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His work as a lawyer has given him a substantial reputation in that section of the state, and he has also become widely known for his activity in behalf of certain principles of politics and governmental control. Halbert A. Smith was born at West Bend, Wisconsin, October 2, 1865. His ancestors originally came from England to new York State, and there is a record of service by members of the family in the Revolutionary war on the American side. His father was William A. Smith, who was born in New York State in 1823 and died in Stockton, Kansas, in 1901. He moved out to Wisconsin in 1843, when Wisconsin was still a territory, and as one of the pioneers cleared up a farm from the woods near West Bend. From Wisconsin he moved to the vicinity of Kansas City in 1867, and 1900 retired from his business as a farmer and miller and lived in Stockton, Kansas, until his death. At the age of twenty-one, in 1864, he enlisted in the artillery service, and during the last year of the war was stationed near Washington, District of Columbia. He was a stanch republican throughout his life. William A. Smith married Miss WESTOVER, who was born in New York State in 1831, and died in 1909 while visiting at El Reno, Oklahoma. Her children were: Henry, who many years ago went out to the Texas Cattle range, and has since been lost track of, probably is deceased; Charles W., who holds a Government position at Topeka, Kansas; Andrew, who also went to Texas and his whereabouts are not known; Walter, a farmer in Western Oklahoma; Frank, a farmer in Eastern Colorado; Mary, wife of A. E. NEWELL, in the hardware and implement business at El Reno; Orson, who is a passenger conductor on the Missouri Pacific Railway with a home in Kansas City; Halbert A.; Glory, wife of F. PATCHIN, a sheep raiser in Eastern Oregon; and Millie, wife of S. I. SAGE, editor of a newspaper in Alma Kansas. Halbert A. Smith spent most of his early life on a farm, with an education obtained from the country schools near Kansas City and from the Harrisonville schools. For three years he was a student in the University of Kansas, leaving in 1889 and going to Kansas City where he found work with a surgical instrument house. He remained with them two years, and for one year sold their goods on the road. Mr. Smith has known Oklahoma almost from the beginning of its development as a civilized country. He came to El Reno in 1895, and for several years supported himself by various work while carrying on his studies in the law office of John I. DILLE, who was at that time attorney for the Rock Island Railway in Oklahoma and Indian Territory. He remained in Mr. Dille's office until admitted to the bar in 1896, and for five years practiced law in El Reno. For three years he was a United States commissioner at El Reno. In 1901 Mr. Smith came to Lawton, about the time of the opening, and has since been busied with a large practice in general civil and criminal law. His offices are in the City National Bank Building at the corner of D Avenue and Fourth Street. He is a member of both the count and state bar associations. Mr. Smith is a prominent republican. He takes the stand in favor of the resubmission of the prohibition question, and has taken an active part in several campaigns in that cause. He was particularly active during 1910. With many others he believes that in view of the fact that Oklahoma became a prohibition state at the adoption of the constitution and that public opinion has had time to crystallize on the subject, it is one that should be resubmitted for wither approval or subjection. Mr. Smith was the only delegate from Oklahoma to the convention at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1909, composed of delegates from all parts of the United States, and before that assemblage made one of the most noteworthy speeches. He is president of the Citizens league at Lawton. He belongs to a Greek letter college fraternity and is a former member of the Lawton Chamber of Commerce. In January, 1901, at El Reno Mr. Smith Married Miss Florence (DALE) Carson. Her father, John Dale, is a retired farmer living in El Reno. Her first husband was Dr. J. M. CARSON. By her first marriage Mrs. Smith has a son, Emera, who is employed as an expert accountant for the Lawton National Bank. Typed for OKGenWeb by Charmaine Keith, October 13, 1998.