52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Favorite Photo

 

Favorite Photo

I’m having a hard time choosing just one favorite photo for this prompt, but if I had to pick, it would be the portrait of Colonel Gaines C. Smith, my 3rd great-grandfather. There’s something about his image that connects me to my family’s history in a way that no other photo does.

Colonel Gaines Chisholm Smith (1822–1910)

Early Life

Gaines Chisholm Smith was born on February 22, 1822, in Tennessee to Phelps Smith and Elizabeth (maiden name unknown). In 1845, he married Matilda Jane Davis in Limestone County, Alabama. Together, they had ten children. Following Matilda’s death, Gaines remarried twice—first to Eliza Louisa Wickham in 1868 (five children) and then to Elizabeth Johnson in 1884 (four children).

Military Service

Smith served with distinction in multiple conflicts:

• Mexican-American War: Records and pension applications confirm his service, with newspaper accounts later recognizing him as a “veteran of long and honorable service.”

• American Civil War: Enlisting as 1st Lieutenant in the Limestone Grays, Company H, 9th Alabama Infantry in June 1861, he rose to Captain and later Lieutenant Colonel. During the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, he was severely wounded and captured, subsequently held at Fort Delaware as a prisoner of war. Personal letters from contemporaries, including William Cowan McClellan, describe Smith’s leadership and dedication, highlighting his courage and commitment to his men.

• Spanish-American War: Later accounts note his continued service, marking him as a lifelong military man.

Later Life

After the Civil War, Smith settled in Athens, Alabama, becoming a respected community member. An 1894 newspaper article titled “An Old Veteran” celebrated his contributions and recounted his Civil War experiences. Family members shared memories of his resilience and leadership, portraying him as both a devoted father and a civic-minded citizen.

Legacy

Smith passed away on April 28, 1910, at age 88. His descendants continued his legacy of service and achievement. Notably, his grandson Matthew Glenn Smith became one of the first Rhodes Scholars, earning a Doctorate of Jurisprudence at Oxford before serving as a federal judge in Dallas, Texas.

President of RR

 

Montgomery Advertiser, November 3, 1899. 

Mexican War pension application 1889

Gaines C Smith - house 1930s

The third picture was taken in the early 1930's of the house.  Left is my
grandmother, Leaton Smith,  Ma Smith (Col's wife), my uncle Gaines, and
center, my Dad. My Mon and Dad took care of Ma Smith for the last 3 or 4
years of her life.  Her mind was bad.  My Dad told me that at one time the
Col's uniform and sword was in a trunk in the attic.  He went up there once
and noticed it was gone.  He asked Ma Smith about it, and she said she had
put it out with the trash. - from Ewell Smith 4-4-2013

Picture of Gaines C. Smith Homesite

The first was taken in the mid 1970's.  That is my dad and
myself in the picture.  A family friend that was on up in age had remembered
the Col as a kid when he was growing up in the Goodsprings area and took us
to it.  It is located about 500 yards off of the old Goodsprings Rd.  You
can barely tell where the road was.  I tried to look for relics in the
ruins, but a couple of copperhead snakes changed my mind.  I did carry one
of the stones from the house back with me.  (got very heavy by the time we
reached the car)  I built a house in 1995 and placed it as the corner stone
for my house.

From Ewell Smith in an email to Mike Burk, April 4, 2013.  

Gaines C. Smith - Civil War Pension application

Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, Alabama; Confederate Pension Applications, 1880-1940; Collection #: Microfilm in the Research Room; Roll Description: Smith, G. T. - Smith, J. A..

Gaines C. Smith: Mexican-American War service

name: Smith  Gaines C.  

age at enlistment: 20

eye color: black

hair color: black

complexion: dark

height: 5'9

birth state: Tennessee

birth county: Giles

occupation: schoolmaster

enlistment: August 10, 1847

where: Athens

by whom: Capt. Jones

discharged: July 15, 1848

cause of discharge: exp. of service

where: Mobile, Alabama

Ancestry.com. U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Original data: Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Gaines Chisholm Smith - Civil War extract

Gaynes Chisholm Smith - Company H, Lt. Col., age 32, date enrolled: June 10, 1861, wounded at Gaines' Mill, Captured at Gettysburg.

