Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Smith, Capt Ira W 1832 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 7:26 pm Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890 CAPT. IRA W. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser of Custer Township, proprietor of one of the largest farms in the county, was an officer in the late war, in which he won a distinguished record for bravery, superior tact, and cool daring, and showed other high soldierly qualities as a leader that gained him an enviable reputation in military circles. The father of our subject, who bore the same name as himself, was of New England origin and birth, a native of the State of Vermont. His paternal grandfather, also of the same name, was a soldier both in the war of the Revolution and the War of 1812. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Louisa Beckwith, was also of Vermont birth. She was married to the father of our subject in their native State, and thence they removed to Ohio in pioneer days and subsequently came to Illinois in the month of November, 1844, and cast their lot with the early settlers of this county. His father became much prospered there and improved a good farm which remained his home until his death in 1872. His wife died in 1847. They were the parents of six children, live of whom are now living. Our subject was the eldest of the family, and he was born in Huron, Loraine County, Ohio, November 27, 1832. He attended school but ten months before his twenty-first year. He was, however, a lad of naturally good mental capacity, was fond of his studies and he managed to improve his education, working hard and obtaining money by which he was enabled to attend Oberlin College. He was a student there for nine months and by constant attention to his books he acquired more knowledge in that time than many a student who pursues a full course. He had not money enough to take him through college, and he came back to Illinois and found employment by the day and month until 1857. In that year he engaged with his father as superintendent of his farm. The breaking out of the war found him thus employed. He had watched with great interest the progress of affairs that led up to the Rebellion, and as soon as he could manage it, he offered his services to his country, enlisting September 26, 1861, in Company D, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, as a private. He served three years, then re-enlisted as a veteran in the company known as the Veteran Battalion of Illinois, commanded by Maj. A. T. Search. This company was afterward consolidated with the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry under Col. Hasbrook Davis, afterward General. Our subject proved himself to be especially adapted for a soldier, and his valor and able services won him deserved promotion, and he rapidly passed through all the grades until he was finally the ranking Captain of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. His nerve and undaunted courage pointed him out to his superiors as one who would make a good scout and he served for seventeen months in that capacity. Our subject took an active part in the following battles: skirmish at Columbus, Ky.; was present at the siege and capture of Fts. Henry and Donnelson; engaged at Savannah, and he was at Shiloh both days. His troop was the first to receive the enemy's fire the night before the battle of Island No. 10, and was in the front at Ft. Pillow and at Memphis. Capt. Smith took part in Grant's raid down the Mobile & Ohio Railway, and he did gallant service before Vicksburg. While on detached service as a scout he operated from Columbus, Ky., to New Orleans, on both sides of the Mississippi River. He crossed the State of Mississippi six times and the length of it twice. He collected the data for the Engineering Department to construct maps of West Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri and the Southern part of Arkansas to the foot hills. This was a very laborious service and required especial tact and ability to get all the facts about the roads, etc. The Captain was relieved from scouting at his own request in 1865, and then rejoined his regiment and remained with it until his discharge. In 1864, during the months of July and August, he was in sixty skirmishes. At the battle of Champion Hills, his company of forty eight men lost at one volley twelve of their number. Our subject was wounded three times and had three horses killed under him and two wounded. At one time he made a desperate charge with eight men into a rebel ambush and one of his men fell dead, pierced with seven bullets, and his horse was completely riddled. The other seven men did not escape unscathed, but had twenty-four wounds amongst them and their horses were also equally wounded. Their gallant Captain cut his way through the enemy and got back to the Union lines unharmed. He served under the following Generals: McPherson, John A. Logan, Davis, Ashboth, Wilson, Grierson and Bragman. Our gallant Captain had the honor of serving as escort to Gen. Grant at Vicksburg, and he was also with him at Yazoo City. His last service was in Texas and he was mustered out December 15, 1865, having been in the army four years and four months. Returning to his old home he has since been engaged on his present farm, tilling the soil and raising stock. He owns one of the largest farms in this section of the country, comprising seven hundred and fifty acres, all lying in a body, of as fine farming land as is to be found in this locality. Mr. Smith was married in June, 1866, to Miss Ella Hanson. Her father, David Hanson, was a member of the Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and was killed near Richmond. Mrs. Smith was born in 1842, and received the advantages of a good common- school education. She is the mother of six children, of whom the following three are living: Frank, aged nineteen years; Katie, fourteen years old; and Ira W., four years old. Mrs. Smith and her children are members in good standing of the Episcopal Church. Capt. Smith is very systematic in all that he does and manages his extensive farm after improved methods, and its many acres of fertile soil make it a very desirable piece of property. During the late war, the worth of Mr. Smith's citizenship was thoroughly proved, and his course since then as a private citizen has sustained his well-earned reputation for loyalty, truthfulness and honor, and Custer Township holds him as one of her best citizens. He has taken part in the public life of the place, has been a Director of this district and is now Highway Commissioner. He is a stanch Republi can and has always been a hard worker for his party. He was a delegate to the last State Convention, but received injuries from the kick of a horse so that he was unable to attend. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to Blue Lodge Chapter and Commandery. In remembrance of his army life he is identified with Bowen Post, No. 17, G. A. R., of Wilmington. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/smith10bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ilfiles/ File size: 7.5 Kb