Smithnight, Louis

The following data is extracted from The Book of Clevelanders, A Biographical Dictionary of Living Men of the City of Cleveland, Burrows Book Company, 1914.

Smithnight, Louis; retired; born, Saxony, Germany, Dec. 16, 1834; son of Frederick and Auralia (Woolford) Smithnight; public school education in Germany; came to the United States at 15; married, 1866, Nettie Kingsley of Cleveland; surviving issue, one daughter; after a brief period in Columbus, O., came to Cleveland for A. J. Wenham, dry goods, for seven years; in 1858, went to Pike's Peak, Col., to search for gold; being unsuccessful, returned to Cleveland, and opened a drug store, which conducted business until 1892; still own store at 2511 E. 9th St.; enlisted in 1861 as a private in the Cleveland Light Artillery; became corporal, took part in many engagements, and captured the first Confederate cannon (now in the Public Square of Cleveland); after three months, returned to Cleveland; reenlisted in 1862, in the Army of the Cumberland, under Gen. Rosecrans; served until 1863, retiring as captain, account disability; in 1873, reorganized the Cleveland Light Artillery, as commander; later organization was known as Battery A; organized the Ottawa Shooting Club, near Sandusky, 0.; member Chamber of Commerce, Concordia Lodge, F. & A. M., Grand Army of the Republic; Revenue Inspector of the U. S. two years for Ohio, Michigan and Indiana; three years State Inspector of oil; always held a prominent place in Military circles.

Source: The Book of Clevelanders, A Biographical Dictionary of Living Men of the City of Cleveland, Burrows Book Company, 1914

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