Ebenezer B. Finley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ebenezer Byron Finley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio
In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1881
Preceded by	Jacob P. Cowan
Succeeded by	J. Warren Keifer
Constituency	8th district (1877-1879) 14th district (1879-1881)
Judge of the Ohio Circuit Court for the Third Circuit
In office November 17, 1896 – February 8, 1897
Preceded by	Henry W. Seney
Succeeded by	Caleb H. Norris
Mayor of Bucyrus, Ohio
In office April 13, 1863 – April 10, 1865
Preceded by	William M. Scroggs
Succeeded by	Chapman D. Ward
Personal details
Born	(1833-07-31)July 31, 1833 Orrville, Ohio, US
Died	August 21, 1916(1916-08-21) (aged 83) Bucyrus, Ohio, US
Resting place	Oakwood Cemetery, Bucyrus, Ohio
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Charlotte E. Codding (m. 1858)
Relations	Stephen Ross Harris (uncle)
Children	1
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States (Union) Ohio
Service	Union Army Ohio National Guard
Years of service	1861–1862 (Union Army) 1884–1886 (National Guard)
Rank	First Lieutenant (Union Army) Major General
Unit	64th Ohio Infantry Regiment (Union Army) Ohio Adjutant General's Department (National Guard)
Commands	Ohio National Guard
Wars	American Civil War

Ebenezer Byron Finley (born July 31, 1833 – died August 21, 1916) was an American lawyer and politician from Ohio. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He is best known for serving as a U.S. Representative (a member of Congress) for Ohio from 1877 to 1881.

Finley was born in Orrville, Ohio. Before the American Civil War, he worked at different jobs. In 1859, he started studying law in Bucyrus, Ohio, with his uncle, Stephen Ross Harris. He became a lawyer in 1861.

Soon after, he joined the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a first lieutenant in the 64th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He served for a year and fought in several battles. After being injured in an accident, he left the army. He then settled in Bucyrus and became a successful lawyer.

Finley was very involved in politics. He served as the mayor of Bucyrus from 1863 to 1865. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1876. He served two terms, from 1877 to 1881. During his second term, he led the House Committee on Public Expenditures. He chose not to run for another term in 1880 and went back to practicing law. From 1884 to 1886, he was the Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard. This meant he was a high-ranking officer, like a major general.

Ebenezer Byron Finley passed away in Bucyrus on August 21, 1916. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Bucyrus.

Finley's Early Life and Military Service

Ebenezer Finley was born in Orrville, Ohio. His parents were William and Rhoda Finley. He grew up and went to school in Orrville. He had many different jobs when he was young. He taught school in Illinois, worked on boats on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, and was part of the crew on cargo ships on the Great Lakes.

In February 1858, he married Charlotte E. Codding. They had one son named Harry M. Finley. In 1859, he began to study law with his uncle, Stephen Ross Harris, in Bucyrus, Ohio. He passed his exams and became a lawyer in 1861. He then started his law practice in Bucyrus.

Serving in the Civil War

Soon after becoming a lawyer, Finley joined the Union Army to fight in the American Civil War. He helped recruit soldiers for Company K of the 64th Ohio Infantry Regiment. He became a first lieutenant in this unit. He fought in several important battles, including the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862.

Finley was injured in an accident and had to return to Ohio to get better. He was officially discharged from the army in September 1862. After the war, Finley stayed active in groups for military veterans. He continued to work as a lawyer in Bucyrus. He also served as the mayor of Bucyrus from 1863 to 1865.

Finley's Political Career

Ebenezer B. Finley in 1915

As a member of the Democratic Party, Finley was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1876. He was reelected in 1878. He served in Congress from March 4, 1877, to March 3, 1881. During his second term, Finley was the chairman (leader) of the House Committee on Public Expenditures. This committee looked at how the government spent money.

He decided not to run for reelection in 1880. After his time in Congress, he returned to his law practice in Bucyrus.

Later Public Service

In January 1884, Finley was appointed Adjutant General of Ohio. This was a very important military role for the state. He was given the rank of major general and served until 1886. In 1886, he was chosen to lead the state Democratic convention.

In November 1896, Finley won an election to become a circuit court judge for Ohio's Third Circuit. He served as a judge until February 1897. He also attended the 1896 Democratic National Convention as a delegate.

Ebenezer Byron Finley passed away in Bucyrus on August 21, 1916. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Bucyrus.

Images for kids

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  Ebenezer B. Finley's signature