My Genealogy Hound

W. H. SMITHMAN, nurseryman, West Milton; was born in Clarion Co., Penn., in 1841, and is a son of Henry and Agnes Smithman; his father was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1816; his mother in Wittenberg, in the year 1820; they emigrated to America with their parents and friends when quite young; they settled in Pennsylvania, where they subsequently were married. In the home of their adoption, they remained until 1865, when they came to Dayton, in which place they resided one year, then moved to Piqua, where they have resided since. They are parents of eleven children, of whom seven are living, viz., W. H. (our subject), John B., Edward, Henry, Luly, Mary and Aggie. The deceased are Maggie, Emma, Charlotte and Walter. W. H. was reared on the farm of his father, on which he labored after he attained a proper age, until his majority, when he left the parental roof and mingled with the affairs of the world. Aug. 1, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, of the 155th O. V. I. The regiment was quartered in Washington for a while, and finally pushed forward to the front, and took an active part in the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., where his company lost twelve men. The regiment maneuvered around for a while, and then went with the Burnside expedition, and, after marching through mud for a week, went into winter quarters, where they remained till spring, when they were joined to Hooker’s command and were engaged in the fight at Chancellorsville, after which they crossed the Rappahannock and were placed on picket duty. In April they were put on the move in order to intercept Hood, who at the time was making a threatened invasion in the North. The Rebels were met at Snakes Gap, where a slight brush was had, after which they pushed on through Maryland, and coming in collision with the enemy at Hanover, Penn., a sharp engagement took place, after which they plunged into the terrific battle of Gettysburg, where W. H. was struck with a piece of shell, but not seriously injured. They occupied the fortifications from which they could not be dislodged, consequently the loss of the regiment was not severe. After the battle, they passed down the Potomac and engaged the enemy at Beloy’s Ford, thence to Culpeper, Va., thence to Alexandria, and finally crossed the Rappahannock and again went into winter quarters. In the spring they were placed under Grant’s command, and broke camp May 1. Immediately after, they closed with the enemy in the terrible and ever-memorable battle of the Wilderness, and for three successive days breasted the leaden hail, and received the terrific shocks of the enemy’s charge. The regiment lost heavily; soon after, with thinned ranks and battle-torn banners, they engaged with the enemy again at Laurel Hill, and in the many subsequent sharp and decisive encounters that took place in and around Spottsylvania. In the Anna River fight, the enemy made terrible and repeated assaults upon their ranks, and finally with overwhelming numbers carried their line. Finally, the battle of Cold Harbor was fought, after which they took up position on the banks of the James River, held their ground, and pushed their lines to the opposite bank in the afternoon, and the ensuing night found them on the march to the vicinity of Richmond, where they were fearfully exposed to the scathing fire for two days, and soon after charged the rebels in their entrenchments on the line of the Norfork & Richmond Railroad, which they carried in brilliant style, on the afternoon of June 18, 1864. Here W. H. received a wound in the knee-joint, and was also struck in the side by a spent ball. The wound compelled him to return to the Division Hospital, and soon after to the hospital of the 5th Corps, where he remained for two weeks, after which he was sent to New York City, where he remained five months; he came home on a furlough and remained one month, then went back to New York, from there to Philadelphia, when he was discharged, April 9, 1865, on account of inability, caused by wounds. In May of the same year, he located in Dayton, where he labored by the month for two years; he then engaged in the nursery business with Peter Bohlander, which they successfully followed over seven years, when he sold his interest and removed to Piqua, where he purchased a farm in 1871, with the intention of establishing a nursery, but sold to T. S. Cox, and in 1874, purchased 84 acres of land where he now resides. His land is well situated, and in every way adapted to his business, which, taken in conjunction with his knowledge and experience, insures a success in the enterprise, thus giving farmers the advantage of buying home trees. He has all kinds of large and small fruits, which are selected with great care, and all who favor him with orders will certainly be benefited by his long experience and superior knowledge. His marriage with Elizabeth Elmore was celebrated in 1868. She is a daughter of David Elmore, who died in 1854; her mother is yet living and resides in this county. They are the parents of two children, viz., John W. and Edna Rose.