Abraham Herr Smith


Abraham Herr Smith was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district from 1873 to 1885.

Early life and education

Smith was born near Millersville, Pennsylvania to Jacob Smith and Elizabeth Herr. His parents died when he was eight years old and he was raised by his paternal grandparents. He attended Professor Beck's Academy at Lititz, Pennsylvania. He studied at Harrington College and graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1840. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1842 and commenced practice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Career

He served as a Whig member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from 1843 to 1844, and in the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 7th district from 1845 to 1848.
Smith was elected as a Republican to the Forty-third and to the five succeeding Congresses. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Mileage during the Forty-seventh Congress. He served for six years on the War Claims Committee and the Appropriations Committee. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1884. He resumed the practice of law, and died in Lancaster in 1894. Interment in Woodward Hill Cemetery.

Legacy

The A. Herr Smith Memorial Hall in the Denny Hall building of the Union Philosophical Society at Dickinson College was named in his honor.