US Congressman, Journalist. Elected as a Republican to the Fifty-ninth and three succeeding Congresses, he served from 1905 until his death in office. Born near Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Smith was educated at Howe's Academy there and began his professional life as a teacher in Winfield, Iowa. He moved to California in 1879, was admitted to the bar in 1885 and set up a law practice in Bakersfield, while also operating a farm. From 1886 to 1897 he was founding editor of the newspaper the Kern County Echo, which he purchased in 1889 and expanded from a weekly to a daily; he remained its owner and occasional editorial writer for the rest of his life. He was a member of the California State Senate from 1894 to 1902. In his first bid for the US Congress (1902) Smith was defeated by Milton J. Daniels, but when Daniels declined to run for reelection in 1904 Smith became the successful Republican front-runner to represent California's 8th Congressional District. In 1912 he was defeated by Congressman Hugh S. Hersman (formerly of the 5th District). He died in Los Angeles two months before the end of his fourth term.
US Congressman, Journalist. Elected as a Republican to the Fifty-ninth and three succeeding Congresses, he served from 1905 until his death in office. Born near Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Smith was educated at Howe's Academy there and began his professional life as a teacher in Winfield, Iowa. He moved to California in 1879, was admitted to the bar in 1885 and set up a law practice in Bakersfield, while also operating a farm. From 1886 to 1897 he was founding editor of the newspaper the Kern County Echo, which he purchased in 1889 and expanded from a weekly to a daily; he remained its owner and occasional editorial writer for the rest of his life. He was a member of the California State Senate from 1894 to 1902. In his first bid for the US Congress (1902) Smith was defeated by Milton J. Daniels, but when Daniels declined to run for reelection in 1904 Smith became the successful Republican front-runner to represent California's 8th Congressional District. In 1912 he was defeated by Congressman Hugh S. Hersman (formerly of the 5th District). He died in Los Angeles two months before the end of his fourth term.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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