Robert Lloyd Smith

Robert Lloyd Smith
Texas State Representative from District 43 (Colorado County)
In office
January 8, 1895  January 10, 1899
Preceded by Daniel Washington Jackson
Succeeded by Charles Alexander Allen
Deputy United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas
In office
1902–1909
Personal details
Born January 8, 1861
Charleston, South Carolina
Died July 10, 1942
Waco, Texas
Resting place Waco, Texas
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Ruby Cobb
Alma mater Avery Institute, University of South Carolina, Atlanta University
Occupation Educator, Businessman
Religion Methodist

Robert Lloyd Smith (January 8, 1861 – July 10, 1942) was an educator, businessman, and Republican politician who served two terms in the Texas Legislature. Born a free black in Charleston, South Carolina in 1861, he moved to Texas about 1880. He served as principal of the Oakland Normal School in Colorado County in 1885. In 1890 he founded the Farmer's Home Improvement Society, a farmer's cooperative association whose purpose was to help poor blacks lift themselves out of poverty. He was first elected to the legislature in 1895 and served until 1899. He was the last African-American to serve in the Texas State Legislature until Barbara Jordan's election in the 1960s. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1896. In 1902, he was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas. He was an associate of Booker T. Washington and also served as a trustee of the Jeanes Foundation. He was married to Ruby Cobb and had two adopted children. He is depicted at the lower left on the Black Legislators Monument erected in 2010 at the Texas State Cemetery.

References

Texas Legislators: Past & Present - Robert L. Smith
Rice, Lawrence D. (June 15, 2010). "Smith, Robert Lloyd". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association. 
Rice, Lawrence D. (September 4, 2013) [June 15, 2010]. "Farmers' Home Improvement Society". Handbook of Texas (online ed.). Texas State Historical Association. 
Forever Free: Nineteenth Century African-American Legislators and Constitutional Convention Delegates of Texas
Findagrave - Robert Lloyd Smith
Texas State Cemetery - Monuments


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