Autograph Document Signed by Smith John (1 results)

This Swiss-born jeweler settled in the rip-roaring lead mining town of Galena, Illinois, and became one of nine (including U.S. Grant) who became Union generals in the Civil War; he rose to the rank of brevet major general serving with the 45th Illinois Volunteer Infanrty and the 27th Infantry Regiment, and participated in many major events, including the Battle of Fort Henry, Battle of Fort Donelson, Battle of Shiloh, Vicksburg Campaign, Battle of Chattanooga, Atlanta Campaign, March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign; postwar he commanded Fort Phil Kearney and elsewhere in the West. ADS, 2pp (of 4pp lined lettersheet), 12½" X 8", Town of Guilford, IL, 12 July-2 September 1858. Near fine. Original folds (not weakened). Before the Civil War Smith served as treasurer for the tiny town of Guilford just east of Galena, and he pens in his bold and attractive script this record of "Cash Paid on account of Delinquent School Tax," noting amounts collected by himself (he signs a second time within the text) and another tax collector, signing large and bold at the conclusion. On the verso he sums up more of the same collected between 1856 and 1859. Quite unusual.