land holdings, from which he
derived an estimated average of $60,000 per year during the 1850's. In 1855 he
made a grant of $25,000 to the city for the building of a library, pictured
here. His requirements for the gift were that it be constructed on the East
side of the river, where his major holdings were, and that it be open to all
persons, regardless of race, color or sex.
The
library is home to a uniqure portrait of Smith, pictured below, which is
unfortunately located in a spot that is difficult to photograph, particularly by
artifiicial light. The exterior of the building also bears a marker reading: "Founded
by Gerrit Smith, 1855."
For
several years Smith's brother, Peter Skenandoah Smith, managed his business
affairs on Oswego. Also in business there were members of the Fitzhugh family,
Smith's in-laws. The older brother practiced law, and managed the initial
development of a canal on the East bank of the river, that supplied water and
power to mills that developed on the site. In later years his affairs in Oswego
were managed by John B. Edwards, who took Smith as something of a mentor in
business as well as philosophy. It was left to Edwards to make good on Smith's
gift of the City Library, from the profits of Smith's investments there.
In addition to his profitable land holdings, Gerrit Smith used his operations at Oswego to assist his avocation of assisting fugitived from slavery to reach Canada. Because Oswego is a river port on Lake Ontario, it was frequently a point of embarkation for persons leaving for Canada. Efforts are being made to collect more information on the Underground Railroad activities in this area for presentation on this site.
