Thomas Smith / Shay-go-nay-be was born 14 Mar 1840 in Saginaw county, Michigan, son of William Smith. [From enlistment papers and death certificate]
Smith, Thomas. Isabella. Enlisted in company K, First Sharpshooters, 18 May 1863, at Isabella, for 3 years, age 23. Mustered May 26, 1863. Sergeant March 1, 1865. Discharged at Detroit, Mich., Aug. 11, 1865.
Muster In Roll - Thomas is listed on line 55. [From Archives of Michigan]
Service records and hospital cards:
Muster in thru Oct 1863
Nov 1863 - Apr 1864
USA General Hospital, Fairfax Seminary, Virginia - May-Jun 1864
Service Muster and Hospital Muster - Sickel Barracks, Virginia - Jul-Aug 1864
On 4 Aug 1864 admitted to Second Division General Hospital from Washington Hall in Alexandria, VA - pneumonia
Furlough to City Point dated 7-8 Apr 1865
Jan-Jun 1865. Promoted 1 Mar 1865.
Hospitals - From Lincoln Hospital to Armory Square in D.C. to Harewood in D.C. to Union Hospital in Philadelphia to Harper Hospital in Detroit.
Hospital muster Aug-Oct 1865
Muster out cards
Undated description of faithful duty.
Muster out roll [Archives of Michigan]
Thomas applied for a pension in 1865
Certificate of disability
Thomas' list of hospitals
Marriage - Isabella county 20 Jun 1875 to Nancy Penugo-ging
1880 Federal Census Isabella township, Isabella county
Smith, Thomas, 40, farmer, inflammation sore eyes, married
Nancy, 24, wife, keeping house, married
Johnstons, Julia, 74, so--d mother, keeping house, widowed
Thomas is listed in the 1888 Veteran Census as living in Calkinsville [Rosebush].
Dr Shaw physician's affidavit after 1888
1890 Federal Census - veterans schedule line 6 - Smith, Thomas, private, Co K, 1 Mich Inf served 18 May 1863 to 11 Aug 1865, 2 years 3 months 13 days, blind from inflammation caused by war
Pension papers - 1890
Affidavit from Amos Chamberlin and George Corbin
Surgeon's statement 1891
Affidavit from Amos Chamberlin 1891
Affidavit from Thomas Smith 1891
1892 Marcus Otto confirms Thomas' identity
1893 Affidavits from James Jackson, James Quoboway and physician:
1894 Affidavits from Elijah Pelcher and Mark Neyome:
Thomas is listed as living in Isabella Township, Isabella County in the "United States Soldiers of the Civil War Residing in Michigan, June 1, 1894" census.
1896 - Pension granted and corrected:
1900 Federal Census Isabella Township, Isabella County
Smith, Thomas, head, b. Mar 1840, age 60, married 25 years, no occupation given, Sha-qwon-a-bey, Thos., Chippewa
Smith, Nancy, wife, b. Sep 1850, age 49, married 25 years, no children born, She-baw-ge-zhig-o-quay, Nancy, Chippewa
1903 Pension increase declaration
1904 Affidavit from Jacob Tip-si-coe
Thomas died on 22 Apr 1909 from pneumonia.
He is buried in Bissing Cemetery in Rosebush [also called Nippissing Indian Cemetery]
From the Flint Journal 1 May 1909:
From the Bay City Times 1 May 1909
Nancy applied for a widow's pension on 26 Apr 1909
1910 Federal Census - Union township, Isabella county
Smith, Nancy, head, 59, widowed, no children born, speaks English, no occupation
Nancy died 12 May 1910 in Union township.
Link to service records
Link to pension records
Copyright (C) 2017 Vicki Wilson
