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Biography of Charles Alvord Smith
Charles Alvord Smith was born in Lake county, Ohio on February 29, 1828. The Smiths have been in America since the early 1630's. One distant relative was Jedediah Strong Smith, the first American to enter California by land (1826), the first American to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains from west to east, the first American to travel from the Southern California missions to the Pacific Northwest, and the effective discoverer of the South Pass through the Rocky Mountains. Charles was the son of Sylvester Smith, Sr. (May 25, 1787 - December 21, 1863), and Lucretia Woodworth Smith (March 13, 1793 - October 12, 1875). His paternal grandfather, Edward Smith (December 28, 1746 - February 12, 1813, and grandmother, Beulah Parsons Smith (December 12, 1750 - January 25, 1850), were from Massachusetts. Both his father and grandfather had also served the country during wartime. His father Sylvester, served briefly during the War of 1812, while his grandfather, Edward, served as an officer during the American Revolution as a member of the Militia, the 4th Hampshire County Regiment of Massachusetts. Charles Alvord Smith began his education in the public schools of Ohio, continued his studies to some extent in Illinois and afterwards became a student in Iowa. In the intervals of attending school, he work in the fields and early on became familiar with the best methods of caring for crops. He continued to live a home until twenty-four years of age, when he removed to a farm of eighty acres on Section 10, Wayne (Iowa) township. On August 19, 1852, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Young, who was born in the southern part of Ohio, a daughter of Patrick Young, a native of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the proud parents of five children: Alice, Alva, Irene, Charles L. and Arthur G. Mr. Smith continued the active work of the farm until August 27, 1862, when he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in Company G, 11th Iowa Volunteers from which he was honorable discharged on June 2, 1865. He was captured during the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, and was confined in Andersonville prison for six weeks, after which he was transferred to Florence prison in South Carolina, where he was held prisoner of war for three more months. His bravery and loyalty were above question, for he was ever prompt and faithful in the duties assigned him and participated in many hotly contested engagements. When the war was over he returned home. In community interests, Mr. Smith always took an active an helpful part and cooperated in many movements that resulted beneficially to the township and county. For many years, C.A. Smith served as the township clerk. He was also a long and devoted member of the Congregational Church and his service as a deacon covered many years. At the time of his death, Mr. Smith was one of the honored pioneer settlers of the county, having witnessed almost its entire growth and progress. Mr. and Mr.s Smith traveled life's journey together for more than forty years. C.A. Smith died at home on November 17, 1905, and is buried in the North Wayne Cemetery in Olds, Iowa.
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