He was born on 4 May 1839, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, to Solomon Smith and [unknown]. [sources: date: 5; 3 (23 in 1864), 5 (82 yrs 2 mos 9 dys at death). place: 3, 5. parents: 5]
When he enlisted, he was a farmer. [source: 3]
When he enlisted, he was 6 feet 0 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair. [source: 3]
He was drafted from the 16th congressional district. He enlisted and was mustered into service on 21 September 1864. He was enlisted for one year, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. (He reported to Chambersburg with Isaiah Collins (F) and Thomas Hymes (I). He was a private in company F. [sources: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8]
He later said
that some time about the first of November this affiant and the said Collins [sc. Isaiah Collins (F)] participated in an advance upon the Weldon Railroad; that the marching was very heavy, and the weather inclement; that on said march the said Collins first manifested sympoms of diarrhea, which continued up to the 28th of March, 1865, when the said Collins and this affiant were sent to the 5th Corp Hospital, at City Point, Va., where they remained until about the first of April when they were removed to "Soldiers' Rest" in the same place, where they remained until about the 14th of April 1865, when they joined their command, and remained with it until discharged; that the said Collins appeared to be weak and suffering more or less from diarrhea up to the date of said discharge.
[source: 7]
He was discharged near Washington DC by general order on 1 June 1865. He was a private, in company F. [sources: 1, 2, 4 (30 May), 6 (7 Jun), 8]
On 24 August 1869, he testified about Isaiah Collins (F), supporting Barbara Collins' application for a pension. [source: 7]
On 20 February 1883, he successfully applied for a pension. [source: 6]
In 1890, he was living in Elbinsville, Mann Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania. [source: 4]
He died on 13 July 1921, at Ridgeley, Mineral, West Virginia. He was then widowed, and was a farmer. [sources: 5, 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) (Isaac W Smith)
2 company F, register of men discharged (Isaac W Smith)
3 company F, second descriptive roll, #30 (Isaac W Smith)
4 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Mann Township, supervisor's district 7, enumeration district 74, page 1 (Isaac W Smith)
5 abstract of death certificate. source: www.familysearch.org (viewed 14 Nov 2008; image not available) (Isaac W Smith)
6 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company F (Isaac W Smith)
7 abstract of widow's pension certificate file, National Archives and Records Administration, record group 15, WC 143,246, Barbara Tewell widow of Isaiah Collins (Isaac W Smith)
8 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Isaac W Smith)