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RICHARD EDWIN SMITH
Vol. 3, p. 1112-1113

Richard Edwin Smith, who holds a law degree from the University of
Wisconsin, spent five years in the practice of his profession in the
new State of Oklahoma, and in that time gained a large acquaintance
over the state and still has many firm and loyal friends here.

On coming to Oklahoma in March, 1910, Mr. Smith located at Davis,
where he formed a law partnership with his brother-in-law Senator C.
B. KENDRICK, later president of the Oklahoma State Senate. Mr. Smith
continued in active practice at Davis until January 9, 1915, when he
moved to Oklahoma City and opened a law office in that city. On the
first of July, 1915, he disposed of his Oklahoma interests, since his
health would not permit of his remaining in Oklahoma and having gone
back to his old home state of Wisconsin he has resumed his work in
journalism, in which he had made a name and reputation for himself
before moving to the Southwest.

Richard E. Smith was born at Elmira, Benzie County, Michigan,
January 9, 1877, a son of James and Anna (WRIGHT) Smith, the former a
native of Sullivan, Wisconsin, and the latter of the State of
Vermont. Soon after his birth his parents moved to New Lisbon,
Wisconsin, and there he was given the advantages of a good public
school training. In 1895 he graduated from the high school at
Glenwood, Wisconsin, and then entered the University of Wisconsin,
where he graduated LL.B. in 1900. His father was a lawyer, and the
son on leaving university entered the senior Smith's office as
partner at Phillips, Wisconsin. A year later the firm opened an
office at Park Falls, Wisconsin, with Richard E. in active charge. It
was at Park Falls that Mr. Smith began his career in the newspaper
business and politics. He bought the Park Falls Herald, of which he
became editor in time to take issue with the other papers of the
county and espouse the cause of Robert M. LaFollette, whom he admired
for his gallant fight against corporations and the old republican
machine of the state. It was a hot state campaign, but in spite of
the machine opposition and despite the most tempting overtures made
to thwart his course, Mr. Smith succeeded in giving LaFollette his
county by an overwhelming majority.

As a result of the LaFollette victory in the state and in fitting
recognition of Mr. Smith's ardent support throughout the campaign,
the young editor was at once recognized by the incoming
administration in appointment as assistant attorney general of
Wisconsin by the principal of that office, Hon. L. M. Sturdevant.
After ably filling the position for two years and five months, he
resigned to indulge again in a newspaper venture at Galesville. Here
he again championed the forces marshalled [sic] by the indomitable
LaFollette. As head of the Galesville Independent Mr. Smith threw his
whole soul into the work of the campaign, but then sold his interest
in the paper and removed to Tomah, Wisconsin, and resumed the general
practice of law. It was from Tomah that he went to Oklahoma in the
spring of 1910.

After leaving Oklahoma Mr. Smith went back to his old home at Park
Falls, Wisconsin, and there founded another and second newspaper, the
Park Falls Independent. He is now member of the firm of Smith &
Fuller, printers and publishers at Park Falls. The first volume of
the Park Falls Independent was issued September 15, 1915.

Mr. Smith has always been an ardent lover of fine harness horses and
has raised and kept several horses with a high class record. He is a
Knight Templar Mason, and is a past master of Tyre Lodge No. 42 at
Davis, Oklahoma. He also served as District Deputy Grand Master of
Oklahoma under Grand Master Charles E. Reeder and Grand Master
William P. Freeman. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
Church.

At Mondovi, Wisconsin, Mr. Smith married Miss Georgina BAKER,
daughter of George W. and Eulalia (SHOLTS) Baker of that city. Her
father was a direct descendant of Gen. Ethan ALLEN of Fort
Ticonderonga fame, his mother being an Allen. The military spirit of
the old hero seems to have been passed down, as George Baker served
during the Civil war in the Union ranks until he lost his arm at
Petersburg, when he was honorably discharged. His wife's only
brother, Wilson Sholts, marched with the forces of General Sherman to
the sea. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children: Georgina, born March
12, 1903; Wilson James, born April 23, 1912; and Richard Edwin, Jr.,
born September 19, 1913.

Typed for OKGenWeb by: Earline Sparks Barger, November 3, 1998.