Ora Smith Explained

Ora Smith
Order:55th Treasurer of Illinois
Governor:Adlai E. Stevenson II
Term Start:January 10, 1949
Term End:January 8, 1951
Predecessor:Richard Yates Rowe
Successor:William G. Stratton
Birth Date:December 3, 1884
Birth Place:New Market, Iowa, U.S.
Death Place:Monmouth, Illinois, U.S.
Party:Democratic

Ora Smith (December 3, 1884  - July 31, 1965) was an American politician and farmer.

Grain farmer and cattle raiser by trade Ora Smith was born December 3, 1884, in New Market, Iowa. He grew up in Alexis and Kirkwood, Illinois and lived in Biggsville, Illinois most of his adult life. Smith went on to serve six terms in the Illinois State House from 1937 to 1949, one term as Illinois State Treasurer from 1949 to 1951 under Adlai Stevenson II. He made an unsuccessful bid for Clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court in 1950.

In a surprise comeback, Smith defeated Republican incumbent Morris E. Muhleman to represent the 53rd district in the Illinois Senate. Smith served a single term. In the 1962 general election, Republican candidate Donald D. Carpentier of East Moline defeated Smith by a margin of approximately 900 votes.[1]

Smith died on July 31, 1965, at Monmouth Hospital in Monmouth, Illinois. He was buried in Biggsville.[2] [3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Dirksen Again Scores Victory. November 7, 1962. Jacksonville Courier. Jacksonville, Illinois. 1. June 5, 2023.
  2. 'Illinois Blue Book 1961-1962, pg. 224
  3. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=140924 Our Campaigns.com.-Ora Smith