Gaynes Chislom Smith - (1827-1910) would become the captain of Company H, 9th Alabama Regiment (replacing David Houston), and was later promoted to colonel of the 9th. Smith was captured at Gettysburg and later released. he was born in Giles County, Tennessee, and moved to Limestone County, where he was a farmer, a teacher, a justice of the peace, and a member of the state legislature (Krick, Lee’s Colonels 351). The privates in David Houston’s company had petitioned for Houston’s removal but were unsuccessful. Houston, however, was arrested in early September 1861 for being drunk at recitation, and that incident would lead to his resignation a month later (page 345).

William Cowan McClellan to Matilda McClellan 

Army of the Potomac

Campt Centreville. Va.

Dec 10th 1861

Dear Sister

I have just returned from one of the most heart rending scenes ever witnessed by man. I saw two men tied to a post and shot dead. They were of the far famed Tigers. Men who fought Bravely upon the plains of Manassas on the ever memorable .21. of July. The offence for which they were punished was chargeing bayonets on a Lieut(enant). They inflicted upon him two mortal wounds. They were drunk when they committed the crime. There were tried by a regular courtmartial and doomed to be shot. There were dressed in striped pants and red shirts with little red caps on their heads. All of the Tigers wore a similar dress. They were marched up in the presence of fifteen thousand men as boldly as a Tiger ever walked among a flock of sheep. They were then ordered to kneel down by the post they were tied to. The priest then prayed one of the most powerful prayers I ever heard. He pressed the cross to their lips and imprinted a kiss upon them. 12 of their own company were ordered to shoot them. When they had taken their places 10 paces in front of them, the caps were drawn over their eyes, one of them pulled it off, and said I will die looking in the muzzels of those rifles. The command was given, ready, aim, fire. Neither of them flinched until the balls had pierced their Bodys. The Priest then made a very brief and appropriate talk to the Soldiers - telling them that drinking caused the death of those men and Putting an enemy in their mouths to steal their brains away. It will have a good effect upon our army. Nothing of any importance has transpired since writeing a few days ago, some are disposed to think that the enemy have retreated to the Potomac. I believe all idea of an attack at this point has subsided. Quietness again reigns in Camp save now and then a report that is started in Camp that gains admittance into the minds of the credulous. We soldiers all rest satisfied that Beauregard and Johnston couldn’t be outgeneraled by the Feds and we can do the fighting. Gaines Smith is one of the finest looking men I ever saw every step he takes is that of a Military man every look and gesture. Smith is about 6 feet 2 inches high strait as an arrow, Gen. Johnston is also a fine looking man. Gen B. (Beauregard) has nothing very striking in his appearance save his eyes. They flash and sparkle like lightening all the time - searching to penetrate each wink upon which they rest. I frequently get invitations from these gentlemen to visit them at their head quarters. I have always declined doing so upon the plea that I am private. I suppose the caus of their partiality towards me is the close relationship I have existing between Gen. McClellan and my self. My health is tolerably good at this time. I am just getting over a very bad cold and cough. The health of our company is very good at present. Capt Smiths company are as ragged as Beauregards. The weather is very mild here at this time. I am making arrangements to get a swap to Capt Malones co, it will probably be a month or so before I can effect the change. The last letter I received from home was dated Nov. 24, except one tonight. Write soon. 

Your Brother, 

William C. McClellan Manassas Virginia

page 114

McClellan, William Cowan. Welcome the Hour of Conflict: William Cowan McClellan and the 9th Alabama. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press, 2007.

Ninth Alabama - Infantry

Ninth Alabama - (Infantry)

This regiment was organized at Richmond, Virginia, the latter part of May 1861, and moved to Winchester several weeks later. It was there brigaded under Gen. Kirby Smith of Florida, but failed to reach the battle-field of Manassas because of a railroad accident. The regiment lay at Manassas Centerville till March 1862, when it marched to Yorktown. 

