In Maine, all statewide offices except Governor are elected by the Legislature, not the general electorate.

He was educated in common schools, Litchfield Academy and Coburn Classical Institute in Waterville.

In 1869, he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, but he resigned in June 1870 to become Deputy U.S. Marshall in charge of the U.S. census in his area.

After a year away from the position due to the Democratic/Greenback control of the Maine Legislature, Smith was reappointed in 1880 and served as Clerk until 1885.

In April 1883, Smith was appointed state insurance commissioner, which he held until his resignation in September 1884.