John Benton Callis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Benton Callis
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 5th district |
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| In office July 21, 1868 – March 3, 1869 |
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| Preceded by | District inactive |
| Succeeded by | Peter Myndert Dox |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Benton Callis
January 3, 1828 Fayetteville, North Carolina |
| Died | September 24, 1898 (aged 70) Lancaster, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
John Benton Callis (born January 3, 1828 – died September 24, 1898) was an American businessman. He was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He also served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he became a U.S. Representative for Alabama.
Early Life and Travels
John Callis was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1834, when he was six years old, his family moved to Carroll County, Tennessee. They moved again in 1840 to Lancaster, Wisconsin. John went to regular schools there.
He studied medicine for three years but decided not to continue with it. In 1849, he moved to Minnesota. Then, in 1851, he went to California. There, he worked in mining and also ran a business buying and selling goods. He even traveled to Central America in 1853. Later that year, he came back to Lancaster, Wisconsin, and continued his business work.
Serving in the Civil War
John Callis helped create a group of soldiers from Lancaster. This group became Company K of the Seventh Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. When this group joined the main Union Army, John became a lieutenant. He was promoted to captain on August 30, 1861.
His regiment, the Seventh Wisconsin, was part of a famous group called the "Iron Brigade of the West." Many officers were hurt or killed in battles. Because of this, Callis often led the regiment. He led them in important battles like the Battle of South Mountain and Antietam.
He was promoted to Major on January 5, 1863. During the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, he was shot in the chest. He lay on the battlefield for three days until the Confederate soldiers left. After a long time recovering, he returned to the army. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln made him the military superintendent for the War Department in Washington, D.C.. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on February 11, 1865.
Life in Alabama
After the Civil War ended, John Callis moved to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1865. He left the regular army on February 4, 1868.
When Alabama was allowed to send representatives to the U.S. Congress again, Callis was chosen. He was a member of the Republican Party. He served in the Fortieth Congress from July 21, 1868, to March 3, 1869. He did not try to be elected again in 1868.
Back in Wisconsin
After his time in Congress, John Callis went back to Lancaster, Wisconsin. He started working in the real estate business, which involves buying and selling land and buildings.
In 1874, he was elected to serve one year in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He was part of a group called the Liberal Reform Party, which did not last very long.
He later stopped working actively. John Callis passed away in Lancaster on September 24, 1898. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery.
John Callis was the uncle of George Barnett, who became a leader in the Marine Corps.
