William A. Smith

William A. Smith was born in 1843, in Canada.

William came to western Michigan sometime before the war broke out.

He was 27 years old and possibly living in Kent County when he enlisted in Company A on May 13, 1861. He was absent sick or wounded in a general hospital from July of 1862 through August, and discharged for rheumatism on April 26 or 29, 1862.

After he was discharged from the army William returned to Michigan and for a time may have lived in Grand Rapids, however he eventually settled in Berlin (Marne), Ottawa County where he was living when he became a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association in December of 1888. He was still living in Marne in 1890. (In 1870 there was a 26-year-old harness-maker named William Smith, born in Canada, married to 19-year-old Anna, and they had at least two children: Carnette (b. 1868) and Francis (b. 1870).

William received pension no. 816,955, drawing $8.00 per month in 1895, and had been married; he had at least one son, William L.

In fact, William was either divorced or a widower when he was admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home (no. 2354) as a single man on January 25, 1895. He was discharged on May 9 and readmitted to the Home on December 31, 1895.

William died of heart failure at the Home on January 12, 1900, and the funeral services were held in Berlin (Marne) on Sunday at the residence of relatives. He was buried in Marne cemetery.