He was born on 4 January 1838 (6; 2 (24 in 1863), 3 (24 in 1863), 7 (72 in 1910), 8 (72 in 1910), 9 (72 in 1910)). He was born in Elizabethtown, [Lancaster], Pennsylvania (2, 7, 8, 9).
When he enlisted, he was a laborer (2).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 7 inches tall, and had a light complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair (2, 7).
He was drafted (1, 4) or a substitute (2). He was enlisted and mustered into service in the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry on 24 September 1863 (1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 7). He was enlisted for three years, at Pottsville, Pennsylvania (2, 3, 7). His enlistment was credited to the tenth congressional district (2). He was mustered in as a private, at Pottsville, Pennsylvania (3). He served as a private in company C of the 118th Pennsylvania (4, 7).
On 2 June 1865, he was transferred from the 118th Pennsylvania Infantry to company C of the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry (1, 3, 4). He was a private in company C in the 91st Pennsylvania (1, 5, 8, 9, 10).
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1, 5, 7). He had served for thirty months (8, 9). He was a private, in company C (10).
After discharge, he lived in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania (7).
On 3 July 1895, he applied successfully for a pension (5).
On 21 February 1907, he again applied for a pension (5).
He received pensions of $15, $21.50, and $50 (at different times) (7).
On 19 June 1910, he was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (7, 8, 9). He was present in the Southern Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (8). He had cardiac hypertrophy and chronic cysistis (7). He could not read and write (7). He was a protestant (7). He was a mason (7). He was a widower; his nearest relative was Frank C Smith (of 5415 Leiper Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) (7). He was then receiving a pension of $15 per month (8).
On 21 April 1913, he was discharged from the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (7, 9). He was then receiving a pension of $21-1/2 per month (9).
On 27 December 1920, he was readmitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Southern Branch (7).
On 13 January 1921, he was discharged from the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (7).
On 19 March 1923, he died, at Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania (5, 6). He was buried in Mount Tunnel Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (6).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (John R Smith)
2 company C, descriptive roll, entry 179 (John R Smith)
3 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 14 July 2004 (John R Smith)
4 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'One hundred and eighteenth regiment'. Page 1323. (In the roster) (John R Smith)
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company C (John R Smith)
6 Find a grave, memorial 34716807 (created by Glenn Koons, 12 March 2009, accessed 11 January 2011) [including photo of tombstone, with inscription: "JOHN R. SMITH Born Jan. 4, 1838 DIED March 19, 1923 Private, Co. C 91 Reg. Pa. Vol."] (John R Smith)
7 Register of US National Homes for Disabled Volunteers, available on Ancestry, accessed January 2011 (John R Smith)
8 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. Letter from the President of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, transmitting the report... fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. Serial Set volume 6058, Session volume 114, 61st Congress, 3rd Session, House Document 1078. Page 466. (John R Smith)
9 Report of the Board of Managers of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1913. Serial Set volume 6737, Session volume 140, 63rd Congress, 2nd Session, House Document 459. Page 430 (John R Smith)
10 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (John R Smith)
Time and Place of Each Enlistment | Sept. 24" 1863, Pottsville Pa |
Rank | Pri |
Company and Regiment | C 118 Pa Inf. C 91" Pa Vet Inf |
Time and Place of Discharge | July 10" 1865 Washn D.C. |
Cause of Discharge | End of War |
Disabilities when Admitted to the Home | Cardiac Hypertrophy Chronic Cystitis |
Rate of Pension | Date of Admission Re-Admission and Transfer | Condition of Re-admission | Date of Discharge and Transfer | Cause of Discharge | Date of Death | Cause of Death | |||
$15 | 1st ad June 19" 1910 | [blank] | Apl 21-1913 | OR | [blank] | [blank] | |||
21 50 | Re-ad. So Br 27-12-20 | [blank] | Dis. Pre. Jan-13-1921 | [blank] | [blank] | [blank] | |||
50 00 | |||||||||
[the first two pension rates are crossed out] |
Admission Papers | Hon Franklin Murphy |
Army Discharge | 1 |
Certificate of Service | [blank] |
Pension Certificate | 900402 |
EFFECTS | |
Cash | $ |
Pension Money | $ |
Personal, Appraised at [blank] | sold [blank] $ |
Total | $ |
How Disposed of |