Smith, Lewis Howell

Lewis Howell Smith, born in Peoria, Illinois, on November 3, 1872, was a prominent attorney who earned an honored place at the bar of Fresno, California. He was the son of John Boyd Smith, an able financier and long-time bank cashier, and Luccetta Howell, whose father was also a prominent bank president. After relocating to Fresno with his family in 1889, he worked briefly as a mail carrier before entering Stanford University. In 1895, he graduated with a degree of LL.B., holding the distinction of receiving the first law diploma issued by that university. He began his legal career in the office of Judge Carter, eventually becoming his partner in the firm of Carter and Smith.

Building a highly successful independent legal career, Lewis Howell Smith was associated with many important cases in Fresno County and established partnerships such as Smith and Ostrander. In the landmark case of the People vs. McDaniels, he successfully represented the defendant before the supreme court, establishing a constitutional precedent recognized across the country. He served as city attorney of Fresno for a two-year term starting in 1897 and was appointed to the role again by Mayor Snow from 1913 to 1917. Married to Maude Shepherd on April 20, 1899, he was the father of four children, including a son named Archie A. who served in the United States Navy radio service. Beyond his practice, he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, actively participated in local clubs and Republican party committees, and remained a progressive supporter of civic growth.