Lorenzo Burdette Smull, of Port Washington, is a member of a family honorably associated with the history of the United States for several generations and descended from distinguished ancestors in the Old World. The first of the name to establish his home in America was John Smull, who was born in Castle De Paltz on the Rhine in Germany, an ancient and historic building, on of many famous structures that dotted the shores of that picturesque river. An oil painting formerly in the castle is now in our subject’s possession and gives indication of the prominence of the family.

On coming to this country John Smull settled in Pennsylvania and it is thought that he was the owner of a tannery there. His son, Thomas, who was born in Egypt, Pa., moved thence to New York and for some time was engaged in business as a wholesale leather dealer, meeting with fair success as a result of his judicious investments and untiring energy. Among his children was Charles Gilman, our subject’s father, who was born in Cliff Street, New York, February 13, 1838, and died March 22, 1873, at the age of thirty-five. Reared to a knowledge of his father’s business, he selected it for his life calling, and was known as a man of good education and excellent business qualifications. Politically a Democrat, he was an intimate friend of Hamilton Fish and other well known politicians, but was not himself an office seeker, preferring to give his attention unreservedly to his business interests. Socially he was a Mason of the thirty-second degree, and belonged to other fraternal organizations.

The death of Charles G. Smull was caused by an accidental, and apparently trivial, injury to one of his fingers, which resulted in blood poisoning and terminated fatally. In personal appearance he was prepossessing, being about five feet, eight inches in height, and one hundred and seventy-five pounds in weight, with blue eyes. light hair and fair complexion- a man who easily won friends and as easily retained their friendship through the magnetism of his genial manner and unfailing cordiality.

By his marriage to Eleanor Burdette, who was born in Eldridge Street, New York, Charles G. Smull had two children. Thomas, the elder, was born in New York, November 11, 1860, graduated from Yale College in 1885, and is unmarried, making his home at the family residence in Port Washington. The subject of this sketch, who is the younger son, was born in Twelfth Street, New York City, January 25, 1863, and received excellent educational advantages, being a graduate of Brown University, Providence, R.I., in the class of ‘85. In 1875 the family moved to their present place, where they have a substantial and commodious residence.

At Sea Cliff, L.I., August 14, 1887, Mr. Smull married Miss Emma O. Davis, who was born in Brooklyn, but at the time of her marriage was resident of Port Washington, this place being still the home of her parents, William J. and Susan C. (Osborne) Davis. Three children bless their union, namely: Irma, who was born at the family residence July 28, 1891; Nita, born February 14, 1893, and Lorenzo Burdette, Jr., October 23, 1895. In political views Mr. Smull is a Democrat, and upon that ticket was a candidate for the office of commissioner of highways in 1893, but was defeated. Socially he is a charter member of Seawanhaka Lodge No. 670, I. O. O. F., in which he is now past grand.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record of Queens County (Long Island) New York"
(Copyright 1896 by Chapman Publishing Company)

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