Sylvester Clark Smith (August 26, 1858 – January 26, 1913) was an American lawyer and politician. A Republican, he served four terms (1905–1913) as a U.S. Representative from California.
Sylvester C. Smith | |
|---|---|
 Frontispiece of 1914's Sylvester C. Smith, Late A Representative from California | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 8th district | |
| In office March 4, 1905 – January 26, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Milton J. Daniels |
| Succeeded by | Everis A. Hayes |
| Member of the California Senate from the 34th district | |
| In office January 7, 1895 – January 5, 1903 | |
| Preceded by | George G. Goucher |
| Succeeded by | William H. Savage |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 26, 1858 Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | January 26, 1913 (aged 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Union Cemetery, Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Maria Hart (m. 1885) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Howe's Academy, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S. |
| Profession | Attorney Newspaper editor |
Biography
editSmith was born near Mount Pleasant, Iowa on August 26, 1858, a son of Edward Smith and Celia (Shockley) Smith.[1] He attended the district schools and Howe's Academy in Mount Pleasant, then taught school in Winfield, Iowa.[1] He moved to California in 1879, where he farmed in addition teaching school in Colusa and Kern Counties.[1]
In 1882, Smith and one of his brothers traveled to Walla Walla, Washington.[1] Upon returning to California in 1883, he began to study law in San Francisco.[1] He continued his studies in Bakersfield in 1884, was admitted to the bar in 1885 and commenced practice in Bakersfield.[1] In addition to his legal career, Smith was editor of the Kern County Echo newspaper.[1]
A Republican, Smith served in the California State Senate from 1895 to 1903.[1] Among his legislative achievements was the bill establishing California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, enacted in 1901.[1] In 1902, he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination for the United States House of Representatives, losing the primary to Milton J. Daniels.[1]
In 1904, Daniels decided not to run again, and Smith won election to the U.S. House. He was re-elected three times, serving in the 59th and the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1905 until his death).[1] By the spring of 1912, Smith was seriously ill with heart trouble, and he declined to seek another term in Congress.[2]
Smith died in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 1913.[3] He was interred at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield.[4]
Family
editOn May 7, 1885, Smith married Maria Hart.[1] They were the parents of two daughters, Eva and Dorrit.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Guinn, James Miller (1905). History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley. Chicago, IL: Chapman Publishing Co. p. 289–290 – via Google Books.
- ^ https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92070146/1912-05-28/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1912&index=1&rows=20&words=Smith+Sylvester&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=California&date2=1912&proxtext=SYLVESTER+SMITH&y=16&x=10&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
- ^ Joint Committee On Printing, United States Congress (1928). Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1927. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1542 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Death Notice, Sylvester Clark Smith". Bakersfield Morning Echo. Bakersfield, CA. January 28, 1913. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Sylvester C. Smith (id: S000614)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Sylvester C. Smith at Join California.com
- United States House of Representatives (1914). Sylvester C. Smith, Late A Representative from California. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office – via HathiTrust.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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