Oscar J. Smith

Oscar James Smith
Born	Burrillville, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	18 February 1937(1937-02-18) (aged 77) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Attorney, banker, public official
Years active	1880s–1930s
Known for	Member of the New York State Assembly (1919)

Oscar James Smith (August 15, 1859 – February 18, 1937) was a prominent American attorney, banker, and public official.

Life

Smith was born in Burrillville, Rhode Island, and received his education at Leicester Academy followed by the Colorado State School of Mines. In 1880, he relocated to Colorado where he initially worked as a miner and cowboy. By 1884, he had taken a position at a smelting facility, progressing over six years from a laborer to a traveling purchaser of ore. By 1890, Smith operated independently as an ore trader along the western coast of Mexico. He settled in Reno, Nevada, in 1896.

His banking career included executive positions such as president of Eureka County Bank beginning in 1898, leadership roles at the First National Bank of Elko, Southern Nevada Banking Company (which later became the First National Bank of Rhyolite), and vice-president of the Bank of Manhattan in 1906. After being admitted to the Nevada bar in 1897, Smith practiced law both solo and with the firm Cheney, Massey & Smith. From 1905 until 1909, he served as a Regent for the University of Nevada.

A committed Republican, Smith participated as a delegate at the 1900 Republican National Convention and served as an alternate delegate in 1908. He campaigned unsuccessfully for Nevada’s at-large congressional seat in 1906. Around 1913, he moved to New York City where he opened legal offices located at 115 Broadway.

In 1919, Smith secured election to the New York State Assembly representing Manhattan’s 22nd District. Notably opposed to Prohibition, he introduced legislation aimed at suspending enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment within New York State. He was defeated in his bid for re-election in 1920 and subsequently made several unsuccessful attempts during the 1920s and early 1930s to return to Congress or the Assembly as both a Republican and Independent Wet candidate.

Smith also contributed as historian for the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and was recognized for his expertise on Abraham Lincoln. His memberships included the New York County Lawyers' Association, New York County Republican Committee, Bohemian Club of San Francisco, Alta Club of Salt Lake City, and the Elks. He was married twice—first to Minnie D. Foley in 1896 and later to Joanna Muller Gordon. Smith passed away from pneumonia at Knickerbocker Hospital on February 18, 1937.

External links

• The Political Graveyard