Samuel William Smith
Encyclopedia
Samuel William Smith was a politician
from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
He was born in Independence Township
and attended the common schools in Clarkston
and Detroit
. He began teaching school in 1869, served as superintendent of schools in Waterford Township
in 1875 and also served as principal of the school at Waterford, Michigan. He went on to study law, was admitted to the bar
in 1877 and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor
in 1878. He began legal practice in Pontiac
, where for six months he worked alone with considerable success, and then formed a partnership with Judge Levi Taft and Hon. Aaron Perry. Judge Perry retired from the firm during the second year of the partnership, but the connection between Judge Taft and Mr. Smith continued until the death of the former in 1897. Smith was prosecuting attorney of Oakland County from 1880 to 1884.
He served in the Michigan Senate
, 1885-1887, representing the 15th District. He was elected as a Republican
from Michigan's 6th congressional district
to the 56th United States Congress
and to the eight succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1915. During his tenure, Smith was chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia in the 60th
and 61st
Congresses). He did not stand for reelection to the 54th Congress
, but moved to Detroit in 1913 and continued the practice of law. He died in Detroit and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian, Michigan
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
He was born in Independence Township
Independence Township, Michigan
Independence Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 34,681 at the 2010 census. The township was named by one of its earliest settlers, Joseph Van Sycle, who came to the area in 1834 from Independence, New Jersey.- History :John W...
and attended the common schools in Clarkston
Clarkston, Michigan
Clarkston, known officially by the name City of the Village of Clarkston, is a small city located within Independence Charter Township in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 882 at the 2010 census.-Overview:...
and Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He began teaching school in 1869, served as superintendent of schools in Waterford Township
Waterford Township, Michigan
Waterford Charter Township is a charter township in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township had a population of 71,707.-History:...
in 1875 and also served as principal of the school at Waterford, Michigan. He went on to study law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1877 and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 1878. He began legal practice in Pontiac
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
, where for six months he worked alone with considerable success, and then formed a partnership with Judge Levi Taft and Hon. Aaron Perry. Judge Perry retired from the firm during the second year of the partnership, but the connection between Judge Taft and Mr. Smith continued until the death of the former in 1897. Smith was prosecuting attorney of Oakland County from 1880 to 1884.
He served in the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
, 1885-1887, representing the 15th District. He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
from Michigan's 6th congressional district
Michigan's 6th congressional district
Michigan's 6th congressional district is a United States congressional district in southwest Michigan. It consists of all of Berrien, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren, counties, and includes most of southern and eastern Allegan and a portion of western Calhoun counties.-Major...
to the 56th United States Congress
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
and to the eight succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1897 to March 3, 1915. During his tenure, Smith was chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia in the 60th
60th United States Congress
The Sixtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1907 to March 4, 1909, during the last two years of...
and 61st
61st United States Congress
The Sixty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1909 to March 4, 1911, during the first two years of...
Congresses). He did not stand for reelection to the 54th Congress
64th United States Congress
The Sixty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1917, during the third and fourth...
, but moved to Detroit in 1913 and continued the practice of law. He died in Detroit and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian, Michigan
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
.