Gen. J. H. Forney of Calhoun succeeded to the command of the brigade, and was relieved by Gen. Wilcox in January. The regiment was under fire at Yorktown, with slight loss. It participated in the battle of Williamsburg, but the loss was not severe. At Seven Pines it was held in reserve, and did not suffer. It was now brigaded with the Eighth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Fourteenth Alabama regiments, still under Gen. Wilcox. At Gaines’ Mill the regiment sustained severe loss, and was rent and torn by the wall of fire at Frazier’s Farm. With the army it took up the line of March for Maryland, and was under fire but not actively engaged at the second Manassas. It was part of the investing force at Harper’s Ferry, and hastened from there to the field of Sharpsburg, where it lost 8 killed, 42 wounded, and 9 missing. The Ninth wintered on the Rappahannock, and was underfire, with few casualties, at Fredericksburg. Its brightest renown was won at Salem, where it bore the brunt of a successful assault, and lost very heavily. The regiment moved into Pennsylvania, and sustained severe loss at Gettysburg where the brigade had 781 killed and wounded. The fall and winter were passed in camp, near Orange C. H., and the Ninth participated in the fierce struggles at the Wilderness and at Appomattox, with severe loss in each battle. Gen. Sanders of Greene then took command of the brigade. The fighting was almost continuous for several weeks, culminating in the terrible repulse of the invading army at the second battle of Cold Harbor, in which the Ninth shared without severe loss. From June till the end - nine weary months - the regiment was in the trenches of Petersburg, or engaged in the majority of the numerous and bloody battles that relieved the monotony of the last, long, and desperate collision of the great rival armies that had so long struggled on Virignia soil. A remnant of the Ninth surrendered at Appomattox, the brigade having been in commond of Gen. W. H. Forney of Calhoun for some months. Of 1138 men on its rolls, about 200 fell in battle, over 175 died of disease, and 208 were discharged or transferred. 

Field and staff. 

Colonels - Cadmus M. Wilcox of Tennessee; promoted. Samuel Henry of Marshall; resigned. Horace King of Morgan; wounded at Gettsyburg. 

Lieutenant Colonels - Samuel Henry; promoted. Edward A. O’Neal of Lauderdale; transferred. Gaines Smith of Limestone. 

Majors - E. A. O’Neal; promoted. Jere Williams of Jackson; resigned. James M. Crow of Lauderdale. 

Adjutants - John Burtwell of Lauderdale; transferred. John Featherston of Limestone; transferred to line. James W. Wilson; killed at Sharpsburg. William Holcombe of Limestone; captured at Petersburg. 

CAPTAINS, AND COUNTIES FROM WHICH THE COMPANIES CAME

Mobile - F. H. Ripley; resigned. W. C. Murphy; wounded and captured at Williamsburg; killed at Salem. A. H. Hays. 

Jackson and Marshall - Jere Williams; promoted. Blake Moore; resigned. Elias Jacobs; wounded at Gettysburg; retired. Patrick Seward; captured. 

Limestone - Thomas H. Hobbs; killed at Gaines’ Mill. John Featherston; wounded at Gettysburg. 

Butler - E. Y. Hill; killed at Gaines’ Mill. Thomas Mills; resigned. Matthew Patton. 

Lauderdale - D. W. Gillis; killed at Williamsburg. John Chisholm; captured at Gettysburg; died at Fort Delaware. B. F. Taylor; wounded at Sharpsburg; captured at Petersburg. 

Lauderdale - J. Butler Houston; resigned. William C. Reeder; resigned. James M. Crow; wounded at Gaines’ Mill; promoted. Wm. J. Cannon.

Marshall - James L. Sheffield; resigned. John Rayburn; killed at Sharpsburg. A. W. Ledbetter; wounded at Salem and Petersburg. 

Lawrence - James M. Warren; resigned. M. G. May; wounded at Sharpsburg. 

Morgan - Horace King; promoted. Wm. Todd; retired. 

Limestone - David Houston; resigned. Gaines Smith; captured at Gettysburg; promoted. 

Brewster, Willis. Alabama, Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men: From 1540 to 1872. Montgomery, Ala: Barrett & Brown, Steam Printers and Book Binders, 1872. 

injury at Gettysburg

No. 44--(30) Mentioned by Gen. Dan Tyler, U.S. A., Maryland Heights, June 25, 1863. (288) Wilcox's brigade, Anderson's division, Third corps, Gen. A. P. Hill, army of Northern Virginia, Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. (332, 343) Casualties at battle of Gettysburg, 3 killed, 55 wounded. (619-621) Report of General Wilcox: "Capt. G. C. Smith, severe wound through the body (entitled to promotion to lieutenant-colonel). Capt. J. H. King (entitled to promotion to colonel) had a finger shot off. Private Brundridge severely wounded." He gives special praise to Captain King and Captain May on second day.

