William L. Smith (barber)
Encyclopedia
William L. Smith was a barber
from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, who served three terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
.
in 1878. He attended both public and parochial school
s, but at the age of fourteen years was compelled to earn his own living. He became a barber's
apprentice, and continued in that trade. He opened his own shop on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View
about 1897. His official biography boasted, "Smith has always been a union man and employs nothing but union men in his shop".
twelfth Milwaukee County Assembly seat (12th Ward
of the City of Milwaukee), succeeding fellow Socialist and union activist Jacob Hahn
. Smith received 1,125 votes to 1,007 for Democrat
John F. Filut, 450 for Republican
Martin Gedlinski, and 31 for Prohibitionist Walter Lewerenz. Smith was assigned to the legislature's joint committee
on finance
.
In 1914, Smith won re-election, with 932 votes to 828 for Gedlinski (now running as a Democrat) and 329 for Republican John J. Morris; and remained on the joint finance committee. In 1916, he was again re-elected, with 944 votes to 785 for Democrat William T. Langen and 499 for Republican J. Jensen, and remained on the joint finance committee, on which he was now joined by newly-elected Republican Assemblyman William L. Smith
of Neillsville
.
In 1918, Smith was defeated for re-election by Democrat George Czerwinski, 1006 to 863.
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, who served three terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
.
Background and business
Smith was born in the Town of FranklinFranklin, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Franklin is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. Franklin is a suburb of Milwaukee with a population of 35,451 as of the 2010 census.-Transportation:...
in 1878. He attended both public and parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
s, but at the age of fourteen years was compelled to earn his own living. He became a barber's
apprentice, and continued in that trade. He opened his own shop on Kinnickinnic Avenue in Bay View
Bay View, Wisconsin
Bay View is a neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan, south of the downtown area and north of the City of St. Francis.-Historic settlement:...
about 1897. His official biography boasted, "Smith has always been a union man and employs nothing but union men in his shop".
Legislative service
Smith was first elected in 1912 in the newly-redistrictedRedistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
twelfth Milwaukee County Assembly seat (12th Ward
Wards of the United States
In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town, especially an electoral district, for administrative and representative purposes...
of the City of Milwaukee), succeeding fellow Socialist and union activist Jacob Hahn
Jacob Hahn
Jacob Hahn was a cigar maker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who served one term as a Socialist member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.Hahn was born in Wittlich, Germany on October 10, 1871...
. Smith received 1,125 votes to 1,007 for Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
John F. Filut, 450 for 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...
Martin Gedlinski, and 31 for Prohibitionist Walter Lewerenz. Smith was assigned to the legislature's joint committee
Joint committee
A Joint Committee is a term in politics that is used to refer to a committee made up of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature. In other contexts, it refers to a committee with members from more than one organization.-Republic of Ireland:...
on finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
.
In 1914, Smith won re-election, with 932 votes to 828 for Gedlinski (now running as a Democrat) and 329 for Republican John J. Morris; and remained on the joint finance committee. In 1916, he was again re-elected, with 944 votes to 785 for Democrat William T. Langen and 499 for Republican J. Jensen, and remained on the joint finance committee, on which he was now joined by newly-elected Republican Assemblyman William L. Smith
William L. Smith (Republican)
William Lyman Smith was a teacher and businessman from Neillsville, Wisconsin who served one term as a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, in 1917, and two terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, 1921-1927....
of Neillsville
Neillsville, Wisconsin
Neillsville is a city in Clark County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat.-Geography:Neillsville is located at ....
.
In 1918, Smith was defeated for re-election by Democrat George Czerwinski, 1006 to 863.