Richard L. Smith Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1149-1150 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	RICHARD L. SMITH is a native of Jennings county, Indiana, where he 
was born on the 26th of April, 1833, being one of the eleven children 
born to James P. and Eliza A. (Beecham) Smith. His father was a farmer 
and each of the eight sons assisted in the work of the homestead place, 
while during the winter terms they were able to attend the district 
schools. At the age of eighteen Mr. Smith proved himself eligible for 
pedagogic honors, securing a license to teach school. He proved 
successful in his work as a teacher and devoted his attention to this 
profession for three successive years, while during this time he 
relegated the work of the farm to his younger brothers and worked at the 
carpenter's trade during the summer vacation periods. During this time 
he was giving as much attention as possible to the study of medicine, 
first carrying on his studies under the direction of his older brother, 
a successful practicing physician, and then passing two years under the 
effective preceptorship of Dr. William F. Riley, of Omega, Indiana, who 
took a great interest in the young man and aided him in more ways than 
one. The subject, during this time, made his home with his preceptor and 
in the fall of 1855 he obtained from Dr. Riley a certificate of 
qualification which enabled him to practice medicine under the laws of 
Indiana. After a short time he removed to Illinois, being engaged in 
practice at Decatur for two years and then taking up his residence in 
Salem, that state, while in the following year he entered the office of 
Dr. Stephen F. Mercer, of that place, and devoted two years to a 
systematic review of his professional studies. 

	At the outbreak of the Rebellion Dr. Smith was among the first to 
tender his services in defense of the Union. On May 9, 1861, he enlisted 
as a private in Company G, Twenty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and 
for the ensuing four years and nine months the history of his regiment 
is coincident with his personal career as a valiant and loyal soldier. 
He participated in many of the most important battles incident to the 
progress of the great fratricidal conflict, his regiment being for the 
greater portion of the time a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and it 
was his good fortune to escape wounds and sickness, while he never asked 
for or received a furlough or a leave of absence. He was always present 
for active duty or for detached service, and his fidelity and zeal never 
wavered during the long and arduous service which he rendered in behalf 
of the nation's honor and integrity. He was made first lieutenant of his 
company in October, 1862, prior to the battle of Stone River, in which 
he was an active participant. He was promoted to captain after the 
capture of Atlanta in 1864 and received his honorable discharge, at 
Springfield, Illinois, on the 6th of February, 1866. 

	After the close of his military service Dr. Smith returned to his 
former home, in Marion county, Illinois, for the purpose of securing a 
much needed rest, and there he purchased a farm, which he operated by 
proxy. In 1868 he made a vigorous campaign for the office of clerk of 
the circuit court, and; he states that in the connection he was 
"defeated by a respectable majority.” In June, 1869, he was appointed by 
President Grant as superintendent of Indian schools for the northwest, 
Nez Perces, of Idaho; Shoshones, of Wyoming; and Red Clouds, of South 
Dakota, resigning in February, 1872. In October, 1872, Dr. Smith entered 
the employ of the great publishing house of Lippincott & Company, of 
Philadelphia, and was assigned the management of their educational 
department for the northwest. In the following year he was appointed 
steward of the Illinois state prison, at Joliet, retaining this office 
until 1874, after which he devoted his attention to his profession until 
1882, when he came to South Dakota and took up a claim in township 113, 
range 70, Hand county, where he has ever since maintained his home and 
where he has developed and improved a valuable farm of six hundred and 
forty acres. Five acres of his ranch are under cultivation and the 
remainder is devoted to the raising of hay and to grazing purposes. He 
raises an excellent grade of live stock, giving special attention to the 
breeding of horses, in which he has met with marked success. He has not 
been actively engaged in the practice of his profession for a number of 
years, but still takes a deep interest in the science and keeps in touch 
with the advances made in the same. 

	Dr. Smith has been an active factor in public affairs ever since 
coming to the territory and the state of South Dakota can find no one 
more loyal to its interests than is he. He has been a staunch supporter 
of the principles of the Republican party from the time of its 
organization. He was the first superintendent of schools for Hand county 
and a member of the first state constitutional convention, and in I89I 
he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners of Hand 
county, serving three years, during the last of which he was chairman of 
the board. In 1892 he was the nominee of his party for the state senate, 
but met the defeat which attended the ticket in general throughout the 
state. In 1902 he was elected to represent his district in the lower 
house of the legislature, serving during the ensuing general assembly 
with marked ability and to the satisfaction of his constituents who had 
honored him by their preferment. He was chairman of the committee on 
public health and also a member of the important committees on ways and 
means and education. In March, 1902, the Doctor was made the recipient 
of a beautiful gold-headed cane, which was presented by the Aberdeen 
District Medical Society, in recognition of his valuable services as 
chairman of the house committee first mentioned. The Doctor is a member 
of Masonic fraternity and of the State Historical Society. In religious 
matters he is liberal and tolerant, having the deepest respect for the 
essential spiritual verities. 

	On the 15th of July, 1872, Dr. Smith was united in marriage to 
Miss Emma D. White, of Iuka, Illinois. She was born in Bond county, 
Illinois, and is a daughter of Robert F. White, who was an honored 
pioneer of Illinois. Dr. and Mrs. Smith have two sons, Lawrence N. W., 
born in prison, Joliet, Illinois, April 6, 1874, and who is now on the 
home farm, and Clarence I. W., who was born in Marion county, Illinois, 
December 7, 1876, and is also on the home farm.