The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-06-04
COL. JOHN SPEED SMITH.
He Practiced Law and Went To Congress
Between the Wars Of His Time.

and he was lett TO the care OF MS mOtncr,
highly cultivated and intellectual woman.
In a few years however she contracted
second marriage, and young Smith was
intrusted to the guardianship of his uncle,
that grand type Of the old Kentucky gen
tleman, John Speed, Of jefferson county,
the father of the late ex-Attorney Gener-
al, Hon. James Speed. Under his care
he grew to manhood His early educa-
ton, and especially the study of the Ian
guages, was obtained from Joshua Fry,
classical scholar, and the most noted ed
ucater then in Kentucky. He completed
his education under DR.. Prestly, another
eminent educator of that day. He chose
the profession of the law and entered the
office of the distinguished jurist John
Rowan, of Bardstown, as a student of
Blackstone and Coke. Scarcely had he
completed his law studies when the
Northwestern Indians, melted to violence
and murder by the wild and stirring elO-
quence of Tecumseh and the Prophet, be
came SO troublesome that troops were
called out to quell them. Smith laid aside
his books, shouldered a musket and join
ed company of volunteers, and with
| Coils Abraham Owen and Joseph Ham,
] ilton Daviess, repaired to the camp of
Gen. Harrison, on the Wabash. A few
days later the ever-memOrable battle OF
TippecanOe was fought, and his two
friends, Coils Owen and Davies, laid
down their lives upon its bloody field.
Returning from this campaign Col
Smith at once entered upon the busy
scenes Of life. He selected as his location
Richmond, the capital Of Madison county,
and was admitted to the bar at the June
term OF the Circuit COur in 1912, when
but twenty years of age.
War clouds had again settled over us.
Our second war with England had COM
menced. Mr.. Smith again volunteered
as a private soldier. He joined the COM
pany of Capt r. 4. Sturgiss, and revis-
tied the Wabash in the army Of General
Hopkins. In the summer of 1918 his
command was ordered to the assistance Of
Gen. Green Clay, who was besieged in
Fort Meigs by large force of British and
Indians Gen CLAY had lost nearly all
his staff at "Dudley's Defeat, and offer
ed Smith the position of Major. He de-
cided to accept it, and on his way to the
dangerous post he met his old Tippeca-
noe commander, Gen. Harrison, who was
then concentrating his army preparatory
to pursue the British and Indian army
inio Upper Canada. Gen. Harrison in
vited him to become a member of his
military family as his aid-de-camp with
the rank of Col. He accepted and cross
ed the Lake into Canada, where he took
part in the battle of the Thames Hon
orabe mention was made of his gallantry
in that hars-fought battle by Gen. Harri-
son in his official report to the War De-
partment. When the war closed he re-
turned to Richmond and resumed his
law practice, which he followed with
marked success until 1919, when he was
elected to the Legislature. He served in
that body until 1921, when he was elected
to Congress.
Col Smith took prominent place and
welded great influence in Congress. His
untiring energy, his courteous and grace
full manners and his commanding elo-
quence, made him a leader. 1t was a pc
Rod in the nations history when the ma
tiOnal councils boosted of great men and
Statesmen, and among them John Speed
Smith was an equal. He was elected to
the Legislature, and served in both
Houses a number of terms. In the SEN
ate from 1916 to 1850, and in the Lower
House 1872 1927, 1880, 1899, 1871 and Is
40, and served one termas Speaker In the
Senate he was the author of the patriotic
inscription on the beautiful block of mar
bic contributed by Kentucky to the
Washington Monument" Kentucky, the
first of the Union, by the patriotism OF
her sons and the guidance of a good
Providence would be the last to give it
up"
During the Administration John Quin-
cy Adams, Col. Smith was rendered two
diplomatic appointments, both of which
he declined. This was at a time when
office sought the man not the man the
Office. He was United States District At
torney for Kentucy several years, and
which office he filed with dignity and
ability, and the duties of which he dis
charged with great acceptability.
In 1889 when Kentucky was greatly
irritated and excited over the repeal OF
the Fugitive Slave law" of the the
State OF Ohio, be and Gov. Charles More
head were appointed by the Governor
and Senate of Kentucky to visit the Leg
islature of Ohio. then in session at Col
umbus, and solicit the re-enactInent OF
the law. The mission was delicate one
and beset with serious difficulties Even
then the questions were brewing that
eliminated in 1861, and precipitated up
on the country the most terrific civil wal
recorded in the worlds history Yet the
manly courtesy and the persuasive elo-
quence of the commissioners prevailed
and the discomfort and excitement in
, Kentucky alIayed, by her sister State
granting her wishes.
Col Smith was married July !, 1915
soon after his retirement from the army
to Miss Eliza L. Clay, daughter of Gen
Green Clay, a prominent man in the ear.
ly history OF Kentucky. He has descend
ants still in Kentucky, worthy represent
atives of their worthy ancestor.
Col Smith was prominent and zeal.
Gus Mason, and took an active interest
in the welfare of the order. He was elected
Grand Master of Kentucky in 1924, q
distinguished honor, which hitherto had
been conferred in this State, only upon
George NJ. Bib. Joseph Hamilton Da-
; viess and Henry Clay HIHian, Henry
Perrin, IN Courier-Jou1aal.
ACCOMPANIED THE BILL.
Singularly enough Senator Carlisle