Joseph S. Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOregon'sAt-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | Rufus Mallory |
| Succeeded by | James H. Slater |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 20, 1824 |
| Died | September 28, 1884(1884-09-28) (aged 60) Portland, Oregon, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Julia A. Carter |
Joseph Showalter Smith (June 20, 1824 – September 28, 1884) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as aRepresentative from theU.S. state ofOregon from 1869 to 1871.
Born inConnellsville, Pennsylvania, Smith moved with his farmer parents to Ohio and Indiana, where he attended the common schools.[1][2] In 1844, at the age of 20, he was one of the early traveler on theOregon Trail to Oregon, arriving in the spring of 1845 and settling inSalem, where he taught school, studied law, and was admitted to thebar.[1][2]
In 1851, he sought election asPortland's first mayor, but lost by four votes toHugh O'Bryant.[3] In 1853, he moved toOlympia, Washington, and was elected to the Washington territorial house of representatives in 1856 and served as speaker.[1][2] He was appointedUnited States attorney for Washington Territory by PresidentJames Buchanan March 12, 1857.[1]
Smith returned to Salem in 1858 and practiced law for twelve years.[1] In 1862, he was selected by theDemocratic convention to be their candidate for Associate Justice of theOregon Supreme Court, but he declined the nomination.[2] In 1866, he was the Democratic candidate forUnited States Senate, but lost toRepublicanHenry W. Corbett by three votes in the Legislature.[2]
In 1868, Smith was elected as aDemocrat to theUnited States House of Representatives and served one term from March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1871.[1] After his term was completed, he moved toPortland, Oregon and resumed his law practice.[1] He ran forGovernor of Oregon in 1882, but lost to RepublicanZenas Ferry Moody.[1]
He died in Portland on September 28, 1884[4] and was interred in Portland'sRiver View Cemetery.[1]
{{cite news}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Oregon 1882 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's at-large congressional district March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1871 | Succeeded by |
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