Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-02-22
Zone To His Rest.

Milwaukee Cor -Ex-Gov. VIM. +.
Smith died tonight, surrounded by
his family and friends. VIM E. Smith
was born in Scotland, June Is,
1924, and emigrated with his parents to
the United States in early childhood.
The family located in New York city,
public schools. Upon reaching the age
of manhood, young Smith came West
and settled i'll falkland county, Mich
His experiences in the Wolverine State
did not prove satisfactory, hence in 1919
be removed to Wisconsin and set up as
a merchant in the town of Fox Lake
His business venture prospered to such
an extent that he soon acquired com
petence. Shortly after settling down in
Fox Lake. he interested himself in poll
tics and represented his district in the
senate in 1851. Thereafter was mem
Der of the State senate in 1858 and 1859
and again in 1864 and 1865 In the fall
of 1860 he was chosen state treasurer
which office he held for second term.
or until 1869. His election as state
treasurer was followed by his retirement
from business in Fox Lake, and after
leaving that Office he crossed the Allan
tic with his family and spent some time
in Europe. While abroad one of his
daughters, a highly educated and
charming young lady, died of malarial
fever in Rome. On returning to his old
Wisconsin home in 1871, he again en-
tered the political arena and aspired to
become governor of the State The
powers that be in Washington, however
placed curb on the laudable ambition
by securing the nomination and election
of G. &. Washburn. Then the people
of his old Dodge county district return
ed him to the State assembly, and he
presided over the deliberations of that
body as speaker. The year following
he removed to Milwaukee, where he
formed a copartnership with G A.
Roundy d Co. But although this new
business venture prospered from the
outset, Mr.. Smith still INDUCED quiet
craving for POLITICAL honors, and still
hoped to become governor of the state
Accordingly he pitted himself against
Harrison Ludington in 1875, and only
withdrew his name at the last moment
when he found that Ludington had an
absolute majority of the delegates in
the convention assembled.
His turn came at last in 1877, when
he was nominated without opposition
and elected by handsome plurality
over Judge James A. Mallory, Demo
crat. In 1879 he was again nomin
ated and elected for second term.
simultaneously with his election as the
executive of the State government he
withdrew from the grocery business,
only to resume it in 1882, by forming
partnership with II. NJ Mendel
and his son. Ira Smith, under the firm
name of Smith, Mendel & Co. In ad
dition TO the public positions mention
ed above, Mr. Smith served as one of
the directors of the State Prison from
1874 until 1877. 1t can truthfully be
said of him that ne attained to the
highest position of honor in the com
monwealth of Wisconsin through the
confidence which comes from strict and
long-tried integrity, answering LOYALTY
and unusual steadfastness to party
utilization. He has been man of rare
tact, good ability, and unblemished
public and private reputation. and al
ways ranked as one of the first citizens
of the State; whether judged as a mag
istrate, a politician, a merchant. or
citizen in the walks of private life. he
has been successful in every walk of
life, winning the warm friendship with
high esteem ofeyeryone with whom he
was brought in contact. His long SER
vice in the various legislative and exc
cutive departments of the State govern
ment has identified him with its politi-
cal history almost interruptedly for
period of thirty years. The news of his
sudden death will be received with
feeling of universal regret among all
classes of people, alike representing as
they do every shade of political opinion
and belief