Charles Manley Smith

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Charles Manley Smith
Charles Manley Smith 2.jpg
63rd Governor of Vermont
In office
January 10, 1935 – January 7, 1937
Lieutenant George Aiken
Preceded by Stanley C. Wilson
Succeeded by George Aiken
57th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
In office
1933–1935
Governor Stanley C. Wilson
Preceded by Benjamin Williams
Succeeded by George Aiken
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
1931–1933
Member of the Vermont Senate
In office
1927–1929
Personal details
Born (1868-08-03)August 3, 1868
West Rutland, Vermont
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Rutland, Vermont
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Mary A. Stark Smith (1864 -- 1935)[1]
Children Dorothy Smith Mathews, Charlotte Smith Nicolet, Stark Smith
Profession Banker,
Insurance Executive
Religion Episcopal[2]

Charles Manley Smith (August 3, 1868 – August 12, 1937) was an American politician from Vermont. He served as the 63rd Governor of Vermont from 1935 to 1937, and as the 57th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1933 to 1935.

Life and career

Smith was born in West Rutland, Vermont on August 3, 1868. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1891[3] and served as private secretary to former Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor when Proctor was Secretary of War.[4]

Active in banking and insurance, Smith became President of Marble Savings Bank in 1920.[5]

A Republican, Smith served in the Vermont State Senate from 1927 to 1929.[6] He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1931 to 1933, and was Ways and Means Committee Chairman.[7] He served as Lieutenant Governor from 1933 to 1935.[8]

Smith was elected Governor in 1934 and served from 1935 to 1937.[9] During his gubernatorial administration, old-age pension and unemployment laws were enacted by the state legislature.[10]

In December, 1936 Smith and other Marble Bank officials were charged with fraud for failing to inform account holders and authorities about an embezzlement. In May, 1932 Smith had learned that his bank's bookkeeper had stolen $251,000. Smith let him leave quietly, kept the theft secret, and charged the loss against the bank's surplus.[11][12][13]

In July, 1935 the bookkeeper was named Rutland's Assistant City Treasurer and planned a candidacy for Treasurer. To prevent this, his opponents leaked word of the theft to the press. The bookkeeper was convicted and jailed, and the bank Treasurer received a suspended sentence and a $400 fine. Charges against most other parties were dismissed, and Smith was acquitted at his trial.[14]

Death

Smith became ill in June, 1937 and died on August 12, 1937, just eight months after leaving office.[15][16] He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Rutland, Vermont.[17]

Family

He married Mary Aurelia Stark and they had three children, Dorothy Smith Matthews, Charlotte Smith Nicolet, and Stark Smith.[18]

References

  1. Hartford Courant, Obituary, Mrs. Charles M. Smith, February 24, 1935
  2. Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont Legislative Directory, 1935, page 563
  3. Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, Catalogue By Alpha Delta Phi, 1899, page 381
  4. New York Times, Mrs. Charles M. Smith; Wife of Governor of Vermont Succumbs at Age of 71, February 21, 1935
  5. American Bankers Association, Journal of the American Bankers Association, Volume 13, 1920, page 35
  6. American Legislators' Association, State government, Volumes 9-10, 1936, page 239
  7. Vermont House of Representatives, List of Ways & Means Committee Chairmen since 1900, 2005
  8. Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, Lieutenant Governors Terms of Service, 2011, page 2
  9. Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont Governors, Terms of Service, 2011
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  11. New York Times, Vermont Governor Held in Bank Case, December 1, 1936
  12. Hartford Courant, Gov. Smith Is Released On Bank Charge, December 2, 1936
  13. New York Times, Gov. Smith Rearrested, December 29, 1936
  14. New York Times, Three Vermont Bankers Cleared, April 27, 1937
  15. New York Times, Ex-Gov. C. M. Smith of Vermont Dies, August 13, 1937
  16. Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008 Record for Charles Manley Smith, accessed via Ancestry.com, April 30, 2012
  17. Find A Grave, entry for Charles Manley Smith, accessed April 30, 2012
  18. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links


Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
1933–1935
Succeeded by
George Aiken
Preceded by Governor of Vermont
1935–1937
Succeeded by
George D. Aiken