Samuel Axley Smith

Samuel Axley Smith was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for the 3rd congressional district of Tennessee.[1]

Samuel Axley Smith
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1859
Preceded by	William M. Churchwell
Succeeded by	Reese B. Brabson
Personal details
Born	June 26, 1822 Monroe County, Tennessee
Died	November 25, 1863 (aged 41) Ladd Springs, Tennessee
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Lea Henderson Smith Martha E Mccarty Smith
Children	William Smith John Lea Smith
Profession	lawyer politician land agent

Biography

Smith was born in Monroe County, Tennessee on June 26, 1822. He was the younger brother of Colonel M. Whit Smith (b. Oct. 7, 1814), prominent lawyer, politician and Confederate officer from Florida.[2] Smith received a limited education, taught school, and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced practice in Cleveland, Tennessee. He married Martha E McCarty in 1846 and they had two children, William and John Lea.[3] Smith later married Lavinia W. Henderson, daughter of Hon. Luke Lea, U. S. Representative for Tennessee, in 1855.[4]

Career

From 1845 to 1848, Smith was a District Attorney General for the city of Chattanooga, TN.[5] He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1848.

Smith was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, and Thirty-fifth Congresses. He served from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1859.[6] He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress.

Appointed by President Buchanan to be Commissioner of the General Land Office, Smith served from January 18 to February 12, 1860, when he resigned. On November 16, 1861, he was appointed by the governor of Tennessee to be an agent to collect arms for the Confederate Army.[7]

Death

Smith died at Ladd Springs, Tennessee in Polk County on November 25, 1863 (age 41 years, 152 days). He is interred at Amos Ladd's Burial Ground, Ladd Springs, Tennessee.[8]

References

1. Capace, Nancy (January 2000). Encyclopedia of Tennessee: Smith Smuel Axley (1822-1863). ISBN 9780403093496.
2. "Letter from Franck to Park". VCU Libraries Digital Collections. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
3. "Samuel Axley Smith". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
4. "US Rep Samuel A. Smith marries late Luke Lea's daughter". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
5. "Former District Attorney Generals". Hamilton County District Attorney General's office, 11th Judicial District of Tennessee. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
6. "Samuel Axley Smith". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
7. "Samuel Axley Smith". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
8. "Samuel Axley Smith". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 21 March 2013.

External links

• Samuel Axley Smith at Find a Grave
• United States Congress. "Samuel Axley Smith (id: S000612)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• American Political Leaders 1789-2009