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Subject: [IA-CIVIL-WAR] 1903 Bio of William Smyth
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 10:33:44 EST
WILLIAM SMYTH was born in Tyrone County, Ireland, January 3, 1824. He came
with his parents to America when about fifteen years of age and in 1840 located
in Linn County, Iowa. Mr. Smyth studied law at Iowa City and in 1848 opened
a law office in Marion. In 1853 he was appointed judge of the Fourth Judicial
District, serving until 1857. In 1858 he was chosen by the Seventh General
Assembly one of three commissioners to revise and edify the laws of the State.
Their work was accepted by the Legislature and became the Code in 1860.
Judge Smyth was then appointed on the Commission to Legal Inquiry. In 1861 he was
one of the commissioners appointed to negotiate the bonds issued by the State
to provide a war defense fund. In August, 1862, he was commissioned colonel
of the Thirty-first Iowa Infantry and served in the field until December,
1864, when he resigned on account of failing health. In 1868 he was elected to
Congress and served until his death in 1870.
Debbie Clough Gerischer
Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/
IAGENWEB: Special History Project:
http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm
Gerischer Family Web Site:
http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/
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