Rufus Dawes

Rufus Dawes was a prominent figure in the American Civil War, serving as a lieutenant colonel in the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was also a U.S. Representative from Ohio, representing the at-large district from 1881 to 1883. Dawes was a member of the Republican Party and played a significant role in the Reconstruction Era. He was also a professor at Marietta College and a close friend of James A. Garfield, the 20th President of the United States.

● Early Life and Education

Rufus Dawes was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, to Rufus Dawes and Mary Beman Gates Dawes. He attended Marietta College in Ohio, where he graduated in 1860. Dawes then went on to study at the University of Michigan Law School, but his education was interrupted by the outbreak of the American Civil War. He enlisted in the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was part of the Iron Brigade, and saw action in several battles, including the First Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Dawes was also a close friend of Ambrose Burnside, who played a significant role in the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Knoxville.

● Career

After the war, Dawes returned to Marietta, Ohio, where he became a professor at Marietta College and taught rhetoric and English literature. He was also involved in politics, serving as a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1869 to 1870. Dawes was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1880, representing the at-large district of Ohio. During his time in Congress, he served on the Committee on Education and Labor and was a strong supporter of education reform. Dawes was also a close friend of James A. Garfield, who was President from 1881 until his assassination in 1881. Dawes was a member of the Republican National Committee and attended the 1880 Republican National Convention, where James A. Garfield was nominated for President.

● Personal Life

Rufus Dawes was married to Mary Beman Gates Dawes, and they had several children together. He was a close friend of James A. Garfield and Ambrose Burnside, and the three men often corresponded with each other. Dawes was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization that was founded after the American Civil War. He attended the 1888 Republican National Convention, where Benjamin Harrison was nominated for President. Dawes was also a strong supporter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which was founded by Frances Willard.

● Legacy

Rufus Dawes is remembered as a prominent figure in the American Civil War and a strong supporter of education reform. He was a close friend of James A. Garfield and Ambrose Burnside, and the three men played significant roles in the Reconstruction Era. Dawes was also a member of the Republican Party and attended several Republican National Conventions, including the 1880 Republican National Convention and the 1888 Republican National Convention. He was a strong supporter of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and he worked closely with Frances Willard and other prominent suffragists.

● Notable Works

Rufus Dawes wrote several books, including Service with the Sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, which is a memoir of his time in the American Civil War. He also wrote All the Modern Instances, a novel that explores the complexities of Reconstruction. Dawes was a close friend of Mark Twain, who wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He was also a strong supporter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, which was founded by Frances Willard and played a significant role in the Prohibition movement. Dawes' works are still studied by historians today, including Doris Kearns Goodwin and Eric Foner, who have written extensively on the American Civil War and the Reconstruction Era.