Edward McMurray Smith (October 31, 1870 – October 26, 1953) was an American politician and newspaper editor who served as the 16th

secretary of state of Iowa The Secretary of State of Iowa is the commissioner of elections of the U.S. state of Iowa. A constitutional officer, the officeholder is elected every four years. The Office of the Secretary of State is divided into four divisions: Elections and ...

from 1929 to 1931.

Early life and education

Born in Jackson County, Iowa, Smith moved with his parents to

Madison County, Iowa Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,548. The county seat is Winterset. Madison County is included in the Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area ...

. He went to the Madison public schools. Smith then attended Dexter Normal School and

Drake University Drake University is a private university in Des Moines, Iowa. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including professional programs in business, law, and pharmacy. Drake's law school is among the 25 oldest in the United States. Hi ...

Career

From 1898 to 1900, Smith served as superintendent of Madison County Schools. In 1899, Smith became publisher and editor of ''The Winterset Madisonian'' in

Winterset, Iowa Winterset is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Iowa. The population was 5,353 at the time of the 2020 census. Winterset is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. It is the birthplace of actor John Wayne. History Winterset ...

. Smith served as postmaster for Winterset from 1904 to 1908. From 1917 to 1925, Smith served in the

Iowa State Senate The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly, United States. There are 50 seats in the Iowa Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state of Iowa with populations of approximately 60,927 per constituency, . ...

and was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. In 1928, Smith was appointed

Iowa secretary of state The Secretary of State of Iowa is the commissioner of elections of the U.S. state of Iowa. A constitutional officer, the officeholder is elected every four years. The Office of the Secretary of State is divided into four divisions: Elections and ...

when the incumbent Walter C. Ramsay died in office. He served until 1931. In

1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be ...

, he unsuccessful sought the Republican nomination for

governor of Iowa A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Death

Smith died in a hospital in

after a brief illness.'Ed M. Smith, 82, Died Here Monday After Brief Illness,' The Winterset Madisonian, October 28, 1953, pg. 1

Notes

1870 births 1953 deaths People from Jackson County, Iowa People from Winterset, Iowa Drake University alumni Editors of Iowa newspapers Secretaries of State of Iowa Republican Party Iowa state senators 19th-century American newspaper publishers (people) Iowa postmasters School superintendents in Iowa 19th-century American newspaper editors {{Iowa-politician-stub