Frank Smith (Wisconsin politician)

Frank Smith (c. 1849 – February 13, 1921) was an American dentist and Republican politician from Madison, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing central Dane County during the 1909 session.

Frank Smith
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Dane 1st district
In office
January 4, 1909 – January 2, 1911
Preceded byElmore Elver
Succeeded byCornelius A. Harper
Personal details
Bornc. 1849
Ripley, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedFebruary 13, 1921(1921-02-13) (aged 71–72)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeGreenwood Cemetery, Brodhead, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spousemarried
EducationChicago College of Dental Surgery
ProfessionDentist
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of servicelate 1860s

Biography

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Frank Smith was born in Ripley, Tennessee, in 1849. At age 17, just after the conclusion of the American Civil War, he enlisted in the United States Army and served a three-year term of enlistment. After his honorable discharge, he purchased a farm in Green County, Wisconsin. He remained on the farm for only a few years, then spent four years working as a traveling salesman. Beginning in the late 1870s, he worked for nine years as an engineer for the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.[1]

He then moved to Chicago, where he entered the Chicago College of Dental Surgery, graduating in 1894. He practiced for several years as a dentist in Chicago before returning to Madison in 1901.[1]

In 1902, he was elected to the Madison city council, running on the Republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1904.[1]

In 1908, he ran for Wisconsin State Assembly under the new Primary election system. He prevailed in the primary over two opponents, including the last Republican representative of the district—Ernest Warner. He went on to win the general election with 43% of the vote, defeating the incumbent Democrat Elmore Elver.[1] He served during the 49th Wisconsin Legislature and ran for re-election in 1910, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Madison physician Cornelius A. Harper.[2]

Smith died at his home in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, on February 3, 1921, after suffering a year of illness.[3]

Electoral history

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Wisconsin Assembly (1908, 1910)

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Wisconsin Assembly, Dane 1st District Election, 1908[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Primary, September 8, 1908
Republican Frank Smith 1,432 48.61%
Republican Ernest Warner 1,130 38.36%
Republican H. C. Duke 382 12.97%
Republican William J. McKay 2 0.07%
Plurality 302 10.25%
Total votes 2,946 100.0%
General Election, November 3, 1908
Republican Frank Smith 3,217 43.00% +8.83%
Democratic Elmore Elver (incumbent) 2,923 39.07% +1.69%
Independent William J. McKay 1,307 17.47% −10.99%
Social Democratic William T. Boorman 35 0.47%
Plurality 294 3.93% +0.72%
Total votes 7,482 100.0% +35.62%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 7.14%
Wisconsin Assembly, Dane 1st District Election, 1910[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Primary, September 6, 1910
Republican Cornelius A. Harper 2,327 62.67%
Republican Frank Smith (incumbent) 1,386 37.33% −11.28%
Plurality 941 25.34% +15.09%
Total votes 3,713 100.0% +26.04%

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Beck, J. D., ed. (1909). "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 1113. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Nelson's Lead is 1,738". Wisconsin State Journal. September 17, 1910. p. 7. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Dr. Frank Smith is Dead; Ill for Year". Wisconsin State Journal. February 14, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the Dane 1st district
January 4, 1909 – January 2, 1911
Succeeded by