Robert Smyth

SMYTH

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/26/2008 at 07:41:08

IOWA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS FOREMOST CITIZENS
Johnson Brigham, 1918

Robert Smyth, Linn County

Robert Smyth, of Linn, who represented the counties of Cedar, Jones and Linn in the Territorial Legislature of 1843-44, was a member of the first House, and was a senator in the Twelfth and Thirteenth General Assemblies. He was sent back to the House in the Twentieth General Assembly, and was chairman of the Committee on the Suppression of Intemperance. He was born in Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was well educated, eloquent of speech, a gentleman of the old school, earnest in his advocacy of the temperance cause and an efficient worker on committee. In voice, manner and physique he bore a striking resemblance to James Bryce of England. He was a banker and real-estate dealer and for several years served as paymaster in the regular army. He died at his home in Mount Vernon, Ia., in 1898, aged eighty-four.