Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-25

clans ceased their treatment of the malig
nant ulcer. which had thoroughly poisoned
the system. DR.. H. R. Street. the attend
ing physician, said that 1t was the most
virulent carbuncle he had ever seen.
Gen. Smith came from famous family
of Kentucky, which has been noted for its
stanch adherence to the Union. His father
was a member of Congress from that state,
and occupied several other important pub
lie positions. Green Clay Smith was born
in Richmond, KY, the ID OF July. 1889, so
that he has lived to be a little less than
sixty-three years of age. He was named
after his grandfather, Green Clay. who was
member of that great Clay family that
produced one of the earliest of Americas
famous statesmen. His first military eXpe-
rience was in the Mexican war, having en-
listed at the age of fifteen in a regiment of
Kentucky cavalry. He served one year and
then returned to Lexington, KY, where he
which he graduated in 1850 He then
studied law. and graduated from the Lex
ington Law School in 1853, and he formed
partnership with his father in the city Of
Covington. He was school commissioner
from 1853 to 1857. During the bitter strife
that preceded the civil war he took a
strong position in favor of the Union, and
in 1860 was a member of the Kentucky
legislature. in which capacity he spoke and
acted against secession. In 1861 he enlisted
as private in Col. Foley's regim emit for
home defense, and served three months.
He was then offered the position of major
cruit a battalion. When this work was
done he resigned. and was appointed col
onel Of the fourth Kentucky cavalry, In
February, 1862 and was sent to the front
in the south, under Gen. Rosecrans. He
saw a great deal of active service, was
wounded at Lebanon. Tenn, and was made
brigadier general of volunteers June II,
1862. He was then assigned to the fourth
brigade of cavalry. under Rosecrans, and
was complimented in public orders for his
gallantry in cavalry battle with Gen. For
13, 1865. he was brevetted major general.
While in the field he was nominated for
Congress as republican and resigned his
military commission December l, 1863, in
order to take his seat in the House. He
served two terms in Congress. In 1864 his
friends presented his name to the Balt-
more republican convention, which re-
nominated President Lincoln. and to which
vice presidency. There was a severe con-
test between him and Andrew Johnson, and
Green Clay Smith was defeated by half
vote for the nomination. which eventually
caused Andrew Johnson to become Presi-
dent of the United States. In 1865 he re-
signed from Congress to accept the ap-
pointment of governor of Montana tender
ed him by President johnson, and he serv-
he entered the ministry and was or
dained and became pastor of the Baptist
Church at Frankfort, Ky. His effort was
to withdraw entirely from public life and
devote himself to Christian work. but hav-
ing become greatly interested In temper
aEce reform, he was given the unanimous
nomina ton for President by the prohibition
convention which met at Cleveland in May,
1876. He received popular vote of $500.
Gen. Smith continued in the ministry, but
for some years devoted himself to evangel-
ical work. In 1890 he was called to the
pastorate of the Metropolitan Baptist
Church in this city. and made himself I'M
usually popular with the local Baptlsts.
Despite his failing health he participated
in the Washington conference of the Bap-
fist Churches last autumn, and though con-
siderably more feeble he was quite active
In making preparations for the Southern
Baptist convention held in this city some
weeks ago.
He did not lose his interest in military
matters Notwithstanding his religious incli-
nation. and in March, 1891, he was chosen to
be department commander of the Union
Veterans Union of the Department of the
Potomac, and was reelected the next Oc-
tober to serve year. In this capacity he
was prominent among those who made ar
engagements for the annual encampment of
the Grand Army of the Republic and of
the Union Veterans Union held in this
city in September, 1892. He has been men
tened at times as a possible occupant of
the Office of commissioner of pensions.
Mrs. Smith Is still alive. and the family
consists of two daughters and one son.
One Of the daughters. Mrs. Whitehead of
Kentucky, has been with her father during
his illness. The other children, Duke and
Mamie. are unmarried.