Joseph Showalter Smith
Encyclopedia
Joseph Showalter Smith was a Representative
from the U.S. state
of Oregon
.
, Smith moved with his farmer parents to Ohio and Indiana where he attended the common schools. In 1844, at the age of 20, he was one of the early traveler on the Oregon Trail
to Oregon, arriving in the spring of 1845 and settling in Salem
where he taught school, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
.
's first mayor, but lost by four votes to Hugh O'Bryant
. In 1853, he moved to Olympia, Washington
, and was elected to the Washington territorial house of representatives in 1856 and served as speaker. He was appointed United States attorney for Washington Territory
by President James Buchanan
March 12, 1857.
Smith returned to Salem in 1858 and practiced law for twelve years. In 1862, he was selected by the Democratic
convention to be their candidate for Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
, but he declined the nomination. In 1866, he was the Democratic candidate for United States Senate
, but lost to Republican
Henry W. Corbett
by three votes in the Legislature.
In 1868, Smith was elected as a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
and served one term from March 4, 1869-March 3, 1871. After his term was completed, he moved to Portland, Oregon
and resumed his law practice. He ran for Governor of Oregon
in 1882, but lost to Republican Zenas Ferry Moody
.
He died in Portland on September 28, 1884 and was interred in Portland's River View 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 the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Early life
Born in Connellsville, PennsylvaniaConnellsville, Pennsylvania
Connellsville is a city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA, 57 miles southeast of Pittsburgh on the Youghiogheny River, a tributary of the Monongahela River. It is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. In 1890, 5,629 people lived in Connellsville, which was a borough at that time...
, Smith moved with his farmer parents to Ohio and Indiana where he attended the common schools. In 1844, at the age of 20, he was one of the early traveler on the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
to Oregon, arriving in the spring of 1845 and settling in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
where he taught school, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
.
Political career
In 1851, he sought election as PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
's first mayor, but lost by four votes to Hugh O'Bryant
Hugh O'Bryant
Hugh D. O'Bryant was the first mayor of Portland, Oregon, United States, serving from 1851–1852. He later served as the President of the Oregon Territory’ Council chamber of the legislature, and was a member of Washington Territory’s legislature.-Early life:Hugh O’Bryant was born in 1813 in...
. In 1853, he moved to Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, and was elected to the Washington territorial house of representatives in 1856 and served as speaker. He was appointed United States attorney for Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
by President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
March 12, 1857.
Smith returned to Salem in 1858 and practiced law for twelve years. In 1862, he was selected by the Democratic
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...
convention to be their candidate for Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
, but he declined the nomination. In 1866, he was the Democratic candidate for 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...
, but lost to 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...
Henry W. Corbett
Henry W. Corbett
Henry Winslow Corbett was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Massachusetts, he spend much of his early life in the state of New York before moving to the Oregon Territory where he continued his business interests in retail, and later transportation and banking...
by three votes in the Legislature.
In 1868, Smith was elected as a 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...
to 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...
and served one term from March 4, 1869-March 3, 1871. After his term was completed, he moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and resumed his law practice. He ran for Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
in 1882, but lost to Republican Zenas Ferry Moody
Zenas Ferry Moody
Zenas Ferry Moody was the seventh Governor of Oregon from 1882 to 1887.-Early life:Zenas Ferry Moody was born on May 27, 1832, in Granby, Massachusetts, to Thomas Hovey and Hannah Ferry. The family immigrated to Oregon Territory in 1851, traveling the Isthmus of Panama route...
.
He died in Portland on September 28, 1884 and was interred in Portland's River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States, is a non-profit cemetery founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon, including many governors and United States Senators...
.