Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. As the son of a farmer, his formative years were spent farming, teaching, and building in the rural area of Illinois outside Chicago. In the late 1840's, he sold his farm, went to Chicago, and became involved in mercantile pursuits, banking, and real estate. During the gold rush of 1859, he went to the mountains of Colorado to take up mining and lumbering, but that pursuit was short-lived. He returned to Illinois after a year. With the advent of the Civil War, he joined the 12th Illinois Cavalry as a private. By the time he was mustered out of the unit in the winter of 1863, he had attained the rank of major. He proceeded to raise another company and was elected captain in the 141st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After a service of 100 days, he returned to Chicago and was mustered out. He then organized the 153rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was appointed a brigadier general by President Lincoln. His appointment was confirmed by the Senate and he was assigned to command the First Brigade of the Division of Western Tennessee headquartered at Memphis. He was mustered out of that unit on October 1, 1865. By the time he left the army, after four and a half years of military service, he had seen action at Harper's Ferry, Antietam, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Dumfries, and a number of other engagements. After the war, he went to Big Rapids, Michigan and established extensive business interests, including trade in lumber and real estate, and banking operations. He also became politically active and served various terms as treasurer, supervisor, school board member, and mayor of Big Rapids.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. As the son of a farmer, his formative years were spent farming, teaching, and building in the rural area of Illinois outside Chicago. In the late 1840's, he sold his farm, went to Chicago, and became involved in mercantile pursuits, banking, and real estate. During the gold rush of 1859, he went to the mountains of Colorado to take up mining and lumbering, but that pursuit was short-lived. He returned to Illinois after a year. With the advent of the Civil War, he joined the 12th Illinois Cavalry as a private. By the time he was mustered out of the unit in the winter of 1863, he had attained the rank of major. He proceeded to raise another company and was elected captain in the 141st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After a service of 100 days, he returned to Chicago and was mustered out. He then organized the 153rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was appointed a brigadier general by President Lincoln. His appointment was confirmed by the Senate and he was assigned to command the First Brigade of the Division of Western Tennessee headquartered at Memphis. He was mustered out of that unit on October 1, 1865. By the time he left the army, after four and a half years of military service, he had seen action at Harper's Ferry, Antietam, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Dumfries, and a number of other engagements. After the war, he went to Big Rapids, Michigan and established extensive business interests, including trade in lumber and real estate, and banking operations. He also became politically active and served various terms as treasurer, supervisor, school board member, and mayor of Big Rapids.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
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