JOHN SMILEY DEAD
VETERAN OF THE WAR PASSES AWAY AGED EIGHTY-FIVE
WAS THE FRIEND OF KIRKWOOD
Served in Several Bloody Battles and performed Feats of Almost Incredible Bravery
At 5 o'clock Saturday morning John Smiley died at his home, 118 Church Street, after a two week illness. An old resident of the county and a gallant soldier of the Civil War, Lieutenant Smiley passed away rich in the esteem of his fellow citizens. His death is mourned by many comrades and friends In Iowa City.
John Smiley was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1823, and was educated in the common schools of that county. At the age of twenty years he entered the employ of the Ward ship building company at Detroit, remaining there until 1854 when he came to Iowa City at the urgent solicitation of Samuel J. Kirkwood and Hon. Ezekiel Clark. They were then operating the Coralville mill near Iowa City, and the services of Mr. Smiley as a millwright were of great value to them.
When the clouds of war broke upon the land in 1861, Mr. Smiley, then at an age that would have almost have excused him from service, but inspired by the Revolutionary blood in his veins, enlisted in his country's cause as a private in Company G, twenty-second Iowa infantry. The most important battles in which Lieutenant Smiley engaged were Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, and the dreadful charge on the fort on May 22, 1863. About midnight of the morning before the daring assault upon the fort General Lawler asked for three volunteers to investigate the grounds between their lines and the fortification through the picket lines of the enemy, and to report to him personally before daylight. Mr. Smiley with three others attempted the task, and he was the only one who reached the fort, and reported back to General Lawler the condition of affairs. This act of bravery made him a lieutenant, by promotion and he was so commissioned.
Lieutenant John Smiley was married to Mary M. Wolverton at Marine City, Michigan, November 6, 1847. She passed away nearly ten years ago. He had four brothers and three sisters all gone to their reward, except Mrs. Jane Elliot of Angsla, Indiana.
Lieutenant and Mother Smiley were blessed with no children of their own, but they reared to manhood and womanhood eight adopted children--Choralista A, Smiley of this city, Dr. Frank H. Smiley, Chicago, Three adopted nieces of Mrs. Smiley, Mrs. Albert Carpenter, wife of ex-senator Carpenter of Louisa county, Mrs. Guy Calkins, Iowa City; Mrs. Popejoy, Popejoy, Iowa, John F. Wolverton, Samuel L. Wolverton, and Harriet Smiley, a niece of Lieutenant Smiley, now the wife of Dr. Horton of Sanborn, Iowa. Dr. Frank H. Smiley and Mrs. Calkins are both graduates of the State university of Iowa.
(Obit in the Iowa City Citizen, Monday, April 27, 1908, page 3)
* * *
Excerpt from his obit in the Iowa City Daily Press, April 25, 1908, page 8:
"Lieut. Smiley was 86 and was a brave soldier of the 22nd Iowa in the Civil War. He was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood, whom he accompanied hither from Ohio--together with the late Senator Ezekiel Clark."
Link to parents from Find-a-Grave contributor Robert "Rob" Weller(#46505507).
(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=46505507 )
VETERAN OF THE WAR PASSES AWAY AGED EIGHTY-FIVE
WAS THE FRIEND OF KIRKWOOD
Served in Several Bloody Battles and performed Feats of Almost Incredible Bravery
At 5 o'clock Saturday morning John Smiley died at his home, 118 Church Street, after a two week illness. An old resident of the county and a gallant soldier of the Civil War, Lieutenant Smiley passed away rich in the esteem of his fellow citizens. His death is mourned by many comrades and friends In Iowa City.
John Smiley was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1823, and was educated in the common schools of that county. At the age of twenty years he entered the employ of the Ward ship building company at Detroit, remaining there until 1854 when he came to Iowa City at the urgent solicitation of Samuel J. Kirkwood and Hon. Ezekiel Clark. They were then operating the Coralville mill near Iowa City, and the services of Mr. Smiley as a millwright were of great value to them.
