Oliver H. Smith

Oliver Hampton Smith (October 23, 1794 – March 19, 1859) was a United States representative and Senator from Indiana.

Oliver Hampton Smith
Indiana House of Representatives
In office 1822–1824
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1827 – March 3, 1829
Preceded by	John Test
Succeeded by	John Test
United States Senator from Indiana
In office March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	William Hendricks
Succeeded by	Edward A. Hannegan
Personal details
Born	(1794-10-23)October 23, 1794 Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 19, 1859(1859-03-19) (aged 64) Charlestown, Indiana, U.S.
Resting place	Crown Hill Cemetery and Arboretum, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., Section 12, Lot 9
Political party	Democratic-Republican Whig
Profession	Lawyer

Early life

Born on Smith's Island, near Trenton, New Jersey, (is also believed to have been born at the Smith Family Farmstead in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania^[1]) he attended the common schools and moved west, eventually settling in Lawrenceburg, Indiana in 1818. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1820, commencing practice in Connersville. From 1822 to 1824 he was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives and was prosecuting attorney for the third judicial district, 1824–1825.

Politics

Elmhurst, Smith's Connersville home

Smith was elected to the Twentieth Congress (March 4, 1827–March 3, 1829) and was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1828; he was then elected as a Whig to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1837, to March 3, 1843. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills (Twenty-sixth Congress) and a member of the Committee on Public Lands (Twenty-seventh Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection and moved to Indianapolis where he resumed the practice of law. He declined to be a candidate for Governor of Indiana in 1845 and engaged in the railroad business in Indianapolis. He died in that city in 1859; interment was in Crown Hill Cemetery.