William L. Smith (Republican)
Encyclopedia
William Lyman Smith was a teacher and businessman from Neillsville
, Wisconsin
who served one term as a Republican
member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
, in 1917, and two terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate
, 1921-1927.
, New Brunswick
, Canada
. His parents moved to Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
in that same year. He attended public schools at Porter's Mills
, graduated from Eau Claire High School
, and then from Stevens Point State Normal School
. He came to Neillsville in 1899, and taught school for four years. His official biography described him as being since 1903 "engaged in the telephone
business" (he was manager of the Badger State Telephone Company). He served as an alderman
for one term in 1906, and was president of the local public library
board.
Alvin Foster. He was assigned to the legislature's joint committee
on finance
, serving alongside another William L. Smith
, a Socialist
barber
from Milwaukee. Smith was not a candidate for re-election in 1918, and was succeeded by fellow Republican Harry Hewett.
In 1920, Smith was elected from the 24th State Senate district (Clark and Wood Counties) to succeed fellow Republican Isaac Witter, with 11,700 votes to 2,791 for Socialist Robert A. Steinbach and 1,580 for Democrat Alphonsus B. Sutor. He was assigned to the standing committee
on corporations. He was re-elected in 1924 (his district now included Taylor County
as well), with 13,760 votes to 7,668 for Independent T. H. Barber. He was assigned to the committees on education
and public welfare, and on contingent expenditures. Smith (still "engaged in the telephone business") was elected president pro tempore
of the Senate for the 1927 session. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1928, and was succeeded by fellow Neillsville Republican Walter J. Rush.
to Governor of Wisconsin
Walter J. Kohler, Sr.
. On June 26, 1901, Smith had married Olive T. Huntzicker, a native of Eaton, Wisconsin
. At the time of her death in 1937, they had two sons, William Lyman, Jr., and Herbert.
Neillsville, Wisconsin
Neillsville is a city in Clark County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat.-Geography:Neillsville is located at ....
, 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...
who served one term 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...
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 1917, and two terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
, 1921-1927.
Background
Smith was born February 12, 1878, on a farm in Sunbury CountySunbury County, New Brunswick
Sunbury County is located in central New Brunswick, Canada. A large military base is located in the western part of the county south of the town of Oromocto...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. His parents moved to Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
Eau Claire County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population estimate was 98,736. Its county seat is Eau Claire....
in that same year. He attended public schools at Porter's Mills
Porter's Mills, Wisconsin
Porter's Mills, also called Porterville, was a logging boomtown in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States, between Brunswick and Eau Claire, at 44° 46' 15" N 091° 34' 01" W. at an elevation of 771 feet.The first sawmill there was built in 1863...
, graduated from Eau Claire High School
Eau Claire High School
Eau Claire High School is the name of several high schools in the United States. These include:*Eau Claire High School , in Columbia, South Carolina*Eau Claire High School , the former high school of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin...
, and then from Stevens Point State Normal School
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is a public university located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin...
. He came to Neillsville in 1899, and taught school for four years. His official biography described him as being since 1903 "engaged in the telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
business" (he was manager of the Badger State Telephone Company). He served as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for one term in 1906, and was president of the local public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
board.
Public office
Smith was elected to the Assembly in 1916 for the Clark County district to succeed fellow Republican Emery Crosby, receiving 3482 votes to 1201 for DemocratDemocratic 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...
Alvin Foster. He was assigned to the legislature's joint committee
Joint committee
A Joint Committee is a term in politics that is used to refer to a committee made up of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature. In other contexts, it refers to a committee with members from more than one organization.-Republic of Ireland:...
on finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
, serving alongside another William L. Smith
William L. Smith (barber)
William L. Smith was a barber from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who served three terms as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.- Background and business :...
, 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...
barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
from Milwaukee. Smith was not a candidate for re-election in 1918, and was succeeded by fellow Republican Harry Hewett.
In 1920, Smith was elected from the 24th State Senate district (Clark and Wood Counties) to succeed fellow Republican Isaac Witter, with 11,700 votes to 2,791 for Socialist Robert A. Steinbach and 1,580 for Democrat Alphonsus B. Sutor. He was assigned to the standing committee
Standing Committee
In the United States Congress, standing committees are permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate rules. . Because they have legislative jurisdiction, standing committees consider bills and issues and recommend measures for...
on corporations. He was re-elected in 1924 (his district now included Taylor County
Taylor County, Wisconsin
Taylor County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 20,689. Its county seat is Medford.-History:The earliest recorded event in Taylor county probably occurred in 1661, when Wisconsin was part of New France...
as well), with 13,760 votes to 7,668 for Independent T. H. Barber. He was assigned to the committees on education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and public welfare, and on contingent expenditures. Smith (still "engaged in the telephone business") was elected president pro tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the Senate for the 1927 session. He was not a candidate for re-election in 1928, and was succeeded by fellow Neillsville Republican Walter J. Rush.
Private life
Smith later served as private secretaryPrivate Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to Governor of Wisconsin
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
Walter J. Kohler, Sr.
Walter J. Kohler, Sr.
Walter Jodok Kohler, Sr. was an American businessman and politician. He was an innovative and highly successful Wisconsin industrialist. The Kohler Company was founded by his father, John Michael Kohler. Walter Kohler served as the company's president 1905 to 1937...
. On June 26, 1901, Smith had married Olive T. Huntzicker, a native of Eaton, Wisconsin
Eaton, Wisconsin
Eaton is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Wisconsin:*Eaton, Brown County, Wisconsin*Eaton, Clark County, Wisconsin*Eaton, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin...
. At the time of her death in 1937, they had two sons, William Lyman, Jr., and Herbert.