Wesley W. Smith - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Wesley William Smith was born in Crawford County on May 13, 1847.  He was 17 when he enlisted in Company B, 184th Regiment, Ohio on January 31, 1865.  

The unit was organized at Camp Chase for a one year term of service and was immediately ordered to Nashville for garrison duty.  By March 21, 1865, they were on the move to Bridgeport, Alabama, where part of the group protected a railroad bridge across the Tennessee River and the others guarded the railroad track between Bridgeport and Chattanoga.  By July, they were back on garrison duty until mustered out on September 20, 1865 in Nashville.
Wesley served 8 months duty. 

Wesley was the son of Alexander Smith and Barbara Schillings, according to his death record.  In 1872, he married Elizabeth Relue and together they would have six children.  The couple settled in Richland Township where they were enumerated on the census from 1880 on until their deaths.  

Wesley was a house carpenter and his eldest son, George, also followed the trade.  In 1909, Elizabeth Relue Smith died of dropsy (edema, congestive heart failure,) so in the 1910 census, Wesley was noted to be widowed and 62 years old.  With him were son, George - 32, and daughter, Icie - 18, and a servant, Dillie Sorgenfrei, 22.

By 1920, George was listed as the head of household and he had married Tillie.  Still in the house were Wesley, 72, still working as a carpenter, and Icie, 25.  Just two years later, Wesley died.

 He was buried near his wife and several children who preceded him in death.

Independence Cemetery        www.findagrave.com

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)