Private William Harrison Smith

Fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry

William Harrison Smith was twenty-four when he enlisted in Company I of the Fifth Iowa Infantry on June 24, 1861. During his service, he was captured by the Confederates and paroled. He mustered out on July 31, 1864, at the expiration of his three-year term of service.

His obituary, from the February 27, 1908 issue of The Bellevue Leader reveals more about his life:

A VETERAN IS CALLED
W.H. SMITH Passed Away at Home of His Daughter, Mrs. F.E. Glade Last Friday

W.H. Smith, whose illness was noted in last week's Leader passed away, Friday, at the home of his daughter Mrs. F. E. Glade. Mr. Smith had been confined to his bed less than a week and his rather sudden leave-taking was a shock to his relatives and friends.

The funeral was held Sunday morning. Rev. Chambers conducted a short service at the house after which the cortege moved to Andrew and the body was taken to the Presbyterian church where many of the old friends and farmer neighbors of the departed had gathered to pay the last tribute of respect to his memory. The Presbyterian choir from this community and the Andrew choir furnished music. Rev. Chambers preached an eloquent funeral discourse.

William Harrison Smith was born in Oswego County, N.Y., Aug. 25, 1836 and died at Bellevue, Ia., Jan. 21, 1908, aged 71 years, 4 months and 27 days. He came to Iowa in 1858, coming first to Dubuque and thence to Cottonville. In 1861, at the call of Abraham Lincoln, he enlisted for three years and went to the front with the first company going from Jackson County, Co. I of the 5th Iowa Infantry. After the war he returned to Cottonville where he was married to Marcia C. Cotton, Jan. 1, 1866.

Three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, all of whom survive their father, Mrs. F. E. Glade of Bellevue, Mrs Mabel Tynor of Bryant, Colorado and Mrs. Elvia Smith of Omaha, Neb.

He removed to Andrew in 1880, where he resided until 1906 and where Mrs. Smith died June 27, 1885. The last two years of Mr. Smith's life were lived with his daughter, Mrs. F. E. Glade. Two sisters of Mr. Smith, Mrs. Daniel Page of Maquoketa and Mrs. Katherine Lucas of Franklin, Neb, still live to mourn the death of their brother.

Mr. Smith some years ago made a profession of his faith in Christ and united with the Presbyterian church at Andrew of which he was a member at the time of his death.

The pall bearers were H. G. Dordhester, Herman Brown, John Ahlers, J. H. Ottens, Sam Campbell and John Stover while those at Andrew were John and Jep VanMeter, Marshall Miller, Frank March, Marion McMurray and James Hamilton.

The Fifth Iowa regimental websites are grateful to Michael Altfillisch, proud descendant of one of our veterans, for transcribing this obituary.

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