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Born in Tinicum, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1817. A descendant from a long line of colonial ancestors--the founder of the family in America having come over with William Penn; his father moved to New York State in 1820. On March 20, 1845, he married Miss Catherine Conover, and two years later came to Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, where he bought government land, which he owned at the time of his death. He had two children, a son and a daughter; the former died when thirteen years of age. Mr. Smith was president of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association, 1875-77, and for two years was president of the Northwestern Dairymen's Association. He was elected member of the assembly in 1871, and in 1877, was appointed a regent of the University of Wisconsin by Gov. William E. Smith: by successive reappointments he held the office to the time of his death, May 15, 1890. Mr. Smith was largely instrumental in organizing the State Experimental Station at the University of Wisconsin, and the principal dairy building has been named in his honor--Hiram Smith Hall.