Methodist circuit rider, real estate promoter, b. Pittston, Pa. A Methodist circuit rider in western New York and Michigan for 15 years, he became financial agent for Wesleyan Seminary (Albion College), Mich., and in 1845 appealed to Amos A. Lawrence of Boston for an endowment. Lawrence, the owner of a large tract on the Fox River in Wisconsin Territory, appointed Smith to promote a college in Wisconsin instead. In 1846 Smith conferred with William Sampson (q.v.) and Henry R. Colman (q.v.), prominent Wisconsin Methodists, and together they undertook to persuade Wisconsin's Methodists to match Lawrence's offer of $10,000. Smith was also instrumental in obtaining a charter in 1847, in selecting the site at Grand Chute (now Appleton) for Lawrence College, and in collecting funds for the new institution. He established his home there, platted the village of Appleton, later platted the village of New London, and promoted a plank road between the two sites. He continued to live in Appleton until his death, was active in the real estate business, and continued to aid the advancement of Lawrence College. Wis. Mag. Hist., 6; W. A. Goodspeed, et al., Hist. of Outagamie Co. (Chicago [1911]); Appleton Daily Post, Jan. 28, 1892; WPA MS.Learn More
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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
