Smith owned a 600 acre farm where he raised Hampshire hogs and Aberdeen Angus cattle, an endeavor that would continue during his political career.

He served as supervisor in the liquidation of the Illinois Bankers Life Assurance Company's real estate between 1939 and 1944.

As Smith was not allowed to seek reelection to a consecutive term as Treasurer, he ran for the then-elected Clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court.

[4] In a surprise comeback, Smith defeated Republican incumbent Morris E. Muhleman to represent the 53rd district in the Illinois Senate.

[2] In the 1962 general election, Republican candidate Donald D. Carpentier of East Moline defeated Smith by a margin of approximately 900 votes.