Ephraim C. Dawes

Ephraim C. Dawes (1840-1895) was a Civil War soldier, military historian, and businessman.

Life
Ephraim C. Dawes was born on May 27, 1840 to a large family in Marietta, Ohio.

Military career
He finished his bachelor’s degree at Marietta College in 1861, the same year that he enlisted in the 53rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was a First Lieutenant. While an infantryman, Dawes fought in many of the most important battles of the Civil War, including the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca, and Atlanta. Dawes was promoted to the rank of Major in January, 1863, in which he served under General Grant in the successful capture of Vicksburg. He then went on to serve under General Sherman in Jackson and Dallas, where he lost his lower jaw. After months of pain, Dr. George Blackman reconstructed his jaw, restoring his health.

Later life
After being honorably discharged from the army in 1864, Dawes entered the railroad business, beginning with Cincinnati railroad companies in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. He lost his fortune in the 1873 economic crash, but rebuilt his business in St. Louis and Chicago as the president of St. Louis and Big Muddy Coal Company. Dawes also maintained a strong interest in the Civil War and became an avid collector of Civil War manuscripts, books, and pamphlets. Dawes married Frances Bosworth in 1866. He died in 1895 (aged 55).