John Y. T. Smith

John Y. T. Smith (born John Smith; September 16, 1831 – July 15, 1903) was an American businessman and politician who became the first non-Indian to live in what would become Phoenix, Arizona. He served three times as a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature, becoming Speaker of the House during his final term, and was appointed to a two-year term as Territorial treasurer.

Background Smith was born September 16, 1831, near Buffalo, New York. At the age of 10, he became a cabin boy on a riverboat. He worked on the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers for three years before going to work on a farm near Carlinville, Illinois. In 1853 he left the farm and joined a group driving 500 head of cattle to California. In California, Smith worked as a miner and prospector. This did not prevent his participation in politics however. Smith was elected to the 5th Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1868. In 1873, he ran for Territorial delegate and placing third in a five-way race. He returned to the territorial legislature twice more, serving in the 14th and 15th sessions. During his final term he was Speaker of the House and influential in efforts to move the territorial capital from Prescott to Phoenix. Smith was appointed to a two-year term as Territorial treasurer in 1899. At the end of this term he was appointed to a two-year term on the Territorial Board of Equalization.

Socially active, Smith was a freemason who served as Grand Master of the Grand lodge of Arizona. In military orders he served as commander of J. W. Owens post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic and was affiliated with the California chapter of the Loyal Legion.

Smith died on July 15, 1903, during a trip to Los Angeles, California, where he was seeking medical treatment. He was initially buried in Phoenix with both Masonic and Grand Army of the Republic right. His remains were moved to Phoenix's Greenwood Memorial Park in 1914.