Smith was elected as Democrat to the Wisconsin State Assembly for 1850 before representing the 1st District of the Wisconsin State Senate from 1853 to 1854.
In 1874, he was appointed Warden of the Wisconsin State Prison and remained in the job for six years.
After his public service, he moved to Milwaukee and became employed with the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad, working on the northern extension of the railroad.
[1] Horatio Smith married Laura Anner Chase on Christmas of 1844.
He recovered for a short time, but died on August 5, 1886, in Hilbert, Wisconsin.