Volney V. Smith

Volney V. Smith
3rd Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
In office
1873–1874
GovernorElisha Baxter
Preceded byJames M. Johnson
Succeeded byHarvey Parnell (1927)
Personal details
Born
Volney Voltaire Smith

(1841-09-28)September 28, 1841
New York
DiedApril 17, 1897(1897-04-17) (aged 55)
Lewisville, Arkansas
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMary Jane (née Elliot)
ProfessionSoldier, politician

Volney Voltaire Smith (September 28, 1841 – April 17, 1897) was an American politician who served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas from 1873 to 1874. He served as president of the Arkansas Senate in 1873.[1]

He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War including with a "colored" infantry unit.[2]

He was a delegate to the Arkansas Constitutional Convention of 1874. He and other Republicans refused to sign the document produced.[2] He made a claim to the governorship in waie of the Brooks-Baxter War but fled after an arrest warrant was sworn out for him and U.S. president Ulysses S. Grant chose not to intervene.[2]

He was born in 1841 to Delazon Smith, a newspaper editor and Democratic Party politician, and Eliza Voke Smith. His second cousin was politician and mayor of Chelsea, Massachusetts Edward J. Voke.[citation needed]

He died in the state's mental institution.[2]

  1. ^ Daniels, Charlie (July 1, 2009). The Historical Report of the Arkansas Secretary of State 2008. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-0-615-23214-0 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c d "Encyclopedia of Arkansas". Encyclopedia of Arkansas.