Fourth of July A time of celebration
A Fourth of July Salutation…
Hopefully you will have a safe and relaxing day on America’s Independence Day.
For the Smith family it meant picnics and fireworks. Dad would break out the grill, put on the charcoal, toss on enough lighter fluid to get the charcoal started, and at some point begin grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.
For the kids, the Fourth of July was a time for fireworks. It was surprising what we learned to do with fireworks… Some of the more memorable included:
v Bottle rockets “taking off” in Steve’s back pocket
v Taking gunpowder from firecrackers and building “bombs”
v Neighborhood fireworks displays
v Father Jungworth taught “the lads” how to throw firecrackers
v Figuring out what a firecracker can blow up.
v Chasing parachutes and
v Lighting charcoal “snakes”
Besides fireworks, the 4th of July was a time when the family did something together. There were many picnics over the years, one year we attended a rodeo, and a few times we were taking family vacations. One of the more memorable 4th of Julys was at Mt. Rushmore a few years ago. While waiting for the fireworks display over the Presidents’ granite “heads”, we were entertained by mountain goats, stealth fighter jets, and other miscellaneous things. Another memory I have, although sadder, coincided with the death of my grandmother, Adelaide Ryan, over 40 years ago.
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Remembering Grandpa Smith, by John W. Smith
I can remember Grandpa when he came to Stickney. He would turn on the Victrola with a march. He gave me a broom and would sit in the rocking chair giving me commands. Without fail he would visit all of the Civil War vets in Stickney. As I recall he had a black-dark grey coat. In the left hand pocket were peppermints. All of us, I am sure had one of those un-bagged peppermints from Grandpa.
Grandpa John Smith, circa 1910
Cross Plains - John W. Smith observation, 1976
Note: Cross Plains, Wisconsin was where Irish John Smith enlisted in the Civil War, and before that he worked for John Bryan as a farmhand.
"Cross Plains Wisconsin is fourteen miles west of present day Madison, Wisconsin...it is a farming area, and mainly dairy in economic wealth...the outside perimeter was ringed with hills and trees."
Loganville, Wis. - address listed as "home" by the William and Catherine Rooney family.
Hop House, Sandusky, Wis. As the family attended church in Keyesville, our families must have seen this building numerous times.
30 Years ago, on July 4th, 1776, my father John Smith wrote his Smith family legacy. I am not going to place his entire legacy on this site – only selected items that would be of interest to our family. The focus of his legacy surrounded his namesake, Irish John Smith.
Several years ago we became aware of his interest in family history. He had begun collecting information on the Smiths, Smyths and McGowans probably as far back as his college years. While we were growing up, we began to hear stories that our name was changed to Smith because Irish John Smith was tired of being called ‘SMYTHE’. Later the stories became more elaborate…
This helped explain the origin of his credo, or “legacy.”
Sauk County, Iowa...near Loganville
A CREDO, July 4, 1976 On the 200th birthday of my country.
This is my little contribution to the Smith family on this July 4, 1976. Fortunate am I to carry the name. John W. Smith
All you know the name "Honest John Smith". It is about private John Smith, Cross Plains, Wisconsin, about whom I write...it was here that Pvt. John Smith enlisted in the Civil War. He gave has age as 19 years and he was one of the youngest in his Company. He was inducted into Company G, 29th Regiment, Madison Wisconsin for a three year hitch on August 15, 1863.
The officer who signed him was First Lieutenant B. Mohr. He was a German as were almost all of the men of the 29th. A very good record was had on all the young men who enlisted for 3 years. He trained in less than a month at Camp Randall. I asked where it was and was told it was the present football stadium at the University of Wisconsin.
Pvt. John Smith, a young kid, went by railroad to Helena, Arkansas. This was on the Mississippi River in Arkansas. From there he went by boat to the State of Mississippi. Pvt. John Smith was mobilized, together with others and was under the command of General Sherman, on his way to the sea.
The fist engagement of Company G,, also known as the farm boys from Wisconsin, was at Champion Hill, Mississippi.
Pvt. John Smith with Company G were in the front at Champion Hill. On their left was a regiment from Indiana. There were four gun encampments that were holding the hill for the rebels. The Wisconsin Regiment were "the skirmishers". In other words they were the infantry of the Civil War.
Pvt. John Smith was probably hit with grape shot, as this was they were shooting. The official records state that John Smith spent 18 months in the army hospital after being hit in the left shoulder. I know all the cousins have seen the picture of "Grandpa Smith" with the hole in his left shoulder.
The Regiment, afar Pvt. John Smith was wounded, went to death the 35the Regiments from Alabama. It fought at Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi...The official records show Pvt. John Smith was one of 11 of his company wounded at Champion Hill. Five were killed.
Civil War field ambulance
The following is not of official record but was related to me by the uncles and aunts, children of Pvt. John Smith. He was wounded seriously in the left shoulder. For three days and three nights he laid in a hedgerow, covered over by his buddies. A wagon was sent out to pick up his remains. Pvt. John Smith arose and said, "I will not die in rebel territory."
Civil War field hospital