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         CAPT. JOHN C. SMITH, formerly proprietor of the Hotel Dotson, of Columbus Junction, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., Feb. 3, 1830, and is a son of Francis R. and Margaret (Holmes) Smith, both of whom were also natives of that State. When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Miami County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, and on the 25th of March, 1852, in Piqua, Miami County, that State, wedded Miss Mercy Lucky, who was born in Athens County, Ohio, and is a daughter of George Lucky. Four children were born of their union: Mary Alice, who died at the age of thirteen months; George, who died at the age of fourteen months; William, who died when eight years of age; and Harry, who became the husband of Miss Maude White, and resides in Decatur County, Iowa, where he is engaged in the hardware business.

In 1853 Mr. Smith came to Louisa County, engaging in farming in Concord Township, but one year later removed to Columbus City. On the 2d of August, 1862, he enlisted in the 25th Iowa Infantry, Company F, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out of service in June, 1865. He was elected Orderly Sergeant of his company on leaving the State for the seat of war, four months later was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and after serving in that capacity for four months was promoted to First Lieutenant, and for eight months, during the absence of his Captain, who was acting as Major of the regiment, he was serving as Captain of his company, to which rank he was commissioned, but before he could be mustered in as such the war came to a close. Capt. Smith participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg, the entire Atlanta campaign, the battles of Ringgold, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Savannah, Macon and Bentonville, which included Sherman’s celebrated march to the sea. He was with his company in all the engagements in which it participated, and although slightly wounded by a gunshot in the neck at Atlanta, was never in a hospital. At the battle of Bentonville he was in the hottest of the fight, five bullet holes being made in his clothes, though, bodily, he escaped injury.

On his return from the war Capt. Smith engaged in farming in the township of Grand View, subsequently being proprietor of a hotel in the village of that name, and also carrying the mail between that village and Letts. In the fall of 1881 he was elected Sheriff of Louisa County, was re-elected, and served until Jan. 1, 1888. In 1882 he removed to Wapello, the county seat, residing in that city until March, 1888, when he removed to Columbus Junction, and engaged in the hotel business. Capt. Smith is a Republican in politics, and a member of A. M. Taylor Post No. 153, of Wapello, having been one of its active members while a resident of that city. He was a good officer, a brave soldier, and no one stands higher in the estimation of his comrades than the gallant Captain. As a citizen and neighbor, he is universally respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.