Smart, George F.C.

SMART

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 21:24:27

George F. C. Smart

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.560)
CAPTAIN GEORGE F. C. SMART, one of the old soldier farmers of James Township, is the son of Caleb SMART, who was born in 1802 in New Hampshire. He was married in that state to Clarissa B. SMITH, and they were the parents of five children: George, Helen, Morill, Mayette and Hiram. In 1835 the father moved to Michigan and settled on a farm in Kalamazoo County, where he was one of the pioneer settlers. He died in 1840 at the early age of 38 years.

George F. C. SMART, our subject, was born in New Hampshire, July 18, 1833, and was but two years of age when his family moved to Michigan, and only seven years old when his father died. In the spring of 1852, at the age of 20 years, he went to California by way of New York City and the Isthmus, and was engaged in gold mining in the Indian diggings and Sonoma, and was also in the city of Sacramento, engaged in truck marketing. In 1857 he returned to Kane County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, and next he went to Mercer County, Pennsylvania and engaged in railroad work and also worked for the express companies. In August 1862, he enlisted, when General LEE was invading Pennsylvania, in Company G, 145th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, as a private; was appointed Orderly Sergeant, then promoted as 2nd Lieutenant, then 1st Lieutenant, then Captain, for meritorious services and gallant conduct. His first battle was Antietam, and he was then in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and the Wilderness. He was captured and after 20 days paroled. He was at Libby Prison and was on duty at Annapolis, Maryland, until exchanged. Captain SMART was detailed to distribute paroled prisoners to different points, and then went into winter quarters with his regiment on the Rapidan River, where he received his promotion as Captain. He was in all the battles from Chancellorsville to Petersburg. He was again taken prisoner and was taken to Macon, Georgia, Charleston, and Columbus, South Carolina, where he remained imprisoned until nearly the close of the war. He then returned to Pennsylvania and was honorably discharged at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1865.

In that year, he was married to Lorretta McFARREN, daughter of Josiah and Martha McFARREN. Mrs. SMART had two brothers, Quincy and Julius, the former serving in the same regiment as her husband. To Captain and Mrs. SMART were born four children: Edward, Francis, Walter, and one who died in infancy. After marriage, Captain SMART went to Hannibal, Missouri, where he was engaged in the livery business. When the Black Hill mining excitement broke out, Captain SMART went there, and thence to Colorado and returned to Pennsylvania after an absence of nine months. In 1878 he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and settled on a farm in James Township. He is a member of the G.A.R. No. 358, William Layton Post, Oakland, Iowa; and politically he is a Republican.

The Captain has taken an interest in good schools in his community, and has been elected School Director. He has had a varied experience in life, and stands deservedly high as an honorable and straightforward citizen. When the country needed men, he responded, was a good soldier, an efficient officer, and faithfully did his part and endured imprisonment with patience, and to such men we owe the preservation of this government.