A son of Joseph and Susan (Barley) Smeltzer. He was united in Marriage with Virginia Hannah (Gates) Smeltzer, a daughter of Henry and Drusilla Gates of Hopewell Township, Yellow Creek area of Bedford County, PA.
He was a retired coal miner and steel worker.

Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924
Name: John B Smeltzer
Age: 73-7-28 [abt 77]
Birth Date: 24 Jan 1850 [abt 1846 as per 5 census]
Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Death Date: 22 Sep 1923
Death Place: Hopewell, Bedford, Pennsylvania
Father Name: Joseph Smeltzer
Father Birth Place: Pennsylvania
Mother Name: Sarah Barley
Widowed
Informant: Mrs. Samuel Dodson, Langdondale, PA
Certificate Number: 95831

A Civil War Veteran.
Co. C, 205th PA Inf.
Aug. 1864 to June 1865. Wounded at Petersburg, VA.
Civil War Pension Application # 886526; Certificate # 647991; Date of Filing: July 26, 1890.

He is listed on the 1890 census for Bedford County, Broad Top, PA. No disability is listed. His address is Hopewell, PA.

John B. Smeltzer, age 74, was admitted to the U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, October 24, 1919. He was discharged by request April 22, 1920. His daughter was listed as nearest relative: Mrs. Florence Dodson, Hopewell, PA [1871-1939, wife of Samuel N. Dodson]

He left Montgomery County, Ohio, on April 22, 1920. He was only there for the winter (10/24/1919-4/22/1920). He probably returned to family in PA.

The graves for John B Smeltzer and granddaughter Pauline (Dodson) Yohn are side by side.

1920 United States Federal Census
U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers
Name: John B Smeltzer
Age: 74; Birth: abt 1846
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1920: Jefferson, Montgomery, Ohio
Relation to Head of House: Inmate
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania

1910 United States Federal Census
Name: John B Smeltzer
Age in 1910: 64
Birth Year: 1846
Home in 1910: McKeesport Ward 6, Allegheny, PA
Spouse's Name: Virginia H Smeltzer
Occ: Shearman in a Tin Mill
John B Smeltzer 64
Virginia H Smeltzer 62
Margaret R Smeltzer 35
Annie J Smeltzer 11

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: John B Smeltzer
Age: 54; Birth: Jan 1846
Home in 1900: McKeesport Ward 6, Allegheny, PA
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Virginia Smeltzer
Marriage Year: 1868
Years married: 32
Household Members: Name Age
John B Smeltzer 54
Virginia Smeltzer 53
Harry Smeltzer 22
Maggie Smeltzer 24

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: John Smeltzer
Age: 34; Birth: abt 1846
Home in 1880: Hopewell, Bedford, PA
Spouse's Name: Virginia Smeltzer
Occupation: Ore Miner
Household Members: Name Age
John Smeltzer 34
Virginia Smeltzer 33
Florantine Smeltzer 9
Margaret Smeltzer 5
Harriet Smeltzer 4
Hannah Smeltzer 2

1870 United States Federal Census
Home in 1870: Hopewell, Bedford, Pa
Post Office: Yellow Creek
Household Members: Name Age
John Smeltzer 23, Born about 1846
Hannah V Smeltzer 23, Born about 1847

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: John Smeltzer
Age in 1860: 13
Birth Year: abt 1847
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1860: Woodbury, Bedford, Pa
Gender: Male
Post Office: Pattonsville
Household Members: Name Age
Jacob Miller 46
Esther Miller 44
Elizabeth Malone 19
John Smeltzer 13 ***

Research for Hannah Virginia Gates:
1850 United States Federal Census
Name: Hannah C Gates
Age: 5; Birth: abt 1845
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1850: Hopewell, Bedford, PA
Gender: Female
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Gates 45
Drucilla Gates 35
James Gates 13
Martin Gates 11
John W Gates 7
Hannah C Gates 5

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Hannah V Gates
Age in 1860: 13
Birth Year: abt 1847
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Home in 1860: Hopewell, Bedford, PA
Household Members: Name Age
Henry Gates 51
James Gates 22
Martin Gates 21
John Wesley Gates 16
Hannah V Gates 13