WILLIAM ALDEN SMITH
SMITH, WILLIAM ALDEN, lawyer, legislator, member of the United States house of representatives, from the fifth Michigan district, was born at Dowagiac, Michigan, May 12, 1859. During youth his educational advantages were limited to the common schools, and when twelve years of age, his parents removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where for some time he was a newsboy, and messenger in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company. In 1879, he received an appointment as page in the Michigan house of representatives, and, after three years of service with that body, was made assistant secretary of the Michigan State senate. During this time he had taken up the study of law and in 1883, he was admitted to the bar. He entered at once upon the active practice of his profession, advancing with rapid strides until he attained a prominent position at the bar of his state.
During the years 1888, 1890 and 1892 he was a member of the Republican state central committee; and in 1895 he was elected a representative in congress from the fifth Michigan district. He has served in the fifty-fourth, fifty-fifth, fifty-sixth, fifty-seventh and fifty-eighth Congresses, and has been reelected to the fifty-ninth Congress. He is chairman of the house committee on Pacific Railroads, and a member of the committee on Foreign Affairs.
From 1886 to 1901, Mr. Smith was general counsel for the Chicago and West Michigan, and Detroit, Grand Rapids and Western Railroad companies. He is now the president of the Grand Rapids "Herald," and first vice-president of the Peoples Savings Bank of Grand Rapids, his home city. His ability as a lawyer, his readiness in debate, his calm judgment on public issues, and his sterling personal qualities have made him a valued member of the national legislative body. In June 1901, Dartmouth college conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. He was a member of the committee having in charge the memorial exercises of the late President McKinley at Washington, District of Columbia.
In 1886, Mr. Smith married Nana Osterhaut.
