Walter I. Smith
Encyclopedia
Walter Inglewood Smith was a Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
, and a federal appellate judge with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa
, Smith attended the common schools. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
in 1882 and practiced in Council Bluffs until 1890. He served as judge of the fifteenth judicial district of Iowa from 1890 to 1900.
In November 1900, Smith was elected as a Republican
to the Fifty-sixth
Congress to serve out the remainder of the term of Smith McPherson
, who had resigned to accept a presidential nomination as federal district court judge. On the same day, Smith was also elected to serve a full two-year term in the Fifty-seventh
Congress, from 1901 to 1903.
Smith was reelected to the five succeeding Congresses and served from December 3, 1900, to March 15, 1911, when he resigned to accept an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Smith was nominated by President William Howard Taft
to a vacancy created by the elevation of Willis Van Devanter
to the U.S. Supreme Court. Smith was nominated on January 17, 1911, and confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 31, 1911, receiving his commission the same day. Smith served on the Eighth Circuit from March 16, 1911, until his death in Council Bluffs on January 27, 1922. His successor on the Eighth Circuit, U.S. Senator William S. Kenyon, was also drawn from Iowa's congressional delegation.
Smith was interred in Fairview Cemetery in Council Bluffs.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa's 9th congressional district
Iowa’s 9th congressional district existed from 1873 to 1943. The district was configured four times, first as part of a nine-district plan, then twice in eleven-district plans, then again in a nine-district plan...
, and a federal appellate judge with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Born in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
, Smith attended the common schools. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1882 and practiced in Council Bluffs until 1890. He served as judge of the fifteenth judicial district of Iowa from 1890 to 1900.
In November 1900, Smith 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...
to the Fifty-sixth
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...
Congress to serve out the remainder of the term of Smith McPherson
Smith McPherson
Smith McPherson was a Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's now-obsolete 9th congressional district for one year, and a federal district court judge for over fourteen years....
, who had resigned to accept a presidential nomination as federal district court judge. On the same day, Smith was also elected to serve a full two-year term in the Fifty-seventh
57th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:*Democratic: 151*Republican: 200 *Populist: 5*Silver : 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Theodore Roosevelt , until September 14, 1901, vacant thereafter....
Congress, from 1901 to 1903.
Smith was reelected to the five succeeding Congresses and served from December 3, 1900, to March 15, 1911, when he resigned to accept an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Smith was nominated by President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
to a vacancy created by the elevation of Willis Van Devanter
Willis Van Devanter
Willis Van Devanter was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, January 3, 1911 to June 2, 1937.- Early life and career :...
to the U.S. Supreme Court. Smith was nominated on January 17, 1911, and confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on January 31, 1911, receiving his commission the same day. Smith served on the Eighth Circuit from March 16, 1911, until his death in Council Bluffs on January 27, 1922. His successor on the Eighth Circuit, U.S. Senator William S. Kenyon, was also drawn from Iowa's congressional delegation.
Smith was interred in Fairview Cemetery in Council Bluffs.