Sylvester C. Smith
Smithc. 1899
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's8th district
In office March 4, 1905 – January 26, 1913
Preceded by	Milton J. Daniels
Succeeded by	Everis A. Hayes
Member of theCalifornia Senate from the34th district
In office January 7, 1895 – January 5, 1903
Preceded by	George G. Goucher
Succeeded by	William H. Savage
Personal details
Born	Sylvester Clark Smith (1858-08-26)August 26, 1858 Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S.
Died	January 26, 1913(1913-01-26) (aged 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Union Cemetery,Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Maria Hart (m. 1885)
Children	2
Education	Howe's Academy, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, U.S.
Profession	Attorney Newspaper editor

Sylvester Clark Smith (August 26, 1858 – January 26, 1913) was an American lawyer and politician. ARepublican, he served four terms as aU.S. representative fromCalifornia from 1905 to 1913.

Smith was born nearMount Pleasant, Iowa on August 26, 1858, a son of Edward Smith and Celia (Shockley) Smith.^[1] He attended the district schools and Howe's Academy in Mount Pleasant, then taught school inWinfield, Iowa.^[1] He moved to California in 1879, where he farmed in addition teaching school in Colusa and Kern Counties.^[1]

In 1882, Smith and one of his brothers traveled toWalla Walla, Washington.^[1] Upon returning to California in 1883, he began tostudy law in San Francisco.^[1] He continued his studies inBakersfield in 1884, wasadmitted to the bar in 1885 and commenced practice in Bakersfield.^[1] In addition to his legal career, Smith was editor of theKern County Echo newspaper.^[1]

ARepublican, Smith served in theCalifornia State Senate from 1895 to 1903.^[1] Among his legislative achievements was the bill establishingCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, enacted in 1901.^[1] In 1902, he was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination for theUnited States House of Representatives, losing the primary toMilton J. Daniels.^[1]

In 1904, Daniels decided not to run again, and Smith won election to the U.S. House. He was re-elected three times, serving in the59th and the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1905 until his death).^[1] By the spring of 1912, Smith was seriously ill with heart trouble, and he declined to seek another term in Congress.^[2]

Smith died inLos Angeles, California, on January 26, 1913.^[3] He was interred at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield.^[4]

On May 7, 1885, Smith married Maria Hart.^[1] They were the parents of two daughters, Eva and Dorrit.^[1]

• List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1900–1949)

• United States Congress."Sylvester C. Smith (id: S000614)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Sylvester C. Smith at Join California.com
• United States House of Representatives (1914).Sylvester C. Smith, Late A Representative from California. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office – viaHathiTrust.

 This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.

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