Col. William Smailes

Col. William Smailes

 
       From the Academy Civil War Monument Attended the Elgin Academy.

       From the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois

Field        36th Ill. Vol. Inf.

Fox River Regiment

Steedman's Brigade

Sheridan's Division

Fourth Corps

   19 year old Tailor.
   Wounded in Action in the left leg at Resaca, Ga.
   Taken to the military hospital at Quincy, Ill. Where he met Miss Emma Lane who he married Jan. 10, 1866.
   Transfered to the Veteran's Reserve Corps, date unknown.
Known Actions;
Resaca, Ga. May 13, 1864

Veterans Reserve Corps

   Member Elgin GAR Post #260.

   Awarded a Pension of $2 per month for his wounded left leg.

       From the Post #49 files
Joined Elgin GAR Veteran's Post #49 July 17, 1883.

       From the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Illinois

Capt. William Smailes

Co. E       3rd Ill. Nat. Guard

The Elgin National Guard

Enrolled – Aug. 15, 1877

       Excerpt – Sunday July 10, 1898 issue of the Elgin Daily Courier
History of Co., E
Since its Organization
       The company was organized on the night of August 15, 1877, through the effort of Capt. Wm Smailes.   It was known as the Elgin National Guard.   It was armed with .45/70 Trapdoor Springfield rifles.   These rifles were all destroyed in a fire along with all the companies dress uniforms at the armory located on Chicago street (date not noted).

       Article; excerpts from Feb. 5, 1915 issue of The Elgin Daily News.
      Falls on the glare ice of sidewalks and streets claimed three well known Elgin men as victims yesterday and this morning.
      Colonel William Smalles, veterqn tailor, fell at 6:30 o'clock last night on Orange street.  He had just left the street car and was going to his home at 322 Orange street when he lost his footing and fell, striking his head.  A deep scalp wound resulted but it is not thought that his skull is fractured.  His condition is serious.  Dr. E.H. Abbott is attending him.
      F. B. Perkins and Colnel Smalles are both veterans of the civil war, boath having been prominent members of the 36th Illinois regiment, and are both active in G.A.R. work.
   As recorded on the Elgin Sexton's ledger:  Died April 25, 1917 at the Soldiers & Sailors Home in Quincy, Ill.  Aged 78 years.  Cause of death listed as Cirrhoris of Liver.  Undertaker retained, J. T. Norris.  Physician, R. A. Jacobs.  Permit #16770.

       Obit; April 27, 1917 issue of The Elgin Daily News.
   Colonel William Smailes, who had called Elgin his home for the past sixty years, died suddenly at 5:50 o'clock yesterday afternoon in the convalescent ward of the hospital in the Soldiers home at Quincy, Ill.  He was nearly 75 years old.
   Mr. Smailes was born in Yorkshire, Eng., May 14, 1842 and came to the United States with his parents in July, 1854, locating on a farm five miles east of Elgin.  The family remained on the farm but a short time and then the father and son went into the merchant tailoring business in Elgin.  The business was maintained by the son until 1900, when he went to South Haven, Mich., where he conducted a fruit farm for eight years.  After leaving the fruit farm he had made his home in Elgin again, spending a great deal of the time with his wife, at the home of his son, Fred J. Smailes.
   Colonel Smailes was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted as a private in the Thirty-sixth Illinois regiment of volunteers at the outbreak of the hostilities.  He served in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone River, Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Resaca, Ga.  In the last named battle, on his twenty-first birthday, he was wounded and taken to a hospital at Quincy.  While recovering from his wounds he met Miss Emma lane and later married her and they came to Elgin to live.  The celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Jan. 10, 1916.  Mrs. Smailes still makes her home at the residence of her son at 322 Orange street.
   In 1876 Mr. Samiles helped to organize the local company of militia as a part of the Third Regiment of the National Guard and was elected its captain.  He was  later made lieutenant colonel of the regiment.  He had received his education at the Elgin Academy.
   For six years, from 1896 to 1902, Mr. Smailes was alderman from the fifth ward of the city.
   He had been a member of the Universalist church for 30 years.
   In 1881 he was made master of Monitor Lodge, No. 522, A.F. & A.M.  The lodge will have charge of the funeral.  He was the oldest living past master of the lodge and was a member of the degree team which initiated the 500th member.
   Besides the widow there survive him the son, Fred J. Smailes, and two sisters, Jeannette and Mary, all of Elgin, and a sister, Mrs. M.B. Gilbert of Long Beach, Cal.
   The funeral announcement will be made later.

Used with permission Dan Mallett

Many members of Post #49 sewed watch faces to their ribbons to show they were from Elgin.