John Eugene Smith

Brevet Major General John Eugene Smith was born in Berne, Switzerland on Aug. 3, 1816. His father had served as an officer in Napoleon's army and fought in the Russian campaign and at Waterloo. Smith's family emigrated to Philadelphia, PA in the year he was born. In Philadelphia, Smith was trained as a silversmith and jeweler. In 1834, Smith moved to St. Louis to work in a jewelry store. In 1836 he married Aimee Massot of St. Louis, with whom he had four children. They settled in Galena and he opened a jewelry and watch shop at 85 Main Street. In 1859 he was elected Jo Daviess County Treasurer. Smith was active in Politics as a Republican with Orvil Grant. He often visited the Grant leather store where he met Ulysses Grant. He was a Captain in the Wide Awakes and helped in the 1860 elections of Lincoln, Yates, and Washburne. When the Civil War started, Smith was serving as aide-de-camp to Governor Yates.

He was instrumental in Grant's appointment as Colonel of the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On July 23, 1861 Smith was appointed Colonel by Governor Yates to organize the 45th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, also known as the Washburne Leadmine Regiment. He fought in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. He was promoted to Brigadier General on November 29, 1862 taking command of the lst Brigade, 3rd Division, which included Galena's Leadmine Regiment. Smith led the Brigade in the Vicksburg campaign. On June 3, 1863 he was given command of the 7th Division for the final assault on Vicksburg. After Vicksburg, Smith and his Division served with General William T. Sherman in the battles at Chattanooga and Atlanta. He continued in the March to the Sea campaign and the Carolinas campaign including the capture of the Blakely Rifle. Smith was brevetted Major General of volunteers on Jan. 12, 1865 for his part in the capture of Savannah, Georgia. He was mustered out of volunteer service in 1866.

Smith was appointed United States Assessor for the District of Utah in 1866. Then joined the regular army as Colonel of the 27th U.S.Infantry Regiment. In 1867 he received brevet promotion to Brigadier General and in 1869 Major General. Over the next few years he commanded posts at Fort Laramie, Kearney, Smith and Reno. Worked among the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes…and the Mormon settlement under Brigham Young. In 1880 he was stationed at Fort Douglas, Salt Lake, Utah. Aimee had joined Smith in the west. Their widowed daughter Adelaide came to live with them.

Smith retired from the army in 1881 and settled in Chicago. His wife Aimee died June 24, 1884. He died January 29, 1897. He is buried in Galena's Greenwood Cemetery.