When the clouds of war broke upon the land in 1861, Mr. Smiley, then at an age that would have almost have excused him from service, but inspired by the Revolutionary blood in his veins, enlisted in his country's cause as a private in Company G, twenty-second Iowa infantry. The most important battles in which Lieutenant Smiley engaged were Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, and the dreadful charge on the fort on May 22, 1863. About midnight of the morning before the daring assault upon the fort General Lawler asked for three volunteers to investigate the grounds between their lines and the fortification through the picket lines of the enemy, and to report to him personally before daylight. Mr. Smiley with three others attempted the task, and he was the only one who reached the fort, and reported back to General Lawler the condition of affairs. This act of bravery made him a lieutenant, by promotion and he was so commissioned.
Lieutenant John Smiley was married to Mary M. Wolverton at Marine City, Michigan, November 6, 1847. She passed away nearly ten years ago. He had four brothers and three sisters all gone to their reward, except Mrs. Jane Elliot of Angsla, Indiana.
Lieutenant and Mother Smiley were blessed with no children of their own, but they reared to manhood and womanhood eight adopted children--Choralista A, Smiley of this city, Dr. Frank H. Smiley, Chicago, Three adopted nieces of Mrs. Smiley, Mrs. Albert Carpenter, wife of ex-senator Carpenter of Louisa county, Mrs. Guy Calkins, Iowa City; Mrs. Popejoy, Popejoy, Iowa, John F. Wolverton, Samuel L. Wolverton, and Harriet Smiley, a niece of Lieutenant Smiley, now the wife of Dr. Horton of Sanborn, Iowa. Dr. Frank H. Smiley and Mrs. Calkins are both graduates of the State university of Iowa.
(Obit in the Iowa City Citizen, Monday, April 27, 1908, page 3)
* * *
Excerpt from his obit in the Iowa City Daily Press, April 25, 1908, page 8:
"Lieut. Smiley was 86 and was a brave soldier of the 22nd Iowa in the Civil War. He was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood, whom he accompanied hither from Ohio--together with the late Senator Ezekiel Clark."
Link to parents from Find-a-Grave contributor Robert "Rob" Weller(#46505507).
(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=46505507 )
JOHN SMILEY DEAD
VETERAN OF THE WAR PASSES AWAY AGED EIGHTY-FIVE
WAS THE FRIEND OF KIRKWOOD
Served in Several Bloody Battles and performed Feats of Almost Incredible Bravery
At 5 o'clock Saturday morning John Smiley died at his home, 118 Church Street, after a two week illness. An old resident of the county and a gallant soldier of the Civil War, Lieutenant Smiley passed away rich in the esteem of his fellow citizens. His death is mourned by many comrades and friends In Iowa City.
John Smiley was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1823, and was educated in the common schools of that county. At the age of twenty years he entered the employ of the Ward ship building company at Detroit, remaining there until 1854 when he came to Iowa City at the urgent solicitation of Samuel J. Kirkwood and Hon. Ezekiel Clark. They were then operating the Coralville mill near Iowa City, and the services of Mr. Smiley as a millwright were of great value to them.
When the clouds of war broke upon the land in 1861, Mr. Smiley, then at an age that would have almost have excused him from service, but inspired by the Revolutionary blood in his veins, enlisted in his country's cause as a private in Company G, twenty-second Iowa infantry. The most important battles in which Lieutenant Smiley engaged were Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, and the dreadful charge on the fort on May 22, 1863. About midnight of the morning before the daring assault upon the fort General Lawler asked for three volunteers to investigate the grounds between their lines and the fortification through the picket lines of the enemy, and to report to him personally before daylight. Mr. Smiley with three others attempted the task, and he was the only one who reached the fort, and reported back to General Lawler the condition of affairs. This act of bravery made him a lieutenant, by promotion and he was so commissioned.
Lieutenant John Smiley was married to Mary M. Wolverton at Marine City, Michigan, November 6, 1847. She passed away nearly ten years ago. He had four brothers and three sisters all gone to their reward, except Mrs. Jane Elliot of Angsla, Indiana.
