William Jay SMITH, Congress, TN (1823-1913)

SMITH, William Jay, a Representative from Tennessee; born in Birmingham, England, September 24, 1823; immigrated to the United States and settled in Orange County, N.Y.; attended the common schools; learned the printing trade; moved to Tennessee in 1846; during the Mexican War, in 1847, served in a regiment from that State; moved to Hardeman County, Tenn., and engaged in horticulture; during the Civil War served in the Union Army 1861-1865; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1865; member of the State house of representatives, 1865-1867; served in the State senate, 1867-1869 and 1885-1887; surveyor of the port of Memphis, Tenn., 1871-1883; elected as a Republican to the Forty-first Congress (March 4, 1869-March 3, 1871); unsuccessful candidate for reelection; engaged in the real estate business and in banking; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1876; died in Memphis, Tenn., November 29, 1913; interment in Elmwood Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present