Biography

Richard L. Smith, came to Auburn from Washington County, N. Y., in 1820. He formed a partnership with James Porter; he was a member of assembly in 1830 and 1836; he was appointed district-attorney January 21, 1832 and served until he died in 1838.
Smith was an editor of a fair few Auburn newspapers including:
Cayuga Republican
Auburn Gazette
He partnered with Parliament Bronson (of Vernon NY) in the law office of Bronson and Smith. 

Richard Smith was mentioned in Benjamin J. Seward's letter on September 8, 1838; he writes to William Henry Seward saying that he is going to R. L. Smith's funeral and then to his interment at three.