HIRAM Y. SMITH

SMITH

Posted By: Becke Dawson (email)
Date: 1/2/2008 at 16:11:07

IOWA STATE REGISTER, Friday, August 26, 1881

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES:

HIRAM Y. SMITH, the nominee for Senator was born in Piqua, Ohio, March 22, 1843, and with his father lived for a few years in Rock Island, Illinois, coming to Des Moines in October, 1854. In 1862 he became a clerk in the Dead Letter department at Washington, and subsequently was in the Treasury Department, Secretary's office. He then turned his attention to the law, and in May, 1866, graduated from Albany Law College, and soon after returned to Des Moines, where he entered upon the law practice. Mr. Smith was Chairman of the Republican Committee of the Seventh District during the hot fights in which Mr. Kasson's banner, like Marmiou's gonfalon, was up and down, and much of Mr. Kasson's success against a very able combination is generally attributed to Mr. Smith's management of his cause. From 1875-1879 Mr. Smith served as Prosecuting Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, in which capacity he rapidly went to the front as a lawyer, for it enabled the public to discern the ability the young lawyer really had. In social circles Mr. Smith is highly esteemed, and as a professional man he has not yet reached his best estate. And in the Senate next winter he will be found a valuable member, for he has the Code of Iowa at quick command, is well acquainted with the State and its development, and can judge quickly and well what will be the probably bearing and effect of new legislation. Polk county is indeed proud of its Legislative ticket, compsed, as it is, of such men as Messrs. Smith, Christy and Havens - all worthy, honorable citizens, long residents in Iowa, and of much more than ordinary brains.