Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General, U.S. Congressman. He graduated from the Vermillion Institute, in Hayesville, Ohio and became a school teacher while studying law. In 1836, he was admitted to the bar in Ohio, and began to practice as an attorney in Carroll County. He was a member of the Ohio State Senate and the Ohio State House of Representatives. He was defeated as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1851. When the Civil War began, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel and served with the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to Colonel in December, 1861 and assigned to organize and command the 80th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was formed at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and deployed into Paducah, Kentucky. He participated in the Siege of Corinth under Major General Henry Halleck, and led his regiment at the Battles of Iuka and Corinth. Eckley assumed command of the 2nd Brigade in October, 1862 during General Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. He was elected as a Republican to represent Ohio's 17th District in the United States House of Representatives and resigned his military commission on February 24, 1863 to take office. He served in Congress until 1869. He received a promotion from Colonel to Brevet Brigadier General for meritorious service during the war. His grandfather, Ephraim Ralph, was an officer in the Revolutionary War. His son, William J. Eckley, served for him in the 80th Ohio Infantry as a 1st Lieutenant and later as a Captain. Eckley, Ohio in Lucas County is named for him.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General, U.S. Congressman. He graduated from the Vermillion Institute, in Hayesville, Ohio and became a school teacher while studying law. In 1836, he was admitted to the bar in Ohio, and began to practice as an attorney in Carroll County. He was a member of the Ohio State Senate and the Ohio State House of Representatives. He was defeated as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1851. When the Civil War began, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel and served with the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to Colonel in December, 1861 and assigned to organize and command the 80th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was formed at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and deployed into Paducah, Kentucky. He participated in the Siege of Corinth under Major General Henry Halleck, and led his regiment at the Battles of Iuka and Corinth. Eckley assumed command of the 2nd Brigade in October, 1862 during General Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign. He was elected as a Republican to represent Ohio's 17th District in the United States House of Representatives and resigned his military commission on February 24, 1863 to take office. He served in Congress until 1869. He received a promotion from Colonel to Brevet Brigadier General for meritorious service during the war. His grandfather, Ephraim Ralph, was an officer in the Revolutionary War. His son, William J. Eckley, served for him in the 80th Ohio Infantry as a 1st Lieutenant and later as a Captain. Eckley, Ohio in Lucas County is named for him.
Bio by: K Guy
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