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Smith, Augustus Ledyard

business man, legislator, was born April 5, 1833, in Middletown, Conn. He graduated from the university of Middletown, and subsequently took a position as tutor in the university of Wisconsin at Madison. In 1856 he became connected with the office of school lands in Wisconsin, and with the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement company, and became its sec- In 1861 he accepted retary and treasurer. the professorship in the United States Naval academy of Annapolis, and was subsequently assigned to duty on the steam frigate Constitution. After the war he resumed his duties with the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement company, which was subsequently merged into the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal company; and was continuously with that company until 1872. In 1870 Mr. Smith organized the First National bank of Appleton, and was its president for more than twenty years.

In 1881 he was the leading spirit of the Appleton Edison Light company; and in 1894 was elected vice-president of the National Association of the Edison Illuminating companies. In 1866-67 he served as state senator in the Wisconsin legislature; and in 1870 was elected mayor of Appleton.

Among the important measures in which he took a leading part was the reorganization of the State university; and while a member of the senate Governor Fairchild appointed him regent, which position he held for six successive years. In 1884 he received the nomination to congress; and was president of the Wisconsin board of World's Fair managers in 1891.