Hon. Andrew Clemmer Smith
was born a musician. His father was a musician, a trait inherited from generations back. Our subject was born on the seventeenth day of September, 1836, at Mt. Leigh, in Adams County, Ohio. His father, Samuel Smith, was a wool carder and an instructor in vocal music and penmanship. His mother was Barbara Clemmer. Young Smith grew up in a home of industry, song, and peace, until the age of nine, when his parents removed to North Liberty, where he began to learn the wool carding trade. He spent his winters in the common schools, and his summers at work at wool carding. As might be expected, young Smith developed an extraordinary aptitude for instrumental music, and when a band was organized at North Liberty, under the instructions of Dr. L. D. Sheets, an eminent physician and musician from Baltimore, Md., Andrew was given a position as bass drummer, but in less than six months he was promoted to first B flat cornet. Much of his young manhood was spent in the study and practice of music, arranging music for bands, and instructing them throughout the counties near his home. He went to school, some time at the North Liberty Academy when the Revs. Fisher, Arbuthnot and Andrews presided, successively, over that institution. At the age of seventeen he became a teacher of common schools, receiving a certificate of qualification to that effect from the county board. Not being able to obtain a school, at that time, he entered the wool carding mill of M. J. Patterson, of Winchester, and remained until the season closed in 1853, when he entered the dry goods store of George A. Dixon, of Winchester, as salesman. This place he held until the fall of 1854, when he obtained a school. As a teacher he was very successful, and held a prominent position among the teachers of Adams County. For four years prior to the Civil War, he was a teacher in the West Union schools. Two years of the time he taught under the late James L. Coryell, and two years under Rev. W. W. Williams. On July 18, 1861, he enlisted in the 24th Regiment, O. V. I., at the age of twenty-six, as leader of the regimental band. On September 10, 1862, he was discharged.
He spent the time from September 10, 1862, until March 1, 1863, at his home in Winchester, Ohio. On the latter date he re-entered the military service as a first-class musician in the brigade band, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Army Corps. On April 5, 1863, he left Adams County for Murfreesboro, Tenn., where on April 13, 1863, he was a second time mustered into the U. S. military service. On March 11, 1864, he was made a leader of the band of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps. He remained with this corps until the first of September, 1865, when he was discharged from the service of the United States at Camp Stanley, Texas. He, however, remained as leader of the band of the 21st Illinois, until that regiment was mustered out in December, 1865. He did not reach home until January 25, 1866. During his service in the Civil War he was present in the following battles: Cheat Mountain, W. Va., Shiloh, Tenn., Murfreesboro, Tenn., Smithville, Corinth, Dalton, Resaca, Atlanta, Chicamauga. Jonesboro, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. For personal service rendered Major General Thomas in front of Atlanta, Ga., in September, 1864, Mr. Smith was granted a furlough for thirty days. While at home in this period, he was married to Miss Mary J. Puntenney, daughter of Mr. James Puntenney. At the close of the war he took up his residence at his wife's former home at Stout's Run, Greene Township, and, with the exception of three years in West Union, as a teacher, he has lived there ever since. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith five sons and two daughters, of which a daughter and a son died in infancy. Edgar P., the oldest, is a U. P. minister, and lives in Huntsville, Ohio. Mary Maude married a Methodist Episcopal minister, Rev. William C. Mitchell, and lives in Lynden, Washington; Samuel James was born October 14, 1873, and died March 20, 1896; George H. C. and Harry E. were born October 22, 1879, and December 28, 1883, respectively, and still live at home with their parents. Mrs. Mary J. Smith, his wife, was born November 16, 1842. In her young womanhood she was a student under Miss Mary E. Urmston, afterwards Mrs. E. P. Pratt, and under Jas. L. Coryell and Rev. W. W. Williams. She became a teacher and obtained great proficiency in music. For several years she was a teacher of piano music. Mr. Smith and his entire family, with the exception of his married daughter, are members of the United Presbyterian Church, living up to, and according to the ethics of all that church teaches man as to his duty, and the reasons for it. He especially loves to defend, bold and fearless, the sublimity of "the Songs of the Bible."
In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican of the "most straightest sect." He firmly believes that the principles of the Republican party carried out by the government are necessary to the welfare and continuous prosperity of the nation.
He was elected to the Legislature for the district composed of the counties of Adams and Pike in November, 1895, and re-elected in 1897. This office came to him unsolicited, and he discharged his duties as he has done everything in life, -- on his conscience.
Mr. Smith is a man of the highest character. With every movement for the betterment and elevation of mankind, he has been identified as an advocate. He has always been a man of generous and noble impulses. In musical culture and education he has been a pioneer in southern Ohio. Many persons owe to him the lifelong pleasures they have found in the enjoyment of musical culture. His record as a teacher, as a patriot, as a musician, as a citizen, a man, and a Christian gentleman is without stain or blemish, and is one of which he, his friends, and his posterity may feel justly proud.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900