George Washington Smith (congressman)
Encyclopedia
George Washington Smith (August 18, 1846 - November 30, 1907) was a U.S. Representative
from Illinois
.
Born in Putnam County, Ohio
, Smith moved with his father to Wayne County, Illinois, in 1850.
Learned the blacksmith trade.
He also attended the common schools. In 1868 he graduated from the literary department of McKendree College
. After this he studied law in Fairfield, Illinois
.
He then went to Indiana University
where he received a law degree in 1870.
He was admitted to the bar
the same year and commenced practice in Murphysboro, Illinois
.
He served as master in chancery 1880-1888.
Smith was elected as a Republican
to the Fifty-first
and to the nine succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1889, until his death in Murphysboro, Illinois
, November 30, 1907, before the convening of the Sixtieth
Congress.
He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Fifty-fourth
through Fifty-ninth
Congresses).
He was interred in the City Cemetery.
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 Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Born in Putnam County, Ohio
Putnam County, Ohio
Putnam County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,499. The name is in honor of Israel Putnam, who was a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. Its county seat is...
, Smith moved with his father to Wayne County, Illinois, in 1850.
Learned the blacksmith trade.
He also attended the common schools. In 1868 he graduated from the literary department of McKendree College
McKendree College
McKendree University, formerly known as McKendree College, is a private liberal arts college located in Lebanon, Illinois. The area is a part of the Metro-East region of Greater St. Louis. Founded in 1828 as the Lebanon Seminary, it is the oldest college in Illinois...
. After this he studied law in Fairfield, Illinois
Fairfield, Illinois
Fairfield is the county seat of Wayne County, Illinois, United States, the site of Frontier Community College, , , and Airtex; an auto parts manufacturing facility...
.
He then went to Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
where he received a law degree in 1870.
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...
the same year and commenced practice in Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-Geography:Murphysboro is located at ....
.
He served as master in chancery 1880-1888.
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-first
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and to the nine succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1889, until his death in Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro, Illinois
Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-Geography:Murphysboro is located at ....
, November 30, 1907, before the convening of the Sixtieth
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...
Congress.
He served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims (Fifty-fourth
54th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Adlai E. Stevenson * President pro tempore: William P. Frye - Majority leadership :* Republican Conference Chairman: John Sherman- Minority leadership :...
through Fifty-ninth
59th United States Congress
The Fifty-ninth 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, 1905 to March 4, 1907, during the fifth and sixth...
Congresses).
He was interred in the City Cemetery.