US Congressman. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army, being mustered on as a Private in Company H, 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry on September 12, 1862. Only 15 years old when he joined, he rose to the rank of Captain, and fought with distinction at the September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, where he was wounded four times. In 1864 he was the named Chief of Scouts, of the left wing of Major General William T. Sherman's army on its famous “March to the Sea”. Brevetted Major and Lieutenant Colonel, US Volunteers for his service, he was honorably mustered out on June 8, 1865. After the war he became a manufacturer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, served in local political offices, and was elected Mayor of the city. In 1888 he was elected as a Republican to represent Michigan’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1889 to 1891. Declining to run for a second term, his time out of Congress was short, for in November 1891 he was elected to fill the vacancy in the 5th Congressional District seat caused by the death of Congressman Melbourne H. Ford. He served in this second unexpected term from 1891 to 1893. He was appointed as historian of the Army of the Cumberland and served for twelve years, authoring two books. In 1895 he was named as Chairman of the Michigan Chattanooga-Chickamauga Battlefield Commission, and was largely responsible for the direction and placement of the monuments honoring Michigan regiments and soldiers on the battlefield. He served in the Volunteers during the Spanish-American War, and passed away in 1929.
US Congressman. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army, being mustered on as a Private in Company H, 21st Michigan Volunteer Infantry on September 12, 1862. Only 15 years old when he joined, he rose to the rank of Captain, and fought with distinction at the September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, where he was wounded four times. In 1864 he was the named Chief of Scouts, of the left wing of Major General William T. Sherman's army on its famous “March to the Sea”. Brevetted Major and Lieutenant Colonel, US Volunteers for his service, he was honorably mustered out on June 8, 1865. After the war he became a manufacturer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, served in local political offices, and was elected Mayor of the city. In 1888 he was elected as a Republican to represent Michigan’s 5th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1889 to 1891. Declining to run for a second term, his time out of Congress was short, for in November 1891 he was elected to fill the vacancy in the 5th Congressional District seat caused by the death of Congressman Melbourne H. Ford. He served in this second unexpected term from 1891 to 1893. He was appointed as historian of the Army of the Cumberland and served for twelve years, authoring two books. In 1895 he was named as Chairman of the Michigan Chattanooga-Chickamauga Battlefield Commission, and was largely responsible for the direction and placement of the monuments honoring Michigan regiments and soldiers on the battlefield. He served in the Volunteers during the Spanish-American War, and passed away in 1929.
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