Dietrich C. Smith

Dietrich Conrad Smith (born April 4, 1840 in East Friesland , Kingdom of Hanover , † April 18, 1914 in Pekin , Illinois ) was a German-American politician . Between 1881 and 1883 he represented the state of Illinois in the US House of Representatives .

Career

Around 1850, Dietrich Smith and his parents came to Pekin in Illinois from their German homeland. He attended public schools in his new home and Quincy College . During the civil war he served in the Union army until 1863 , where he rose to captain. He took part in several battles and was wounded in the meantime. After his military service, Smith worked in banking, crafts, and the railroad business. In 1874 he founded the German College in Mount Pleasant . He was then a member of the board of trustees of this educational institution for many years. At the same time he embarked on a political career as a member of the Republican Party . From 1876 to 1878 he was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives .

In the congressional elections of 1880 Smith was elected to the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the 13th constituency of Illinois , where he succeeded future Vice President Adlai Ewing Stevenson on March 4, 1881 . Since he was not confirmed in 1882, he could only serve one term in Congress until March 3, 1883 .

After his time in the US House of Representatives, Dietrich Smith worked again in the banking industry. He died on April 18, 1914 in Pekin, where he was also buried.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Smith, Dietrich C.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Smith, Dietrich Conrad (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German-American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	April 4, 1840
PLACE OF BIRTH	East Frisia , Kingdom of Hanover
DATE OF DEATH	April 18, 1914
Place of death	Pekin , Illinois