Simon Smith, who came to Beloit before the Civil War, gave more of his time to political and legislative service than any other resident in the history of the city.

For 37 consecutive years he was a member of the Rock County Board of Supervisors, and several terms he was chairman of the board.

He was born in England, and in 1851, when he was 12 years old, he came to this country. Five years later he settled in Beloit. His political career was varied, but his participation in that field started after his service in the War of the Rebellion. He enlisted in Company D, 15th Illinois Infantry, and after more than four years in uniform he returned to private life as a painting contractor.

He was mayor of Beloit five times, from 1899 to 1903. He served three terms in the state assembly starting in 1906. Accounts of his public life reveal that his success as a leader in his community was because of his honesty, which gained the confidence of its people.

While he was the leader of numerous civic enterprises, his outstanding activity was the organization of the Beloit Fire Department. He gave much of his time to its development, and he was a volunteer member for 30 years.