Hon. Samuel W. Smith, a prominent member of the bar in Pontiac, is generally reputed to be one of the best criminal lawyers in Eastern Michigan. He is a member of the law firm of Taft & Smith, which is one of the strongest in this section and enjoys an extended clientage. Both members of the firm have lived in this county many years and are widely known, and their understanding of legal principles is undoubted. Mr. Smith was admitted to the bar when but twenty-five years old and since he received his license he has added to his store of knowledge by continual reading and study, and by being brought into contact with other bright minds has deepened his impressions regarding the truths that underlie the principles of law and equity. He is a good pleader and a safe counselor, and he makes the interest of his clients his own from the time he is retained.

The parents of our subject were Nicholas B. and Mary (Phillips) Smith, the former of whom was born in Monroe County, N. Y., in 1817, and came to this locality in 1841. Hr brought eighty acres of raw land in Brandon, cleared and improved it, but soo, sold the property and brought one hundred and twenty acres in Independence Township. There he cleared and improved a farm and carried on general agriculture, for some years. He then removed to Clarkston, bought goods and carried on a general store, selling dry goods, groceries, drugs, etc. He is still living in that place. Mrs Smith was born in New York in 1825, and was the daughter of Billdad Phillips, a native of England. During her girlhood she accompanied her parents to this county and a few year later married here to Nicholas B. Smith. She died in 186, laving one son and one daughter, the latter, Ann Eliza, wife of Lawrence Clark.

The birth of Samuel W. Smith took place in Independence Township, August 23, 1852, and his early school days were passed in the village of Clarkston. He pursued his higher studies in Detroit and after obtaining a fair amount of knowledge, entered the law department of the State University, from which he graduated with honors in 1878. He had been admitted to the bar in 1877, and after his grauation he established himself to practice in Pontiac. Here he worked alone six months, then formed a partnership with Judge Levi Taft and Hon. Aaron Perry. The latter retired from the firm a twelvemonth later, but the connection between Judge Taft and Mr. Smith has continued without intermission.

Mr. Smith was elected Proscuting Attorney of his county in 1880 and served until 1884, when he was elected State Senator from the Fifteenth Senatorial District, winning the race by a majority of sizteen votes, on the Republician ticket. He took an active part in the discussion and passage of a law regulating the sale of oleomargarine, which protected the interest of farmers and dairymen, and the bills for the coupling of freight cars which were introduced for the protection of the men in the employ of the railroad company. On the expiration of his Senatorial term, Mr. Smith resumed his law pracitce with renewed ardor.

Mr. Smith has a pleasant residence amid attractive surroundings on Oakland Avenue, and the lady who presides over it so charmingly became his wife November 16, 1880. She bore the maiden name of Alida E. DeLand, and was born near Grass Lake, Mich. Her father was Edwin DeLand, and at the same time as her marriage, Mrs. Smith was living in Waterford. The marriage has been blest by the birth of four sons, who are named respectively: E. DeLand, Ferris N., Wendell and Harlan S. Mr. Smith is reconized as one of the Leading and representative Republicians of the state of Michigan, and is active in campaigns, being a strong, logical and eloquent speaker.