Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Ira W. SMITH, farmer; P. O. Wilmington; was born in Huron Co., Ohio, Nov. 27, 1834, and is 
the son of Ira W. and Louis (BECKWITH) SMITH, of Vermont; his father was engaged in farming 
and stock-raising, and died universally respected, Feb. 18, 1870, at 64 years of age; his 
mother died June 7, 1847, 37 years of age. Mr. SMITH came West to Illinois in November, 
1844, and settled in Rockville, Kankakee Co., and, in 1857, he came to the place he now 
lives on; here he remained until the breaking-out of the late war. At the first call for 
volunteers (Aug. 27,1861), he enlisted as private in Co. D, 4th I. V. C., under Col. T. 
Lyle DICKEY, who was a soldier in the Mexican war; the 4th I. V. C. was changed to the 
12th I. V. C., and participated in some of the hard-fought battles during the war - Ft. 
Henry, Ft. Donelson (where the first substantial success of the war was achieved), at 
Pittsburg Landing (where a victory was snatched from the jaws of death), in the Campaigns, 
the battles and the siege of Vicksburg and other prominent battles under Gen. GRANT, Gen.
MCPHERSON and Gen. DODGE; Co. D was with these generals as an escort; in a skirmish in 
Mississippi, Mr. SMITH was wounded, which caused him to be off duty six weeks, and four 
months sickness; excepting this he served full time and was honorably discharged; mustered 
out as Captain of Co. D, in December, 1865. At the close of the war he returned home here; 
he has remained here ever since. Married June, 1866, to Miss Ella HANSON, of Illinois, by 
whom he has two children; has 755 acres of fine, improved land.