Taken from: http://www.civilwarhome.com/9alainf.htm

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Genealogy Selfie

Participating in my first Saturday Night Genealogy Fun!

This is my daughter, Riley Claire, standing beside the headstones of her great-great-great-great-grandfather, Colonel Gaines Chisholm Smith. He is buried in Athens City Cemetery, in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama; over 500 miles from where we live.

Gaines C Smith - obituary

An Old Veteran

Col. Gains Smith. 

AN OLD VETERAN WHO ENJOYED THE JOINT DEBATE.

At the Oates-Kolb joint debate at Salem there was one remarkable man who supremely enjoyed the visible triumph of democracy in the person of Colonel Oats. Col. Gaines C. Smith was in the Mexican war, going clear through and coming out with honor. in the confederate army he was the bravest of the brave and led the gallant Ninth regiment as its colonel. He looks to be about 55 years old, but is 78. He plowed all day before the speaking and is the happy father of twenty-one children. A grand old patriarch, truly. 

"Col. Gains Smith. An Old Veteran Who Enjoyed the Debate." Age-Herald [Birmingham, AL] 27 July 1894, Pg. 4 sec.: n. pag. Print.

Col. Gaines Chisholm Smith

father: Phelps Smith

mother: Elizabeth Unknown

spouse: Matilda Jane Davis

spouse: Eliza Louisa Wickham

spouse: Elizabeth Johnson

children with Matilda Jane Davis:

1. Mary Ann Smith
2. Phelps Smith
3. Harriet D. Smith
4. Elizabeth Smith
5. Milton Long Smith
6. Matilda Jane Smith
7. John Smith
8. Margaret Smith
9. Melissa Smith
10. Emma Thomas Smith

children with Eliza Louisa Wickham:

1. Robert Lee Smith
2. Jeff D Smith
3. Ida J Smith
4. Flora Smith
5. Alice Smith

children with Elizabeth Johnson:

1. BeBedford Forrest Smith
2. Custer W Smith
3. Robert Ewell Smith
4. Tommy Smith (?)


marriage certificate - 1845

marriage to Matilda Jane Davis - 1845

Mexican-American War record

1850 census

1860 census

In letter from William Cowan McClellan - 1861

injury at Gettysburg - 1863

marriage to Eliza Louisa Wickham - 1868

1870 census

Alabama, Her History, Resources, War Record, and Public Men: From 1540-1872 (summary of 9th Alabama Infantry)

1880 census

marriage to Elizabeth Johnson - 1884

Witness on Blaney W. Wade's Mexican War Pension application - April 6, 1887

article: An Old Veteran - 1894

Mexican War pension application -1889

witness to Haney - Walker marriage - September 1, 1889

1900 census

pension application, with widow application

1907 Alabama Census of Confederate Soldiers

1910 census

Obituary

Burial

Mexican War pension application by widow, Elizabeth Smith

house picture - 1930s

homesite picture - 1970

Gaines C. Smith

Assuming the photo was made in Anniston, Alabama, Anniston is approximately 120 miles from Athens, Alabama where Col. Gaines C. Smith resided.

Gaines C. Smith - headstone

Riley Claire Smith standing beside the headstones of Col. Gaines C. Smith, her great-great-great-great-grandfather. 

Gaines C. Smith  22 Feb 1827 - 10 Apr 1910

Athens City Cemetery, Athens, Limestone County, Alabama

1910 census: Gaines C. Smith

1910 census
Location: Athens, Limestone County, Alabama
Date: 18 Apr 1910

Gain C. Smith-
Age: 83
Number of years of present marriage: 26
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birthplace of Father: Tennessee
Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee
Occupation: none

Elizabeth-
Age: 48
Number of years of present marriage: 26
Mother of 4, 2 living children.
Relationship to head of household: wife
Birthplace: Alabama
Birthplace of Father: Virginia
Birthplace of Mother: Alabama
Occupation: none

Ewell-
Age: 18
Relationship to head of household: son
Birthplace: Alabama
Birthplace of Father: Tennessee
Birthplace of Mother: Alabama
Occupation: none

Source: "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11555-4266-90?cc=1727033&wc=M9WN-9DT:n2089218988 : accessed 27 Oct 2013), Alabama > Limestone > Athens Ward 1 > 0096; citing NARA microfilm publication T624.