Lieutenant and Mother Smiley were blessed with no children of their own, but they reared to manhood and womanhood eight adopted children--Choralista A, Smiley of this city, Dr. Frank H. Smiley, Chicago, Three adopted nieces of Mrs. Smiley, Mrs. Albert Carpenter, wife of ex-senator Carpenter of Louisa county, Mrs. Guy Calkins, Iowa City; Mrs. Popejoy, Popejoy, Iowa, John F. Wolverton, Samuel L. Wolverton, and Harriet Smiley, a niece of Lieutenant Smiley, now the wife of Dr. Horton of Sanborn, Iowa. Dr. Frank H. Smiley and Mrs. Calkins are both graduates of the State university of Iowa.
(Obit in the Iowa City Citizen, Monday, April 27, 1908, page 3)
* * *
Excerpt from his obit in the Iowa City Daily Press, April 25, 1908, page 8:
"Lieut. Smiley was 86 and was a brave soldier of the 22nd Iowa in the Civil War. He was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood, whom he accompanied hither from Ohio--together with the late Senator Ezekiel Clark."
Link to parents from Find-a-Grave contributor Robert "Rob" Weller(#46505507).
(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=46505507 )
VETERAN OF THE WAR PASSES AWAY AGED EIGHTY-FIVE
WAS THE FRIEND OF KIRKWOOD
Served in Several Bloody Battles and performed Feats of Almost Incredible Bravery
At 5 o'clock Saturday morning John Smiley died at his home, 118 Church Street, after a two week illness. An old resident of the county and a gallant soldier of the Civil War, Lieutenant Smiley passed away rich in the esteem of his fellow citizens. His death is mourned by many comrades and friends In Iowa City.
John Smiley was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1823, and was educated in the common schools of that county. At the age of twenty years he entered the employ of the Ward ship building company at Detroit, remaining there until 1854 when he came to Iowa City at the urgent solicitation of Samuel J. Kirkwood and Hon. Ezekiel Clark. They were then operating the Coralville mill near Iowa City, and the services of Mr. Smiley as a millwright were of great value to them.
When the clouds of war broke upon the land in 1861, Mr. Smiley, then at an age that would have almost have excused him from service, but inspired by the Revolutionary blood in his veins, enlisted in his country's cause as a private in Company G, twenty-second Iowa infantry. The most important battles in which Lieutenant Smiley engaged were Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicksburg, and the dreadful charge on the fort on May 22, 1863. About midnight of the morning before the daring assault upon the fort General Lawler asked for three volunteers to investigate the grounds between their lines and the fortification through the picket lines of the enemy, and to report to him personally before daylight. Mr. Smiley with three others attempted the task, and he was the only one who reached the fort, and reported back to General Lawler the condition of affairs. This act of bravery made him a lieutenant, by promotion and he was so commissioned.
Lieutenant John Smiley was married to Mary M. Wolverton at Marine City, Michigan, November 6, 1847. She passed away nearly ten years ago. He had four brothers and three sisters all gone to their reward, except Mrs. Jane Elliot of Angsla, Indiana.
Lieutenant and Mother Smiley were blessed with no children of their own, but they reared to manhood and womanhood eight adopted children--Choralista A, Smiley of this city, Dr. Frank H. Smiley, Chicago, Three adopted nieces of Mrs. Smiley, Mrs. Albert Carpenter, wife of ex-senator Carpenter of Louisa county, Mrs. Guy Calkins, Iowa City; Mrs. Popejoy, Popejoy, Iowa, John F. Wolverton, Samuel L. Wolverton, and Harriet Smiley, a niece of Lieutenant Smiley, now the wife of Dr. Horton of Sanborn, Iowa. Dr. Frank H. Smiley and Mrs. Calkins are both graduates of the State university of Iowa.
(Obit in the Iowa City Citizen, Monday, April 27, 1908, page 3)
* * *
Excerpt from his obit in the Iowa City Daily Press, April 25, 1908, page 8:
"Lieut. Smiley was 86 and was a brave soldier of the 22nd Iowa in the Civil War. He was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood, whom he accompanied hither from Ohio--together with the late Senator Ezekiel Clark."
Link to parents from Find-a-Grave contributor Robert "Rob" Weller(#46505507).
(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=46505507 )
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