Untitled
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 388-389
I. C. SMELKER, a popular and influential citizen of Platteville, Grant county, is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war whose devotion to his country was tested not only by service on the field of battle, but in the still more deadly dangers of the Southern prisons. This gallant soldier was born in Johnstown, Penn., April 3, 1842, a son of J. W. and Catherine (HORNER) SMELKER, also natives of the Keystone State.
The father of our subject was born in Bellefonte, Center county, Sept. 17, 1817, of Holland ancestry, and continued his residence in that State until coming to Platteville, Wis. in 1845. By occupation he was a carpenter and joiner. On Sept. 7, 1862, at Platteville, he became a member of Company E, 25th Wis. V.I., as first lieutenant. As part of the 16th Army Corps he participated in the Yazoo expedition; was on provost duty at Helena, Ark.; took part in the siege of Vicksburg and in a number of engagements in Alabama and Tennessee; and was with Gen. Sherman on the march to the sea, and in the Atlanta campaign. Being disabled, he was sent to Mound City hospital, and received an honorable discharge at Cairo, Ill., in 1864, after which he returned to his home in Platteville. He died at that place in April, 1894, and his wife passed away in January, 1898. To them were born four sons and one daughter, the two youngest dying in infancy. Three surviving sons were all numbered among the boys in blue during the Rebellion. Theodore, the eldest, enlisted, in 1861, in Company C, 7th Wis. V.I., for three years or during the war, and received a gunshot would in the breast and right arm in the battle of Antietam. He now resides in Lincoln county, S. Dak. I. C., the second son, is mentioned below. J. P., enlisted at Platteville in the three-months service, as a member of Company A, 41st Wis. V.I., and in January, 1865, joined the Company K, 47th Wis. V.I., with which he served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged at Madison Sept. 4, 1865. He took part in the midnight attack on Gen. Forrest. He rose to the rank of orderly sergeant. Returning to Platteville, he studied law, and is now an attorney at Dodgeville, Wisconsin.
I. C. SMELKER was only three years old when brought by his parents to Platteville, in the public schools of which place he acquired his education. Since reaching manhood he has followed the carpenter's a and joiner's trade. It was in 1863, at Platteville, for three years or during the war, and he was mustered into the United States service at Camp Randall, Madison. A member of the Iron Brigade, in the Army of the Potomac, he participated in the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, and was three times wounded, twice by a gunshot in the left thigh and lastly by a bayonet in the hands of a Rebel, while he lay on his back under the trees on the battlefield; the Rebel also cut the buttons from his coat. He was also taken prisoner, and confined at Salisbury, N.C., seven months, after which he was sent to Libby prison, it being 315 days before he was exchanged. When captured he weighted 172 pounds, and during his imprisonment his weight was reduced to eighty-one pounds. On being exchanged he was sent to Annapolis, Md., and from there went to Baltimore, where he was granted a furlough. For some time he was confined to the hospital at Prairie du Chien, Wis., and while there asked leave to return home, but not receiving the desired furlough he and a comrade crossed the river in a boat to McGregor, and from there proceeded to Potosi, whence our subject started to walk to Platteville on crutches. When within five miles of home he became exhausted, and had to discontinue his journey until the following day. After spending the 4th of July at home, he returned to the hospital, and for disobedience was put in the guard-house. While there he smuggled a letter to Gov. Randall for transportation, and was honorably discharged at Madison in September, 1865.
In 1876 Mr. SMELKER was married, at Platteville, to Miss Nettie CONNOR, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Patrick and Catharine (BLINDERT) CONNOR, natives of Ireland and Germany, respectively, and early settlers of Potosi, Grant Co., Wis. In early life her father followed mining, but later engaged in farming in Platteville township, where both parents died. Mr. and Mrs. SMELKER have five children, Jessie, Edward C., Stella, Kattie and Byron.
In his political views Mr. SMELKER is a pronounced Republican, and has held office in Platteville, having received the appointment of deputy revenue collector under President Harrison, and held that position for four years and three months. Mr. SMELKER is also connected with the fire department of Platteville, and is one of the leading and influential men of that city. As one of the organizers of W. T. Sherman Post, No. 66, G.A.R., he has always taken an active interest in its work, and is very popular in Grand Army circles. He is now serving as commander of his post, and also holds the important position of inspector-general of the Department of Wisconsin, G.A.R., under Commander D. G. JAMES, of Richland Center. He has been first vice-resident of the Grant County Soldiers and Sailors Association for the last six years.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck