Smith, Frederick Elijah
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MILITARY SERVICE Age: 31, credited to Montpelier, VT Unit(s): 8th VT INF Service: comn QM, 8th VT INF, 11/23/61 (11/23/61), m/o 11/30/63 See Legend for expansion of abbreviations VITALSBirth: 06/11/1830, Unknown Death: 02/24/1907 Burial: Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, VT Marker/Plot: Lot 221 Gravestone photographer: Deanna French/Barb Baraw Findagrave Memorial #: 174743014 MORE INFORMATION Alias?: None noted Pension?: Yes, 8/10/1904, VT; widow Abbe M., 5/19/1908, VT Portrait?: Gibson Collection, Jones Collection, VHS Collections, 8th Vermont Infantry Regimental History College?: Not Found Veterans Home?: Not Found (If there are state digraphs above, this soldier spent some time in a state or national soldiers' home in that state after the war) Remarks: None DESCENDANTS (Are you a descendant, but not listed? Register today) |
BURIAL: Copyright notice   Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, VT Check the cemetery for location/directions and other veterans who may be buried there. |
VHS - Reunion Society Collection
VHS - Portrait Files (FPO)
John Gibson Collection
Dewey Jones Collection
(Carpenter's History
Eighth Regiment
Vermont Volunteers)
Biography
Smith, Frederic Elijah, of Montpelier, son of Elijah and Anna (Robertson) Smith, was born in Northfield, June 11, 1830. His grandfather served in Thomas Barney's Co., in Col. Ira Allen's regiment during the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Frederic Smith pursued his studies in the common schools until sixteen years of age, then entering Newbury Seminary, graduated from that institution, and in 1848 became a clerk in Loomis & Camp's dry goods store in Montpelier. In 1853 he established himself in Montpelier as a druggist, which occupation he was pursuing with great success when the civil war broke out. Leaving the concern in charge of his clerks he entered the service of his country, to which he had been summoned by Gov. Erastus Fairbanks to take charge of the arming, equipping and subsistence of the 6th Regt. Vt. Vols. With this regiment he was sent by the Governor to the front in order to settle with several quartermasters who had left the state with their accounts unadjusted. While in discharge of this duty he was, Nov. 23, 1861, appointed quartermaster of the 8th Vt. Vols., and immediately returned to commence his new duties, assisting Col. Stephen Thomas in enlisting men, and afterwards taking charge of them while rendezvoused at Brattleboro. He accompanied the regiment which had been ordered to join the command of Major-General Butler to Ship Island, and later to New Orleans. Soon afterwards he was stationed at Algiers, on the west side of the Mississippi, where he was post quartermaster, and made provost judge by appointment of the department commander. He next served as commissary of subsistence on the staff of Gen. Godfrey Weitzel in the department of the Gulf, till December, 1863, providing for the army in the field during all of its marches till they finally arrived at Port Hudson.
After the war he returned to Montpelier where he engaged in mercantile pursuits till 1869, when he moved to New York, where he remained for three years. In 1872 he returned to Montpelier, where he became engaged in manufacturing, establishing factories in different towns, and having stores in several places in the United States.
Mr. Smith was married, Oct. 12, 1852, to Abba Morrill, daughter of Nathan and Betsey (Dole) Hale of Danville. Three sons were the issue of this union: two died in infancy, the third, Walter Joseph, was born May 9, 1862, and died May 9, 1881, one whose bright and lovely youth had given promise of a noble manhood.
Colonel Smith is now president of the Watchman Publishing Co.; of the Montpelier Public Library (from its foundation); the Colby Wringer Co., of Montpelier; the Maplewood Improvement Co., of Tennessee; and of the board of trustees of the Diocese of Vermont; he is vice-president of the First National Bank of Montpelier; of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Co.; and the Bowers Granite Co.; a director in the National Life Insurance Co., and a member of its finance committee; in the Vermont Quarry Co., and in the Wetmore & Morse Granite Co. Colonel Smith was for four years prior to 1891, president of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Co., an office which the pressure and importance of private interests compelled him to resign. Since the war Colonel Smith has maintained in the Grand Army of the Republic and Loyal Legionhis military associations, and for many years has been secretary of the Vermont Officers Reunion Society. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
He has always taken a deep interest in the educational interests of the state, and is a trustee of the Norwich University and Washington county grammar school, and was for some years president of the Montpelier school board. He has long been junior warden of Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier, a trustee of the Vermont Episcopal Institute, Bishop Hopkins' Hall, a member of the board of investment of the aged and infirm clergy fund, and has been a delegate to the triennial conventions of his church in New York and Baltimore.
In 1876 he was appointed aid to Governor Fairbanks with the rank of colonel, and in 1886 and 1888 served two terms as a senator for Washington county. In 1892 he was made delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention at Minneapolis.Source: Jacob G. Ullery, compiler, Men of Vermont: An Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters and Sons of Vermont, (Transcript Publishing Company, Brattleboro, VT, 1894), Part II, pp. 369.
8th Vermont Infantry Regimental History
Obituary
COL. FRED SMITH
LAST CALL SUDDEN TO INSURANCE OFFICIAL.
Victim of Heart Failure; Ill But Two Days.
Long Useful Life Comes To a Close at Montpelier.
Montpelier, Feb. 24. - Col. Fred E. Smith, president of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance company, a veteran of the Civil war and a former member of the state senate, died suddenly at his home in this city during the night, aged 77 years, after a two days' illness of heart failure. He was one of the best known men in this state, having been prominently identified with military and other organizations and with the cause of education.
He was born in Northfield June 11, 1830, and was the son of Elijah and Anna Robertson Smith. His grandfather served in Thomas Barney's company in Col. Ira Allen's regiment, during the revolutionary war.
When 14 years old he entered Newbury academy. After graduating he was a clerk in a local drygoods store and in 1853 he established himself here as a druggist.
Called to War Service.
When the civil war began he was summoned by Gov. Erastus Fairbanks to take charge of arming, equipping and providing subsistence for the 6th regiment, Vermont volunteers. He was sent to the front to settle with quartermasters who left the state without adjusting their accounts. He was transferred several times and his last service was as commissary of subsistence on the staff of Gen. Godfrey Weitzel in the department of the Gulf. Until 1863 he provided for the army during all its marching until it arrived at Fort Hudson.
After the war he returned to Montpelier and has since resided here with the exception of three years spent in New York. He engaged in manufacturing here, having factories in several towns and stores in different parts of the United States. For some time he was president of the Watchman Publishing company, of the Montpelier public library and their companies, of the board of trustees of the diocese of Vermont and the First National bank of Montpelier.
Col. Smith was married in 1852 to Abba Morrill, daughter of Nathan and Betsey Hale of Danville, who survives him. They had three sons, all of whom died many years ago.
A Son of the Revolution
He maintained his associations with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion and for years he was secretary of the Vermont Officers' Reunion Society. He was also a member of the Sons of the Revolution.
Col Smith was a trustee of Norwich University and for years was president of the Montpelier school board. He was a warden of Christ Episcopal church and was active in religious work.
In 1876 he became an aide to Gov. Fairbanks with the rank of colonel, and in 1886 and 1888 he served as senator from Washington county. In 1892 he was delegate at large to the republican national convention at Minneapolis.
The funeral will be held Tuesday.
Source: Rutland Daily Herald, February 25, 1907.
Courtesy of Tom Boudreau.