1900 census: Gaines C. Smith

1900 census
Location: Limestone County, Alabama
Date: 13 Jun 1900

Gaines C. Smith-
Age: 73
Birth Month: Feb
Birth Year: 1827
Age at first marriage: 16
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee
Birthplace of Father: Tennessee
Occupation: Farmer
Can read and write.
Can speak English.

Elizabeth-
Age: 38
Relationship to head of household: wife
Birth Month: Apr
Birth Year: 1862
Age at first marriage: 16
Mother of 4, 3 living
Birthplace: Alabama
Birthplace of Mother: Alabama
Birthplace of Father: Alabama
Can read and write.
Can speak English.

Ida-
Age: 27
Relationship to head of household: daughter
Birth Month: Feb
Birth Year: 1873
Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Can read and write. 

Can speak English.

Alice O.-
Age: 20
Relationship to head of household: daughter
Birth Month: Sept
Birth Year: 1879

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Can read and write. 

Can speak English.

Forest S.-

Age: 15

Relationship to head of household: son

Birth Month: Apr

Birth Year: 1885

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Can read and write. 

Can speak English.

Custer W.-

Age: 14

Relationship to head of household: son

Birth Month: May

Birth Year: 1886

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Can read and write. 

Can speak English.

Uwell-

Age: 8

Relationship to head of household: son

Birth Month: Apr

Birth Year: 1892

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Source: "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12050-41843-78?cc=1325221&wc=MMPJ-WJM:n572538399 : accessed 27 Oct 2013), Alabama > Limestone > ED 88 Precinct 6 Wickham; citing NARA microfilm publication T623.

1880 census: Gaines C. Smith

1880 census
Location: Township 1, Limestone County, Texas
Date: 04 Jun 1880
enumerated by: Elbert Wickham, G. C. Smith's former brother-in-law.

G.C. Smith-
Age: 53
Marital Status: widowed
Occupation: school teacher
Birthplace: Tennessee
Birthplace of Father: Tennessee
Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Margaret-
Age: 20
Relationship to head of household: daughter
Occupation: at home
Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Malisa L-

Age: 18

Relationship to head of household: daughter

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Emma-
Age: 14

Relationship to head of household: daughter

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Robert Lee-

Age: 11

Relationship to head of household: son

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Alabama

Jeff D.-

Age: 8

Relationship to head of household: son

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Ider J.-

Age: 7

Relationship to head of household: daughter

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Flora-

Age: 4

Relationship to head of household: daughter

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Alice: 

Age: 1

Relationship to head of household: daughter

Birthplace: Alabama

Birthplace of Father: Tennessee

Birthplace of Mother: Tennessee

Source: "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11844-150725-90?cc=1417683&wc=MMB9-8Z5:585593544 : accessed 27 Oct 2013), 004239780; citing NARA microfilm publication T9.

1870 census: Gaines C. Smith

1870 census

Location: Township 2, Range 6, Limestone County, Alabama

Date: 1870

Gains C. Smith-

Age: 43

Occupation: Farmer

Value of Real Estate: $320

Value of Personal Estate: $400

Birthplace: Tennessee

Louisa-

Age: 23

Occupation: keep house

Birthplace: Alabama

Mary-

Age: 23

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Tennessee

Betty-

Age: 18

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

Milton-

Age: 16

Occupation: farm lab.

Birthplace: Alabama

Jane-

Age: 14

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

John-

Age: 11

Occupation: farm lab.

Birthplace: Alabama

Margaret-

Age: 9

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

Melissa-

Age: 7

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

Emma-

Age: 3

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

Robert L.-

Age: 1

Occupation: at home

Birthplace: Alabama

Source: "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11083-68159-22?cc=1438024&wc=M9SM-466:n1960713383 : accessed 27 Oct 2013), Alabama > Limestone > Township 2 Range 6; citing NARA microfilm publication M593.