The collection includes (copies) of Correspondence to/from Levi, Lib, and the Fowler brothers, some Transcriptions of Correspondence, and Biographical Materials. The Correspondence mainly discusses Levi’s and other soldiers’ experiences marching, camping, fighting, illness, and people of the south, 1862-1865, undated. One letter written to Lib after Levi died (letter dated April 20, 1865) notes the death of President Lincoln. Later correspondence is mostly between the Fowler brothers discussing family news, 1898, 1900, 1903, and undated. Earlier Correspondence, 1851, and 1855 is between Levi, his father, and brother. Two copies of the same photograph are included in the folders.
Biography:
Levi Smith (1832-March 10, 1865) was the son of Hester and Isaac Smith. He had a brother, George W. Smith. Levi was a farmer. In 1855, Levi lived in Penfield (Ohio). He moved to Elba Township (Laper County, Michigan) before 1860. By 1860 he was married to Lib (Elizabeth, b. 1840-), with whom he had a daughter, Flora B., or Florabel.
Levi enlisted in Company I, First Michigan Engineers and Mechanics in Oregon Township (Lapeer County, Michigan) on December 23, 1862. He served as an artificer (defined as “In the U.S Army, a private detailed to work as a mechanic, farrier or carpenter, etc., for the unit to which he belongs,” in Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd ed., unabridged). On March 10, 1865, Levi died of disease at Detroit. He was later buried in Detroit.
Levi’s widow, Lib, apparently married another man named Smith with two daughters by October 8, 1865. With her second husband, Lib had three more children: George L. Smith, Arthur G. Smith, and Mrs. Carrie Sampson.
Levi’s daughter, Flora, born on February 26, 1859, married Charles Frederick Fowler on Jan. 15, 1880. With Charles, Flora had three sons: Guy, Claud, and Clyde. They lived on a farm in Elba Township. Flora died on October 2, 1931 at age 72.
Other relatives who are represented in the correspondence include:
Levi’s brother, George W. Smith, who married “Frank” (Frances) and had two children: Antoinette and Oscar. Levi’s cousin, Henry D. Smith, who enlisted in Company C, 10th Michigan Calvary as a Commissary Sergeant at age 17 on October 23, 1863. He was promoted to Quartermaster sergeant and mustered out at Memphis (Tennessee) on November 11, 1865. Charles F. Fowler’s brother was H. S. Fowler of Kansas City (Missouri) is also found in the correspondence. H. S. was married to Emma (died February 27, 1899). (This information is from the collection and the 1860 Federal Census for Michigan.)
