Henry Smith (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
Henry Smith was a millwright
and politician
who was elected a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Wisconsin
from 1887 - 1889 as a member of the Union Labor Party. He also served as a Socialist
member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1878. At different times, Smith ran for office (unsuccessfully or successfully) on the Socialist, Greenback, Democratic and Union Labor tickets.
, and later, in 1844, to Milwaukee. He attended the Milwaukee public schools
, and became a millwright.
, with 618 votes to 381 for Democrat
Charles Fashel and 381 for Greenback Jacob Olberman. He served only one term, being defeated in the 1878 election, in which he ran on the Greenback ticket, but received only 253 votes, to 488 for Democrat Alonzo H. Richards and 716 for Republican
Christopher Raesser
. In 1880 he ran for the Assembly from the Fifth Milwaukee County district on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Isaac Van Schaick, receiving 3778 votes to Van Schaick's 5678.
Smith was again elected a member of the Common Council 1880-1882; served as city comptroller 1882-1884; and again on the Common Council from 1884-1887.
(March 4, 1887-March 3, 1889), with 13,355 votes to 9645 for Republican Thomas H. Brown, 8233 for Democrat John Black
(former mayor of Milwaukee) and 187 for Prohibitionist
Z. C. Trask.
In 1888, Republican former incumbent Isaac Van Schaick defeated Smith for election to the Fifty-first Congress, receiving 22,212 votes to 20,685 for Smith (running on the Democratic and Labor tickets), 527 for Socialist
John Schuler and 302 for Prohibitionist George Heckendorn.
Smith worked as an architect
and builder
. He was once again elected a member of the Common Council in 1898 and served until his death in Milwaukee September 16, 1916. His remains were cremated and the ashes interred in Union Cemetery. His papers are in the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society
.
Millwright
A millwright is a craftsman or tradesman engaged with the construction and maintenance of machinery.Early millwrights were specialist carpenters who erected machines used in agriculture, food processing and processing lumber and paper...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was elected a member of the United States House of Representatives
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 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...
from 1887 - 1889 as a member of the Union Labor Party. He also served as a Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
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....
in 1878. At different times, Smith ran for office (unsuccessfully or successfully) on the Socialist, Greenback, Democratic and Union Labor tickets.
Early life and career
Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland; moved with his parents to Massillon, OhioMassillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city located in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately 8 miles to the west of Canton, Ohio, 20 miles south of Akron, Ohio, and 50 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 32,149 at the 2010 census....
, and later, in 1844, to Milwaukee. He attended the Milwaukee public schools
Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools is the largest school district in Wisconsin. As of 2007, it had an enrollment of 87,360 students, and as of 2006 employed 6,100 full-time and substitute teachers in 223 schools. The Milwaukee Public Schools system is the 33rd largest in the United States by enrollment...
, and became a millwright.
Political office
He served as a member of the Milwaukee Common Council from 1868–1872. In the 1877 election, Smith was elected to the State Assembly from Milwaukee County's Sixth District (sixth and thirteenth wards of Milwaukee) as a SocialistSocialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
, with 618 votes to 381 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...
Charles Fashel and 381 for Greenback Jacob Olberman. He served only one term, being defeated in the 1878 election, in which he ran on the Greenback ticket, but received only 253 votes, to 488 for Democrat Alonzo H. Richards and 716 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...
Christopher Raesser
Christopher Raesser
Christopher S. Raesser was a commission merchant and a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from Milwaukee....
. In 1880 he ran for the Assembly from the Fifth Milwaukee County district on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Isaac Van Schaick, receiving 3778 votes to Van Schaick's 5678.
Smith was again elected a member of the Common Council 1880-1882; served as city comptroller 1882-1884; and again on the Common Council from 1884-1887.
Congress and after
In 1886, Smith was elected as a Union Labor Party candidate to the Fiftieth Congress50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States 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. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
(March 4, 1887-March 3, 1889), with 13,355 votes to 9645 for Republican Thomas H. Brown, 8233 for Democrat John Black
John Black (Wisconsin politician)
John Black was a Democratic politician who served one term as mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Black was born near Bitche, Lorraine, France. He attended college in Metz before moving with his family to the United States in 1844, settling near Lockport, New York. He moved with his wife to Milwaukee in...
(former mayor of Milwaukee) and 187 for Prohibitionist
Prohibition Party
The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
Z. C. Trask.
In 1888, Republican former incumbent Isaac Van Schaick defeated Smith for election to the Fifty-first Congress, receiving 22,212 votes to 20,685 for Smith (running on the Democratic and Labor tickets), 527 for Socialist
Socialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
John Schuler and 302 for Prohibitionist George Heckendorn.
Smith worked as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and builder
Construction worker
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.-Construction trades:...
. He was once again elected a member of the Common Council in 1898 and served until his death in Milwaukee September 16, 1916. His remains were cremated and the ashes interred in Union Cemetery. His papers are in the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Society
Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...
.