Representative Roderick A. Smith View All Years

RODERICK A. SMITH.

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorating the life and work of the Hon. Roderick A. Smith, late of Dickinson County, Iowa, beg leave to report the following memorial:

Honorable Roderick A. Smith departed this life at Okoboji, September 17, 1918. He was born in Wyoming County, New York, October 12, 1829, hence at the time of his death was closing his 89th year. Mr. Smith was the son of Honorable John Smith, a sturdy character who preceded his son in the House of Representatives in the Tenth General Assembly. In 1856 R. A. Smith came from the Empire State to Fort Dodge. In March, 1857, he was a member of the Relief Expendition hastily formed at Fort Dodge and Webster City in response to gruesome tidings of the Spirit Lake Massacre. This strenuous and eventful expenrience caused him to cast his lot with the Lake Country. Ever after his home was at the junction of the Okoboji Lakes in Dickinson County.

Mr. Smith represented the counties of Clay, Dickinson, Emmett and Palo Alto in the Twelfth General Assembly. The same year, 1868, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated General Grant for President. In 1875 he was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in the Republican State Convention. In 1894 he was appointed by Governor Jackson as a member of the Commission authorized by the Legislature to erect a monument commemorative of the sacrifices of the Spirit Lake Massacre. Mr. Smith took an active part in the organization of Dickinson County and the shaping of its affairs, holding county office a number of times. In 1879 he married Cassie Crary, a union of rare happiness broken by the death of the wife in 1895. A daughter, Miss Kate Smith, who was the solace of the father in his declining years, survives.

Roderick A. Smith was typical of the best in the remarkable pioneer life of Northwest Iowa. A man of unusual intellect, he read widely and thought deeply upon the affairs of life. Few men were better informed and very few were so gifted in comprehension of the larger events of history and current development. He was a considerable factor in the business development of his section, but he might have been much more conspicuous and useful in a learned profession which he was so well equipped to occupy.

Perhaps the most important contribution of Mr. Smith to his State and generation is his “History of Dickinson County,” issued in 1902. This work is much more valuable than the usual chronology bound and bearing a county name. It deals with causes and effects, incidents and events, in a manner at once broad and instructive, giving evidence of intimate association and keen comprehension. Mr. Smith knew as did not other living man as to what had been experienced and accomplished during forty-five years of important development in the region of which he wrote. Of the most tragic event in the history of Iowa he wrote from knowledge much of it first hand and most of it well authenticated. There is in print no account of the Spirit Lake Massacre that deals more intelligently and graphically with the important details as well as with causes and effects. Few are left to tell the story of earlier settlement and sacrifices in the counties of Northwest Iowa.

Whereas, The life and character of the deceased were such as to entitle his memory to the respect and esteem of all who knew him.

Therefore Be It Resolved, That the House of Representatives take this occasion to express its appreciation of his character and public services, and at this time to extend to his daughter its sincere sympathy in her sorrow, and,

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to send an enrolled copy to the daughter of the deceased.

R. F. PRICE,

CHAS. GILMORE,

DOUGLAS ROGERS.