John Corson Smith

Brevet Brigadier General John Corson Smith was born to a highly patriotic family of Philadelphia, February 13, 1832. In reaching adulthood, he trained as a carpenter and set out on his own. He moved to Galena around 1854 and formed a construction and carpentry firm with B.W. Marble on Levee between Spring and Gear. He also was an active freemason. Within the course of only four short years, Smith and Marble worked on many notable projects throughout Galena and the surrounding area. These projects included the Methodist Church on Bench Street in Galena and the Custom House-Post Office in Dubuque, which Gen. Ely S. Parker was also a contributor.

In 1856 he married Charlotte Gallagher (often seen as Gallaher) and called her "Lotte" for short. She was another East Coast transplant and one of Galena's most eligible young women, with whom he would eventually have five children.

Then, in Spring of 1861, the American Civil War broke out. Smith enlisted in 1862, as a part of the 96th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and was elected Captain of Company I. As the war progressed, John showed continued leadership capabilities and bravery, especially at the Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863), rising in rank to Lt. Colonel. However, due to an injury at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain (June 1864), he spent the remainder of the war serving various bureaucratic commissions.

His father and two brothers also served as Union soldiers. Charlotte was often nearby with the children and helped serve the wounded soldiers. This earned her the name, "Mother of the 96th". On February 20, 1865 he was appointed brevet Colonel and on June 20, 1865 was brevetted Brigadier General for meritorious services

Following the war John Corson Smith was appointed assessor for the Department of Internal Revenue. He moved to Chicago in the early 1870s and became involved in several business ventures and Republican politics. He was elected Illinois State Treasurer in 1878 and 1882 and served as lieutenant governor of Illinois from 1885 to 1889. In 1893 Helped bring the World Fair to Chicago.

John C. Smith may be best known for his long time service to the Masonic Order. In his New York Times obituary, his service in the Masonry was the first thing to be noted. He was noted as being "one of the most active members of the Masonic order in the United States for many years." He also held many honorary offices in the order. He was also known for his books on Masonic history, in 1874 he published "The History of Freemasonry in Galena, IL" and 1901 he published "History of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1804-1829". He also published other books,
1895: Published Book - Around the World with General John Corson Smith
1904: Published Book - Personal recollections of General Ulysses S. Grant
1904: Published Book - Our Comrade General John A. Logan

Smith died on December 31, 1910 in Chicago. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

From Chicago Tribune Obituary:
"No man was ever more beloved, nor held in higher esteem, than he."
"It is a virtually assured fact, that no man was ever more honored by membership in military, civic, and fraternal organizations, than John Corson Smith"
"His name today remains alone, as the most distinguished frater of the globe. He was doubtless, the greatest traveler and best known Freemason in the world."