Laramie County WY Archives Biographies.....Smiley, Elmer E. 1862 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 21, 2008, 3:55 am

Author: Bowen & Co. (1903)

ELMER E. SMILEY.

   One of the leading educators of the West and one whose career gives great
promise of future achievement, is Elmer E. Smiley, the president of the State
University of Wyoming. A man of liberal views and large humanitarianism, he is a
profound scholar and a fine executive officer, devoted to his work, having the
best ideals of life both in private place and public station. His emigrant
American ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent, a stock which has contributed
so many distinguished men to American history. They settled first in New
Hampshire in 1727. The family took an active and patriotic part in public
affairs during the Colonial period of New England history and three of them were
active participants in the Revolutionary War, one being a minute man, and one a
soldier at the battle of Bunker Hill. During the late Civil War there were
descendants of the family on both sides of the conflict, but the parents of
President Smiley were patriotic adherents to the Union cause. He is a native of
New York, born in the city of Syracuse on August 6, 1862. His parents, Alpheus
and Rosetta K. Smiley, were ardent admirers of Col. Elmer E. Ellsworth, the
gallant young Union leader who was killed at Alexandria. Va., at the beginning
of the Civil War, and named their son in honor of the dead hero. The father of
President Smiley was engaged in the coopering business at Syracuse at a time
when the barrels containing Syracuse salt were shipped to all parts of the
world. As a young boy, Elmer E. Smiley was of studious habits and gave promise
of a brilliant future. He attended the common schools but later was sent to the
celebrated Onondaga Academy, where he pursued a thorough preparatory course of
study, and was graduated as the valedictorian of the class of '79. At the same
academy, founded as early as 1813, Thurlow Weed and Horatio Seymour received
their early education, and many other of its sons have borne honored part in
their country's history. After completing his course at the academy he engaged
in pedagogic labors for a time and then matriculated at the famous Syracuse
University, where he entered upon the full classical course. Although compelled
by circumstances to suspend his studies from time to time for the purpose of
teaching in order to earn funds to meet living expenses, he persevered in his
ambition to acquire a thorough education and was graduated with the degree of A.
B., as a member of the class of '85. From his previous experience in teaching he
was enabled to secure a good position and at once became the principal of the
East Bloomfield Free Academy in western New York. He continued in that position
for two years and met with conspicuous success. He then tendered his resignation
to take a post-graduate course in the Semitic languages at Yale University,
under the instruction of Prof. William R. Harper, then one of the leading
professors at Yale and now president of the Chicago University, At the end of a
three-years' course of study he received the degree of B. D., with special
honors. Having decided to enter the ministry, he remained another year at Yale
and pursued a course in theology, philosophy and sociology. He soon accepted a
call from Vancouver, Wash., where he became the founder of the Pilgrim
Congregational church. He was very successful in this chosen work and acquired a
high reputation as an eloquent preacher. In 1894 he received a call from the
First Congregational church of Cheyenne, Wyo., which he accepted, and then
removed his residence from the city of Vancouver. For many years this church had
been distinguished by the able and eloquent men who had occupied its pulpit,
among others being the Rev. J. D. Davis, D. D., now of Doshisha College, Japan,
and the Rev. Josiah Strong. D. D., author of "Our Country," and the high
standard of excellence which they had established was continued during the
administration of Doctor Smiley. In 1898, he was elected to the presidency of
the State University of Wyoming, and resigned his pastorate for the purpose of
accepting that responsible position. Since he has been at the head of the State
University that institution has had a remarkable advance in power and influence
and is rapidly becoming one of the leading educational institutions of the West.
His management has been characterized by ability of a high order and its
influence for good has been largely extended throughout the state. On June 17,
1891, before coming to the West, Mr. Smiley was united in marriage with Miss
Edith Constance House, of Lysander, N. Y., and his wife has been a great help to
him in his lifework, being a woman of strong character and of marked literary
tastes, ability and high culture. To their union have been born two children,
Hollis B. and Dean P., two bright lads who give promise of being worthy
successors of their father. The home of President and Mrs. Smiley is the center
of a gracious and refined hospitality, which they take pleasure in dispensing to
their large circle of friends. Doctor Smiley is comparatively young and is
evidently destined to have a long and distinguished career of usefulness. The
honorary degree of A. M. has been conferred upon him by Yale University and the
degree of Doctor of Divinity by his alma mater. He is one of the strong men of
the educational world and his future career will be watched with interest.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

PROGRESSIVE MEN OF THE STATE OF WYOMING

ILLUSTRATED

A people who take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will
never achieve anything worthy to he remembered with pride by remote
generations.—.MACAULAY.

CHICAGO, ILL.
A. W. BOWEN &CO.
PUBLISHERS AND ENGRAVERS
1903

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