US Congressman, Senator. Oliver Hampton Smith was born on Smith's Island, near Trenton, New Jersey. He migrated to Indiana, settling in Lawrence County in 1818. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1820. Smith practiced law in Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana. He was elected to the Indiana to the Indiana House of Representatives, serving from 1822 to 1824. While serving in the General Assembly, he sponsored a bill naming an Indiana county for John Johnson, one of Indiana's original Supreme Court justices. After his term as State Representative, he served as a prosecuting attorney for the third judicial district, 1824-1825. In 1831, he built a mansion then known as the Old Elm Farm, now called Elmhurst and the mansion became a part of the underground railway in the pre-Civil War days. Smith was elected to the United States House of Representatives, 1827 to 1829, and was a member of the Jacksonian-Democratic Party. He was unsuccessful in his run for reelection in 1828. He was later successful as a Whig and served in the United States Senate from 1837 to 1843. During his terms as a United States Senator, he was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills and a member of the Committee on Public Lands. He was once again unsuccessful in his bid for reelection and moved to Indianapolis where he resumed a law practice. In 1845 he refused efforts to nominate him as a candidate for Governor of Indiana and became involved in the business operation of the Evansville, Indianapolis, & Cleveland Straight Line Railroad Company.
US Congressman, Senator. Oliver Hampton Smith was born on Smith's Island, near Trenton, New Jersey. He migrated to Indiana, settling in Lawrence County in 1818. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1820. Smith practiced law in Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana. He was elected to the Indiana to the Indiana House of Representatives, serving from 1822 to 1824. While serving in the General Assembly, he sponsored a bill naming an Indiana county for John Johnson, one of Indiana's original Supreme Court justices. After his term as State Representative, he served as a prosecuting attorney for the third judicial district, 1824-1825. In 1831, he built a mansion then known as the Old Elm Farm, now called Elmhurst and the mansion became a part of the underground railway in the pre-Civil War days. Smith was elected to the United States House of Representatives, 1827 to 1829, and was a member of the Jacksonian-Democratic Party. He was unsuccessful in his run for reelection in 1828. He was later successful as a Whig and served in the United States Senate from 1837 to 1843. During his terms as a United States Senator, he was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills and a member of the Committee on Public Lands. He was once again unsuccessful in his bid for reelection and moved to Indianapolis where he resumed a law practice. In 1845 he refused efforts to nominate him as a candidate for Governor of Indiana and became involved in the business operation of the Evansville, Indianapolis, & Cleveland Straight Line Railroad Company.
Bio by: Rick France
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