Biography: H. H. Smith

From the Lansing State Journal, February 13, 1873

H.H. Smith, President of the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan, the Detroit & Bay City, and the Ionia & Stanton Railroads, who was for many years a resident of Lansing and the city's first Mayor, has obtained a substantial reputation as a successful railroad man. He was Managing Director of the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Railroad while it was building, and remained its Manager until 1868, when he became President of a company organized to complete the Jackson & Fort Wayne Railroad, which he finished in one year.

After the Ionia & Lansing and the Detroit, Howell & Lansing railroads were consolidated under the name of the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan, Mr. Smith was elected a Director and President of the road. He took hold of the project with his accustomed energy and completed the road from Detroit to Lansing in less than five months, and the extension from Greenville to Howard City in three months.

In March, 1872, he was elected President of the Detroit and Bay City Railroad, which is now completed from Detroit some distance north of Lapeer, and will probably be completed its entire length, 100 miles, to Bay City by the 1st of April.

Last August, he was elected President of the Ionia & Stanton branch of the Detroit Lansing & Lake Michigan, 28 miles in length, which is now opened for use. During the past eight years 522 miles of railroad have been built in Michigan by Mr. Smith. [LSJ-1873-0213]