Band Leader Andrew Clemmer Smith


BAND LEADER ANDREW CLEMMER SMITH







Andrew Clemmer Smith was born September 17, 1836 at Mount 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 Andrew grew up attending the public schools in the winter and spent his summers carding wool, much like his father. At North Liberty, he joined an instrumental band as a drummer, but soon developed an extraordinary aptitude for instrumental music. Much of his early manhood was consumed in the study, practice, and teaching of music. His first affiliation with Adams County's Moses J. Patterson was his work at Patterson's wool carding mill at Winchester. In 1854, he obtained a position teaching in the West Union Public Schools.

Andrew Smith enlisted for three years service at West Union, Ohio, on July 18, 1861, as the Band Leader for the 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. When the regimental band disbanded in September, 1862, Smith returned to his home at Winchester, Ohio.

In March, 1863, Andrew Clemmer Smith again enlisted for service and served in the Third Brigade Band of the 21st Corps, then stationed in Middle Tennessee along with his old regiment, the 24th O.V.I. He served with this band throughout the remainder of the war, eventually attaining the position of Band Leader on March 11, 1864. In September, 1864, Smith obtained a thirty day furlough, and returned to Adams County, where he married Mary Jane Puntenney, born November 16, 1842. Mary Jane was a daughter of Adams County's well known abolitionist and Underground Railroad Conductor, James Puntenney. Andrew Clemmer Smith served honorably during his four years of military service. Though again mustered out of service with the Brigade Band on September 1, 1865, he remained very patriotic, finding yet another position as Band Leader of the 21st Illinois Band until that regiment also mustered out of service in December, 1865.

Returning to Adams County, Ohio, on January 25, 1866, he took up residence at his wife's family homestead on Stout's Run, Greene Township, Adams County, Ohio. There, he and Mary bore and raised five children: Edgar P., Mary Maude, Samuel James, George H. C., and Harry E. Mary shared Andrew's appreciation of music, and she became a teacher of piano music. The Smith family was a strong supporter of the United Presbyterian Church and the Republican Party.

Andrew Clemmer Smith was very highly respected in the community, and in November, 1895, he was elected to the Ohio Legislature, representing Pike and Adams Counties. He was reelected in 1897 for another two year term.



Andrew Clemmer Smith died July 8, 1915 at Portsmouth, Ohio. He is interred in Puntenney Run Cemetery, Adams County, Ohio.

Sources: "Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion," History of Adams County, Ohio" by Evans and Stivers, and "24th OVI pension index." C. J. Skinner also provided biographical information.

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