Thomas Alexander Smith
Encyclopedia
Thomas Alexander Smith represented the 1st congressional district of Maryland
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1905 to 1907.
Smith was born near Greenwood, Delaware
, and moved with his parents to Ridgely, Maryland
, as a youth in 1856. He attended the public schools and Denton
Academy, and taught school in Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan
. He returned to Ridgely, where he was postmaster from August 4, 1885, to November 25, 1889. He engaged in the mercantile business, and was a member of the board of school commissioners for Caroline County, Maryland
, from 1889 to 1893.
In 1894 and 1896, Smith served as a member of the Maryland State Senate
, and was chief of the Maryland Bureau of Statistics and Information from 1900 to 1904. He was the first vice president of the National Association of Labor Statisticians in 1903 and 1904, and member of the board of State aid and charities in 1904 and 1905. He was one of the founders of the Bank of Ridgely, and served as its first president.
Smith was elected as a Democrat to Congress in 1904, serving the 1st Congressional district for one full term from March 4, 1905 to March 3, 1907, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1906. He later served as a delegate to the Farmers’ National Congress of the United States held at Madison, Wisconsin
, in 1908 and at Lincoln, Nebraska
, in 1910. He was also land commissioner of Maryland from 1908 to 1912, internal revenue agent for the district of Maryland from January 1, 1920, to 1922. He died in Newark, Delaware
, and is interred in Denton Cemetery.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 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 1905 to 1907.
Smith was born near Greenwood, Delaware
Greenwood, Delaware
As of the census of 2000, there were 837 people, 335 households, and 211 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,267.2 people per square mile . There were 394 housing units at an average density of 596.5 per square mile...
, and moved with his parents to Ridgely, Maryland
Ridgely, Maryland
Ridgely is a town in Caroline County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,352 at the 2000 census. Its main ZIP code is 21660, but is assigned eight other "216" zip codes due to its status as a home to fulfillment companies that receive and ship mail-in offers. The primary phone exchange...
, as a youth in 1856. He attended the public schools and Denton
Denton, Maryland
Denton is a town in Caroline County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Caroline County. Denton is the birthplace of former Delaware governor Sherman W. Tribbitt and author Sophie Kerr, as well as the long time home of former Maryland...
Academy, and taught school in Delaware, Maryland, and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He returned to Ridgely, where he was postmaster from August 4, 1885, to November 25, 1889. He engaged in the mercantile business, and was a member of the board of school commissioners for Caroline County, Maryland
Caroline County, Maryland
Caroline County is a wholly rural county located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by Queen Anne's County to the north, Talbot County to the west, Dorchester County to the south, Kent County, Delaware, to the east, and Sussex County, Delaware, to the southeast. As...
, from 1889 to 1893.
In 1894 and 1896, Smith served as a member of the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
, and was chief of the Maryland Bureau of Statistics and Information from 1900 to 1904. He was the first vice president of the National Association of Labor Statisticians in 1903 and 1904, and member of the board of State aid and charities in 1904 and 1905. He was one of the founders of the Bank of Ridgely, and served as its first president.
Smith was elected as a Democrat to Congress in 1904, serving the 1st Congressional district for one full term from March 4, 1905 to March 3, 1907, but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1906. He later served as a delegate to the Farmers’ National Congress of the United States held at Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, in 1908 and at Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, in 1910. He was also land commissioner of Maryland from 1908 to 1912, internal revenue agent for the district of Maryland from January 1, 1920, to 1922. He died in Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, and is interred in Denton Cemetery.