Volney V. Smith
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Volney Voltaire Smith (September 28, 1841 – April 17, 1897) was an American politician who served as the third lieutenant governor of Arkansas from 1873 to 1874. He served as president of the Arkansas Senate in 1873.[1]
September 28, 1841
Volney V. Smith | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas | |
| In office 1873–1874 | |
| Governor | Elisha Baxter |
| Preceded by | James M. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Harvey Parnell (1927) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Volney Voltaire Smith September 28, 1841 New York |
| Died | April 17, 1897 (aged 55) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Jane (née Elliot) |
| Profession | Soldier, politician |
He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War including with a "colored" infantry unit.[2]
He was a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention of 1874. He and other Republicans refused to sign the document produced.[2] He made a claim to the governorship in waie of the Brooks-Baxter War but fled after an arrest warrant was sworn out for him and U.S. president Ulysses S. Grant chose not to intervene.[2]
He was born in 1841 to Delazon Smith, a newspaper editor and Democratic Party politician, and Eliza Voke Smith. His second cousin was politician and mayor of Chelsea, Massachusetts Edward J. Voke.[citation needed]
He died in the state's mental institution.[2]
