William H. Smouse 24^th Iowa, Co. G

William Harris Smouse was born on April 10, 1833 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. His family moved west, and William eventually became a businessman and pioneer. Among other things, William, with his brother James, was a harness maker. After running a dry goods store, William tried his hand at farming in Illinois. It was here where, in 1854, after spending time quarrying stone, he met and married Miss Sarah Ann Baker. They had several children: Anna, William J., H. Mabel, John B., Ida B., and Harriet M. Smouse, and eventually moved to Iowa.

On August 13, 1862, at the age of 29, William enlisted in the 24^th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment to fight for the Union, and on September 3, 1862, he mustered in at Muscatine, Iowa as 4^th Corporal. On June 1, 1863, he was promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant, and on June 15, 1864, he was promoted to 2^nd Lieutenant. He returned to Iowa during this period of time to recruit men for the Regiment, but again left to rejoin his Regiment. He was promoted a third time on November 17, 1864 to Adjutant. When William mustered out on July 17, 1865, in Savannah, Georgia, he returned to Kingston City, Iowa, where he lived at 111 North 10^th St.

On November 15, 1869, he became a mason and a member of the Crescent Lodge. Years after the Civil War, the 24^th Iowa Association was formed of the living members of the 24^th Iowa to remember the war and reunite old friends. William became treasurer of this organization, which held meetings and reunions in Marion, Iowa (originally the county seat of Linn County). He was present for the 1911 reunion of the 24^th Iowa, which was held in Marion, but died on the 15^th of that December at 8:30 p.m. William was 79 years old, and was buried in the 9^th Lot of the 8^th Block and the 2^nd Addition of Linwood Cemetery, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on December 16, 1911. Another reunion was held in 1913, in Cedar Rapids, but William H. Smouse was not there to attend. He was commemorated by two stones in Linwood: a large family stone, and a government stone, with seven smaller stones- for his family- nearby.