Background
Smythe, William Ellsworth was born on December 24, 1861 in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Son of William Augustus Somerset and Abbie (Bailey) Smythe.
Smythe, William Ellsworth was born on December 24, 1861 in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. Son of William Augustus Somerset and Abbie (Bailey) Smythe.
Educated at Worcester, Massachusetts.
Editor Kearney (Nebraska) Enterprise, 1888-1890, Omaha Bee, 1890-1891. Founded, 1891, and editor, 1891-1896, the Irrigation Age. Editor Western Empire.
Founded National Irrigation Congress, 1891 (secretary 1891-1893, chairman 1893-1895).
Established New Plymouth Colony, Idaho, 1895. Lectured extensively on irrigation and Western institutions.
Conducted popular campaign in California under auspices of the Water and Forest Association and California Constructive League, in behalf of radical reform of water laws and adoption of Australian system of land settlement, 1901-1902. Democratic candidate for Congress, 8th California District, 1902.
Established “Little Landers” of San Diego, 1909, “Little Landers” of Los Angeles, 1913, and (with Charles Weeks) Runnymede, California, 1916.
Founded Little Lands in America (magazine), 1916. Associated, 1919-1921, with Secretary Lane and Judge Payne, Interior Department on reconstruction program looking to extension of reclamation movement to entire United States. With Colonel William L. White, founded American Homelanders Society for popular education in higher rural life and establishment of garden communities around large cities.
Author: The Conquest of Arid America, 1900.
Constructive Democracy, 1905. History of San Diego, 1907.
City Homes on Country Lanes (1st volunteer of “Triology of the New Earth”), 1921. Contributor to magazines on irrigation and other subjects.
Address: Washington, Distric.
Married Harriet Bridge, December 28, 1882 (died 1918).