Smith was born in 1853 in Belfast on the island of Ireland (the entirety of which was then a part of the U.K.). He immigrated to the United States in 1855 with his parents, who settled near Plymouth, Ohio, where he attended the public schools. He moved to Charlotte, Michigan, in 1867 where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and also worked as a mason. He graduated from the academic department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1879 and from the law department in 1880. He was admitted to the bar in 1882 and commenced practice in Detroit. He was married to Lena Parkhurst, daughter of Major John D. Parkhurst of Charlotte, on October 23, 1887. They had two children, Lucile (born in 1889) and William P. Smith.[1]
Smith served as prosecuting attorney of Eaton County 1885-1888. He was president of the First National Bank of Charlotte in 1898 and also engaged in manufacturing and agricultural pursuits. Smith was a member of the board of aldermen in 1903 and a member of the State constitutional convention in 1908.
* Alternately named Economic and Educational Opportunities in 104th Congress and Education and the Workforce in 105th through 109th and 112th through 115th Congresses.