Edward McMurray Smith

Ed Smith
16th Secretary of State of Iowa
In office 1929–1931
Governor	John Hammill
Preceded by	Walter C. Ramsay
Succeeded by	G. C. Greenwalt
Member of the Iowa Senate from the 16th district
In office January 8, 1917 – January 11, 1925
Preceded by	Arthur Craig Savage
Succeeded by	John N. Langfitt
Personal details
Born	Edward McMurray Smith (1870-10-31)October 31, 1870 Jackson County, Iowa, U.S.
Died	October 26, 1953(1953-10-26) (aged 82) Winterset, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Education	Drake University

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 from 1929 to 1931.

Early life and education

Born in Jackson County, Iowa, Smith moved with his parents to Madison County, Iowa. He went to the Madison public schools. Smith then attended Dexter Normal School and Drake University.

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. Smith served as postmaster for Winterset from 1904 to 1908. From 1917 to 1925, Smith served in the Iowa State Senate and was a Republican. In 1928, Smith was appointed Iowa secretary of state when the incumbent Walter C. Ramsay died in office. He served until 1931. In 1930, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for governor of Iowa.

Death

Smith died in a hospital in Winterset, Iowa after a brief illness.