b. 28/05/1849 Canada. d. 31/05/1918 St Louis, Missouri.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 05/10/1870 Wichita River, Texas.
James Anderson Smythe was born in Canada on May 28, 1849. He eventually emigrated to the United States and enlisted in the U.S. Army, under the name James Anderson, around 1870. Smythe served with the 6th U.S. Cavalry and assigned frontier duty in Northwestern Texas.
Smythe remained in the army for another ten years, rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant. On November 14, 1880, he married Nellie E. Hanlon and together they moved to St. Louis, Missouri. He worked as stationery engineer for the rest of his life. Smythe’s health began to decline in 1917 and he died of pneumonia on May 31, 1918, only three days after his 69th birthday.
MOH CITATION:
Gallantry during the pursuit and fight with Indians.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST PETERS AND ST PAULS CATHOLIC CEMETERY, ST LOUIS, MISSOURI.
SECTION 37, LOT 1397, SPACE 1.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
