Lewis R. Smith

As printed in 1897

EWIS R. SMITH, an honored citizen of Brookville, and one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 24, 182. He is a son of Peter and Catherine (Richard) Smith, the Smith family being of Pennsylvania- Dutch stock and from an old colonial family. On the mother’s side, the grandfather of the subject came from Germany, and the mother was born on the ocean during the voyage of the family to America.

Lewis R. Smith was taken by his parents to Montgomery county, they settling on the present site of Phillipsburg, when he was but six years of age, in 1834. He received the rudiments of his education in the common schools, and later went to Indiana, where he learned the wagon and carriagemaker’s trade, afterward mastering the carpenter’s trade. When he was twenty-eight years old he married Lydia Davis, daughter of George Davis, a native of England. After his marriage he settled at Phillipsburg, where he worked at his trade, that of carpenter. The war of the Rebellion having broken out, Mr. Smith enlisted at Dayton, Ohio, on August 15, 1861, as a member of company D, Eighteenth United States infantry, and while on the way to Pittsburg Landing was transferred to company B, of the same regiment, and made orderly sergeant. He was honorably discharged August 15, 1864, at Columbus, Ohio. In October,

1864, he enlisted in company F, Seventh United States veteran volunteers (called Hancock's veteran United States volunteers) for one year, and served his time, thus giving four full years to his country’s cause. He was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Pittsburg Landing, the siege of Corinth, the battle of Chickamauga, beside many skirmishes and several raids. He received no gunshot wounds, but was struck on the right wrist by a ball and slightly wounded at the battle of Stone River. At this battle his captain had both legs shot off by a cannon ball and the lieutenant of his company was killed. During the remainder of the engagement Sergt. Smith was in command of the company, most of whose members were killed, so severe was the fighting.

Sergt. Smith was sick for a short time in hospital No. 13. Nashville, Tenn., and was made a commissary sergeant. He was placed in the convalescent camp at Nashville, Tenn., was ordered before the board of transfer, and made clerk of said board, in which capacity he served for two months. After this board was disbanded, Sergt. Smith was sent to Columbus, Ohio, where he served at headquarters as clerk until discharged. Always an earnest soldier, he was in all the battles, skirmishes, marches, campaigns and raids of his regiment. The severest engagements in which he took part were those of Stone River and Chickamauga, in which the regular troops performed very efficient service. The battle of Stone River lasted nearly all of one week, from the first skirmish to the end of the fighting. Sergt. Smith was at the time of the war in the prime of life, vigorous and hardy, and endured all the hardships of a soldier’s life with fortitude and courage. After the close of the war he returned to Phillipsburg, Ohio.

His first wife died previous to his entering the army in 1 86 1. By her he had two children, both of whom died young. On January 31, 1865, he married Mary Thomas, a widow, who was born in Montgomery county, March 26, 1741, and was a daughter of John and Nancy (Warner) Johnf. She was the widow of Seth Thomas, who was a soldier in the Sixty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and who died in hospital at Memphis, Tenn., September 31, 1862.

John John$ was of Welsh descent and a pioneer of Montgomery county, and a substantial farmer. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Elizabeth, Lydia,

Lewis W., Samuel W., Ephraim, Hettie A., David, Sarah, Mary and Susan. Mr. Johns lived to be seventy-nine years old, and died on his farm, a respected citizen. Politically, he was a republican. He had one son in the Civil war, Lewis W. John$, who was a member of the Sixty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and who participated in several battles.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith resided in Phillipsburg until 1880, when they removed to Brookville. To them there have been born two sons, George B., now of Dayton, Ohio, and head bookkeeper for a large manufacturing firm, and Sylvester deceased — and one daughter, Ol/ivia, deceased. Mr. Smith is an active republican, and was postmaster under President Hayes for two years. He served as mayor of Brookville three terms and as a member of the council one term. He has also held the office of justice of the peace six years, and of notary public twenty-nine years. As a member of the school board he has rendered valuable service to his fellow-citizens.

His father, Peter Smith, lived for a long time in Lancaster county, Pa., in which county he was born. He served in the war of 1812. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, as follows: John R., Mary, Peter, Rebecca, Lewis R., Henry and Samuel R. Peter Smith came to Ohio about 1829, was a miller by trade, but settled on a farm near Canton, Stark county, Ohio, removing with his family to Montgomery county in 1834. Here he cleared a farm of ninety-six acres, and became a leading and substantial citizen. He was a republican in politics, and had three sons in the Civil war, viz: Lewis R., Henry and Samuel R., the two former in the same regiment, and Samuel R. in the Sixty-third Ohio volunteer infantry. He died on his farm at the age of seventy-three.

As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.