US Congressman. He was born one of seven children on a farm in Plain Township, Wayne County, Ohio, to Emanuel Smyser and his wife Catherine Albert Smyser on April 3, 1851. He was educated locally and attended the common schools before attending and graduating from the prestigious Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio, in 1870. He then studied law under Ohio Attorney General Lyman R. Critchfield, was admitted to the bar in 1872, and opened up his practice of law in Wooster, Ohio, when he went into partnership with future United States Representative Addison Smith McClure, shortly thereafter. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Wayne County, Ohio, in 1872, and served one term. He then entered politics and served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1884 and again in 1888. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Member of the Republican Party, he then served Ohio's 20th District while representing the Fifty-Fourth Congress in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1889, to March 3, 1891. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Vincent Albert Taylor on March 4, 1891. He was an unsuccessful Candidate for reelection to represent the Fifty-Second Congress in 1890. He then resumed his practice of law in Wooster, Ohio, and was appointed to the Ohio District Courts of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on January 15, 1898, by then-Governor of Ohio Asa Smith Bushnell. He was a Delegate to the Republican National Convention from Ohio in 1904. He then ran for another seat in the United States Congress and was once again elected. A Member of the Republican Party, he then served Ohio's 17th District while representing the Fifty-Ninth Congress in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1905, to March 3, 1907. He was an unsuccessful Candidate for reelection to represent the Sixtieth Congress in 1906. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative William Albert Ashbrook on March 4, 1907. After leaving the United States Congress he returned to Wooster, Ohio, and continued with his practice of law until his death. He passed away from a sudden stroke at his home in Wooster, Ohio, on May 6, 1908, at the age of 57, and was buried in Wooster Cemetery in Wooster, Ohio. He was married to Alice A. France in Wayne County, Ohio, on February 1, 1881, but it is not known if the couple had any children. His wife Alice survived him and she passed away in Wooster, Ohio, on August 25, 1937, at the age of 85, and was buried with her husband in Wooster Cemetery in Wooster, Ohio.
US Congressman. He was born one of seven children on a farm in Plain Township, Wayne County, Ohio, to Emanuel Smyser and his wife Catherine Albert Smyser on April 3, 1851. He was educated locally and attended the common schools before attending and graduating from the prestigious Wittenberg College in Springfield, Ohio, in 1870. He then studied law under Ohio Attorney General Lyman R. Critchfield, was admitted to the bar in 1872, and opened up his practice of law in Wooster, Ohio, when he went into partnership with future United States Representative Addison Smith McClure, shortly thereafter. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Wayne County, Ohio, in 1872, and served one term. He then entered politics and served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1884 and again in 1888. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Member of the Republican Party, he then served Ohio's 20th District while representing the Fifty-Fourth Congress in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1889, to March 3, 1891. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Vincent Albert Taylor on March 4, 1891. He was an unsuccessful Candidate for reelection to represent the Fifty-Second Congress in 1890. He then resumed his practice of law in Wooster, Ohio, and was appointed to the Ohio District Courts of Appeals for the 5th Circuit on January 15, 1898, by then-Governor of Ohio Asa Smith Bushnell. He was a Delegate to the Republican National Convention from Ohio in 1904. He then ran for another seat in the United States Congress and was once again elected. A Member of the Republican Party, he then served Ohio's 17th District while representing the Fifty-Ninth Congress in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1905, to March 3, 1907. He was an unsuccessful Candidate for reelection to represent the Sixtieth Congress in 1906. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative William Albert Ashbrook on March 4, 1907. After leaving the United States Congress he returned to Wooster, Ohio, and continued with his practice of law until his death. He passed away from a sudden stroke at his home in Wooster, Ohio, on May 6, 1908, at the age of 57, and was buried in Wooster Cemetery in Wooster, Ohio. He was married to Alice A. France in Wayne County, Ohio, on February 1, 1881, but it is not known if the couple had any children. His wife Alice survived him and she passed away in Wooster, Ohio, on August 25, 1937, at the age of 85, and was buried with her husband in Wooster Cemetery in Wooster, Ohio.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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