Dietrich C. Smith

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Dietrich Conrad Smith (April 4, 1840 - April 18, 1914) was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.

Born in Ost Friesland, Hanover, Germany, SmithImmigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in Pekin, Illinois, about 1850. He attended the public schools of Pekin, Illinois, and Quincy College, Quincy, Illinois. During the Civil War served in the Union Army as lieutenant in Company I, Eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He left the service as captain of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Organizer of the German College at Mount Pleasant in 1874. He served as member of board of trustees of that institution for many years. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1876-1878. He engaged in banking and manufacturing and also in the construction and management of railroads in Illinois.

Smith was elected as a Republican to the Forty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1881-March 3, 1883). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1882 to the Forty-eighth Congress. He again engaged in banking. He died in Pekin, Illinois, April 18, 1914. He was interred in Lakeside Cemetery.

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