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Below is a family biography included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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MRS. GEN. GILES A. SMITH, Bloomington. History is but a plain, unvarnished statement of facts, whether these facts be relative to the works of art or of nature; and if of the latter, it may be of nations, kingdoms, States or individuals, the truths are just as important to be left upon record; there was many a hero in the war of the late rebellion of whom the world is yet ignorant, or to whom history has not done justice. We would here mention the name of Gen. Giles A. Smith, as we purpose giving a brief biographical sketch of his life. To go into detail would require a volume half the size of this. He was a native of Jefferson Co., N. Y.; was born Sept. 29, 1829; remaining at his native place until he had grown to man’s estate, and had received his education; leaving his native place, he came west as far as London, Ohio, where, for a short time, he was engaged in business; he then went to Cincinnati, and for two years was in the employ of Day & Matlock, wholesale dry goods merchants. In 1856, he was married to Miss McLain, who is a native of Madison Co., Ohio, and a resident of London at the time of marriage; the same year they became residents of Bloomington, where she still resides. From this date until 1861, he was engaged in the mercantile and hotel business, being engaged in the latter business just previous to entering the army. From a Sunday until the following Thursday he closed the hotel, settled his private affairs and raised a company of soldiers; he entered the service as Captain of Co. D, 8th Mo. V. I., the regiment being commanded by his brother, Morgan L. Smith; in the fall of 1861, he was stationed at Paducah, from which place, with his regiment, he took part in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson; also the battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth, where his regiment was first in the rebel works, and took possession. After the capture of Corinth, his regiment went to Memphis as a part of the 15th Corps; here Gen. Smith was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and, on the promotion of his brother to a Brigadier, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel; he soon after took part in Sherman’s first attack on Vicksburg, and afterward in the attack on Arkansas Post, where his horse was shot from under him, and himself slightly wounded; in the operations resulting in the capture of Vicksburg he took an active and conspicuous part. By a brilliant and daring feat, he, with his regiment, rescued Admiral Porter and his iron-clads, when they were surrounded and hemmed in by the rebels. After the capture of Vicksburg, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, for gallant and meritorious conduct on the field of battle. As brigade commander, he took a conspicuous part in the campaign resulting in the defeat of Bragg, and at the siege of Chattanooga and battle of Mission Ridge, where he was badly wounded; recovering from his wound, he returned to the field as brigade commander in the 15th (then the 17th) Army Corps, under Gen. Frank P. Blair. On the 22d of July, 1864, was fought the memorable battle of Atlanta, in which Gen. McPherson fell. The heaviest portion of this battle fell on the division of Gen. Smith. His gallant and heroic conduct on this occasion forms no small part in the history of that eventful day; he then took part in Sherman’s great march to the sea in command of the Second Division of the Seventeenth Corps. After the surrender of Lee, he having been promoted to a full Major General, was transferred to the Twenty-fifth Army Corps and stationed at Brownsville, Tex. After the division of the corps, he declined the commission of Colonel of cavalry in the regular army, and returned to his home in Bloomington. He was appointed by President Grant as Second Assistant Postmaster General, which position he held until his resignation on account of failing health, in 1872. He then became a resident of Bloomington and of San Jose, Cal., but a resident of the former place at his death, which occurred on Sunday Nov. 5 1876. Thus perished a brave and gallant soldier, an honored citizen and fond husband and father. Mrs. Smith is still a resident of Bloomington. She was with Gen. Smith during most of his army life, and many of the scenes and incidents of war are indelibly impressed upon her memory. She has possession of all of the General’s papers and commissions of promotion which are, as they should be, highly prized by herself. She is a lady of fine mental culture and is amply able to conduct the education of their only daughter.

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This family biography is one of 1257 biographies included in The History of McLean County, Illinois published by Wm. LeBaron, Jr. Co. in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of McLean County, Illinois

View additional McLean County, Illinois family biographies here: McLean County, Illinois Biographies

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