Hiram Smith was an American agriculturist and politician. He took an active part in forming the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station and in building up the Wisconsin College of Agriculture.
Background
He was born on February 19, 1817 in Tinicum, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. He was a descendant of a long line of Quaker colonial ancestors, the first of whom came to America with William Penn. In 1820 his father, Jonas Smith, moved to New York state.
Career
Until 1847 Hiram and his brother A. J. Smith, who later became associate editor of Hoard's Dairyman, carried on the business of farming, foundry work, and plow-making at the family home in Lowville, New York.
Later he moved to Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, where he spent the rest of his life. Buying a tract of government land, he ultimately developed it into one of the outstanding dairy farms of the state, being among the first in that section to turn from wheat farming to dairying. He was active in the early history of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association, the group most largely responsible for the shift from grain farming to dairying. He was its president for two years, 1875-76, and its vice-president from 1878 until his death.
He was also president of the Dairy Board of Trade at Sheboygan Falls in 1872, serving a second time in that capacity in 1889.
In 1871-72 he was a member of the state legislature. He was appointed a regent of the University of Wisconsin in 1877 by Gov. William E. Smith, taking office the next year, and served continuously by successive appointments until his death. He was chairman of the agricultural committee of the regents and vice-president of the board in 1889-90. While listening to a talk which Smith was giving before the farmers at the Manitowoc county fair, Assemblyman Charles E. Estabrook conceived the idea of having a series of talks given by successful farm leaders at gatherings similar to teachers' institutes.
The first dairy school at at the University of Wisconsin was opened with his support in 1890.
He died in 1890.
Achievements
Connections
On March 20, 1845, Hiram married Catherine A. Conover, by whom he had a son and a daughter.