William SMYTH, Congress, IA (1824-1870)

SMYTH, William, a Representative from Iowa; born in Eden, County Tyrone, Ireland, January 3, 1824; attended the rural schools; completed preparatory studies; immigrated to the United States in 1838 with his parents, who settled in Pennsylvania; moved to Iowa in 1844; attended the University of Iowa at Iowa City; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1847 and commenced practice in Marion, Iowa; prosecuting attorney of Linn County 1848-1853; was appointed judge of the district court for the fourth judicial district of Iowa in 1853 and served until his resignation in 1857; resumed the practice of law; in 1858 served as chairman of the commission to codify and revise the State laws; during the Civil War served in the Union Army for two years as colonel of the Thirty-first Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry; elected as a Republican to the Forty-first Congress and served from March 4, 1869, until his death; renominated in 1870 and was a candidate for reelection at the time of his death; died in Marion, Iowa, September 30, 1870; interment in Oak Shade Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present