Legislator Details
Vital Records Information:
Marital Information:
single
Number of Children: 0
Background
Education:
attended Michigan Agricultural College and University of Michigan
Biographical Sketch:
Of Irish parentage. Son of James Morris and Hannah (Golden) Smith, who were born and married in Ireland, coming to America during the Civil war. They resided for a time in the state of New York, and afterwards came to Bath township, where James M. Smith engaged in farming. Both his parents died within one year, when Mr. Smith was15. At 17, he began teaching in the district schools of Clinton county, eventually becoming principal of the schools of the village of De Witt. While teaching, he had studied privately and in summer schools, and at the Michigan Agricultural College and University of Michigan, and had been granted a state teacher's life certificate by the state board of education, and had also been admitted to the bar. During 1895 and 1896 he taught in the village of DeWitt , and also practiced law. In the fall of 1896, he was elected county clerk of Clinton county, serving 2 terms; in the fall of 1900, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Clinton county, serving 3 terms. He was also city attorney of St. Johns. Mr. Smith was a Republican presidential elector in 1904, and a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1912. He served from 1906-10 as a member of the Republican state central committee from the eighth congressional district. After 1900, he exclusively engaged in the practice of law at St. Johns. Member of the Masons, Elks, Knights of Pythias, Grange, and other fraternal societies. Was once head of the state Utilities Commission.
Notable Facts:
Death record on Michiganology.org is indexed as "William Mario Smith", gives place of removal as Mount Rest in St. Johns. died as a result of injuries from a auto accident.