John Aaron Rawlins

Born February 13, 1831, in Jo Daviess County, IL, the son of Scotch-Irish immigrants
In 1849, his father migrated to California during the Gold Rush and stayed there for three years. Rawlins had to take care of his mother, his sister, and six brothers. Rawlins blamed his father’s lack of attention to his family on strong drink, so he abstained from alcohol. Likely tried to influence his close friend, Grant, to do likewise
Attended local schools in the area and a year-and-a-half at Rock River Seminary at Mt. Morris, Illinois. Then studied law under Isaac P. Stevens of Galena, Illinois; admitted to the bar in 1854
Married Emily Smith in 1856; they had three children. Emily died of tuberculosis in 1861, shortly after Rawlins began his military service
Served as Galena City Attorney (1857), and Presidential Elector for Stephen Douglas (1860)
Commissioned Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on staff of U.S. Grant, August 1861
Promoted Major, May 1862; Promoted Lieutenant Colonel, November 1862
On December 23, 1863 Rawlins married Mary Emma Hurlburt; they had three children
Promoted Brigadier General and Chief of Staff (USA), March 1865
Received brevet ranks of Major General (USV), February 1865; and Major General (USA), April 1865, for war service
Accompanied Dodge Expedition over proposed Union Pacific RR route, 1867; gave name to Rawlins, Wyoming
Appointed U.S. Secretary of War, March 1869
Died in Washington, September 6, 1869; buried in Arlington National Cemetery

A statue, General John A. Rawlins was erected in Washington, D.C. in 1874. The town of Rawlins, county seat of Carbon County, Wyoming, is named for him, as well as Rawlins County, Kansas.