Jump to content

Martin L. Smyser

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martin Luther Smyser
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio
In office
March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891
Preceded byGeorge W. Crouse
Succeeded byVincent A. Taylor
Constituency20th district
In office
March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907
Preceded byJohn W. Cassingham
Succeeded byWilliam A. Ashbrook
Constituency17th district
Judge of the Ohio Circuit Court for the Fifth Circuit
In office
January 14, 1898 – November 15, 1898
Preceded byJulius C. Pomerene
Succeeded byJohn M. Swartz
Personal details
Born(1851-04-03)April 3, 1851
Wayne County, Ohio
DiedMay 6, 1908(1908-05-06) (aged 57)
Wooster, Ohio
Resting placeWooster Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
Alma materWittenberg College

Martin Luther Smyser (April 3, 1851 – May 6, 1908) was an American lawyer and politician who served two non-consecutive terms as a U.S. Representative from Ohio.

Biography

[edit]

Born on a farm in Plain Township, Wayne County, Ohio, Smyser attended the common schools and was graduated from Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, in 1870. He studied law at Wooster under Lyman R. Critchfield.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and practiced in Wooster. In 1873 he entered into partnership with Addison S. McClure.[1]

Smyser was elected prosecuting attorney of Wayne County in 1872 and served one term. He served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1884 and 1888.

Smyser was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-first Congress (March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Wooster. In 1898, he was appointed to the Fifth Circuit Court by Governor Bushnell upon the death of Judge Julius C. Pomerene.[1] Smyser ran for re-election to a full six-year term later that year, but was defeated in the general election by Democratic nominee Richard M. Voorhees.[2]

Smyser was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1906 to the Sixtieth Congress. He continued the practice of law in Wooster, Ohio, until his death in that city May 6, 1908. He was interred in Wooster Cemetery.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Douglas, Ben (1900). History of the lawyers of Wayne County, Ohio, from 1812 to 1900. Clapper Printing. pp. 73–80.
  2. ^ Ohio Secretary of State (1898). Ohio Election Statistics. Fred J. Heer, State Printer. p. 32.
[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 20th congressional district

1889-1891
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 17th congressional district

1905-1907
Succeeded by