Montgomery County PA Archives Obituaries.....Smith, Gen. Wm. R.  August 22, 1868
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The Cambria freeman. (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938: September 17, 1868
Gen. Wm. R. Smith died at Quincy, Ill., on the 22d ult., "full of years and full of
honors." He was born at the Trappe, Montgomery Co., Pa., on the 31st day of August,
1787, and consequently was nearly eighty-one years of age. He was the grandson of
William Smith, D. D., the first Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, in
Philadelphia, and by whom Huntingdon was laid out. His father,  Wm. Moore Smith, an
eminent lawyer of Philadelphia, had been appointed to settle some claims under Jay's
celebrated treaty with England, and accordingly in 1803 he accompanied him to that
country, where he remained about a year. After his return, he studied law in
Philadelphia, and was there admitted to the bar. Here he also married, and in 1808
removed to Huntingdon, where by his talents he soon distinguished himself in his
profession, and during his long residence there, was frequently called to fill
places of trust and responsibility. He represented that county for many years in our
State Legislature, both in the House of Representatives and Senate, and was one of
the most efficient advocates of our then projected system of State improvements of
canals and railways. Ever devoted to literature, his leisure hours were occupied in
furnishing contributions which are to be found scattered in many of the publications
of the day. Following the bent of his inclination, he commenced in 1810 the
publication of a literary magazine called the "Huntingdon Museum," which was edited
by himself and his friend, the late Moses Canan, Esq. This was considered at that
day quite an enterprise, as it was the first magazine published west of the
Susquehanna river; which, however, was only continued for about a year, when it was
suspended, owing to a want of sufficient encouragement.
He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, and if we mistake not, was the first
Master of "Mount Moriah Lodge," established in Huntingdon.
In 1827 Gen. Smith removed with his family from Huntingdon to the adjoining county
of Bedford, where he still continued to practice his profession.
At the Presidential election in 1836 he was chosen one of the Presidential electors
for the State, and in the following year was appointed by President Van Buren one of
the Commissioners to negotiate a treaty with the Chippeway Indians on the upper
Mississippi.
In the fall of 1838 he removed with his family to Mineral Point, in the then
Territory of Wisconsin. Here his services were soon called into requisition as
Adjutant General in organizing the Militia, and the duties of this office he
continued to discharge for several years. Elected as a member of the first
Convention to frame a Constitution for a State government in 1846, he took a leading
and active part in its debates, but this Constitution failed in being ratified by
the people, owing to some features in it considered to be objectionable.
Subsequently another Convention was called and a Constitution framed, which received
the approbation of the people in 1848, in which most of the State officers were made
elective by the people of the State. Under it, Gen. Smith was elected to the office
of Attorney General, the duties of which he discharged satisfactorily during his
term of office. Whilst engaged at the seat of government he projected the foundation
of a State Historical Society, which is now in full success and may be considered
firmly established. Already several thousand books, pamphlets and paintings have
been collected, and as President of the Wisconsin Historical Society,  General Smith
was devoted to its interests until the day of his death. The Legislature of the
State having also directed that a history of Wisconsin should be written ere the
material now at hand should be lost, Gov. Farwell, in 1852, accordingly appointed
Gen. Smith to execute the task. How laboriously he applied himself to it is evinced
by the two volumes already published by the Legislature in 1854.
As age advanced upon him, he gradually retired from the duties of his profession,
and spent his time in his library, surrounded by his books, or enjoying the social
conversation of his friends. His reading extended through every branch of
literature, and being gifted with an extraordinarily retentive memory and fine
conversational powers, he gave a charm to the social circle, and afforded
instruction and pleasure to both young and old. His mental faculties remained clear
and unclouded to the last, and without disease he sank to rest, merely from old age,
surrounded by a part of his family and fnends. He
leaves a large number of children and grand children in this State, Illinois and
Wisconsin. 
His remains were taken to Mineral Point, Wis., and there interred by a large
concourse of relatives and friends, and of the Masonic order, of which he was during
life an active and honored member. 



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