Civil War Union Army Officer, US Congressman, Oklahoma Territorial Governor. He joined the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisting in May 1861 in the 12th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was soon commissioned into the 101st Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and rose from Lieutenant of Company I to Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the unit. After the conclusion of the war he opted to remain in the Regular Army, and was commissioned Major of the 14th United States Regular Infantry in 1866. He served ten years of frontier and garrison duty before resigning in 1876, and engaging in the meat packing and distribution business. He was elected as a Republican to twice represent Indiana's 11th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving first from March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1889, then from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1902. In between his Congressional terms he served as the first Governor of Oklahoma Territory from 1890 to 1891, having been appointed by President Benjamin Harrison on the merits of his being a seasoned war and frontier veteran, which was crucial ending the political disorder that wracked the territory at the time.
Civil War Union Army Officer, US Congressman, Oklahoma Territorial Governor. He joined the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisting in May 1861 in the 12th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was soon commissioned into the 101st Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and rose from Lieutenant of Company I to Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the unit. After the conclusion of the war he opted to remain in the Regular Army, and was commissioned Major of the 14th United States Regular Infantry in 1866. He served ten years of frontier and garrison duty before resigning in 1876, and engaging in the meat packing and distribution business. He was elected as a Republican to twice represent Indiana's 11th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving first from March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1889, then from March 4, 1895 to March 3, 1902. In between his Congressional terms he served as the first Governor of Oklahoma Territory from 1890 to 1891, having been appointed by President Benjamin Harrison on the merits of his being a seasoned war and frontier veteran, which was crucial ending the political disorder that wracked the territory at the time.
Bio by: RPD2
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