William Henry Smith (American politician)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Smith was a newspaper editor, Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State
1865-1868, consolidated and managed the Associated Press
, and was a compiler and editor of several historic works.
William Henry Smith was born December 1, 1833 at Columbia County, New York
. In 1836 his parents moved to Ohio
, where he received the best educational advantages the state afforded. He was a tutor, editor of the Literary Review at Cincinnati
, and was an editor at the Cincinnati Gazette when the American Civil War
broke out. He was active in promoting enlistments for the Union.
Smith was active in securing the gubernatorial nomination for John Brough
, and became his private secretary upon his election to Governor in 1863. In 1864 he resigned when nominated by the Republicans for Ohio Secretary of State, and defeated incumbent Democrat William W. Armstrong
in the general election. He was nominated again in 1866, and defeated Democrat Benjamin Le Fevre
.
Smith resigned as Secretary January 14, 1868 to run the Cincinnati Chronicle for a short time until failing health caused his resignation. In 1870 he took charge of the Western Associated Press in Chicago. In 1877, President Hayes
appointed him Collector of the Port of Chicago. In January, 1883, he led the merger of the Western Associated Press and the New York Associated Press, and was General Manager of the company.
Smith also compiled and edited historic works, including the St. Clair
Papers in 1882. He died July 27, 1896 in Lake Forest, Illinois
.
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
1865-1868, consolidated and managed the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, and was a compiler and editor of several historic works.
William Henry Smith was born December 1, 1833 at Columbia County, New York
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
. In 1836 his parents moved to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, where he received the best educational advantages the state afforded. He was a tutor, editor of the Literary Review at Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and was an editor at the Cincinnati Gazette when the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
broke out. He was active in promoting enlistments for the Union.
Smith was active in securing the gubernatorial nomination for John Brough
John Brough
John Brough was a War Democrat politician from Ohio. He served as the 26th Governor of Ohio during the final years of the American Civil War, dying in office of gangrene shortly after the war concluded....
, and became his private secretary upon his election to Governor in 1863. In 1864 he resigned when nominated by the Republicans for Ohio Secretary of State, and defeated incumbent Democrat William W. Armstrong
William W. Armstrong (journalist)
William Wallace Armstrong was an American journalist and politician born in Columbiana County, Ohio. He served as a Democratic Ohio Secretary of State from 1863-1865 and was later publisher of the The Plain Dealer and postmaster of Cleveland.-Biography:William W...
in the general election. He was nominated again in 1866, and defeated Democrat Benjamin Le Fevre
Benjamin Le Fevre
Benjamin Le Fevre was a nineteenth century politician from Ohio.-Biography:Born near Maplewood, Ohio, Le Fevre attended Miami University in 1858 and 1859 and studied law in Sidney, Ohio...
.
Smith resigned as Secretary January 14, 1868 to run the Cincinnati Chronicle for a short time until failing health caused his resignation. In 1870 he took charge of the Western Associated Press in Chicago. In 1877, President Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
appointed him Collector of the Port of Chicago. In January, 1883, he led the merger of the Western Associated Press and the New York Associated Press, and was General Manager of the company.
Smith also compiled and edited historic works, including the St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
Papers in 1882. He died July 27, 1896 in Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
.