 February 13, 1831 To September 6, 1869 |
February 13, 1831 To September 6, 1869 |
John Aaron Rawlins was born in Galena, Illinois on February 13, 1831 to a family of very modest means. When he got old enough to do so, he hauled charcoal to other towns in the vicinity to sell for his father and subsequently was nicknamed 'Charcoal Boy', a moniker which would follow him all the way to Washington, D.C.
He was an intelligent young man with the gift of making very eloquent, touching speeches, a talent which would come in very handy for not only himself in his later years but also for his mentor, Ulysses S. Grant and also his country as he served not only General Grant but also President Grant.
In 1851, at the age of 20, he began attending secondary school with the eventual aim of becoming an attorney, first with 3 years in district school and later finishing up at Mount Morris Seminary. He subsequently became a lawyer at J.P. Stevens esq. of Galena and was admitted to the bar in 1855.
The partnership with Mr. Stevens disssolved in 1856 and John Rawlins thereafter practiced law by himself until he once again gained a partner in 1858 by the name of David Sheehan. It was at this point in time that attorney Rawlins became interested in politics and decided to utilize his talents in the oratory arena by making speeches on behalf of a fellow Illinois resident, Abraham Lincoln in his bid for the Presidency in 1860.
After the war began and the fighting became more bitter and closer to home, specifically after the first battle of Bull Run, Mr. Rawlins organized a band of volunteers known loosely as the Lead Mine Regiment but more formally as the 45th Illinois Volunteers. Once again, he used his speaking abilities to not only organize but to inspire these would-be soldiers.
The talents which Rawlins displayed did not go unnoticed. He caught the attention of then Colonel Ulysses S. Grant and was asked to join this brilliamt military leader in his battles of the Civil War. In the years to come, both Rawlins and Grant were highly successful and since Rawlins was so fiercely faithful, Grant considered him as one of his most trusted confidantes and they both progressed through the ranks, both attaining the rank of General.
On August 30, 1861 his first wife died with General Rawlins at her side. He was also fiercely faithful to his wife and comforted her until her death of tuberculosis which he subsequently caught as well. He finished out the war at Grants side, intimately involved in every battle and every decision and since Grant considered him an almost indespensible part of his staff, promoted Rawlins to the position of Cheif of Staff.
After the war, John Rawlins returned to Galena and once again returned to his law practice, also giving inspiration speeches but staying out of the political arena except to campaign for other Democrats. Since his health was deteriorating from the tuberculosis, he thought perhaps a trip out west, leading a band of soldiers protecting a survey crew which would be laying out the route for the trans-continental railroad. It was on this expedition in 1867, that General Rawlins took more severly ill and requested a drink from a cool, fresh stream. Scouts were dispatched and returned to lead the party to a spring located nearby. General Rawlins, after drinking from the oasis declared that if there were ever a place named after him, it should be this place. An outpost was established there and was named 'Rawlins Springs', later shortened to 'Rawlins', now one of the ten largest cities in Wyoming and the county seat of Carbon County. Rawlins was subsequently incorporated in 1886.
Since the expedition out west had not improved his health, General Rawlins returned back east and when Grant became President, he was asked to become Secretary of War, a position he accepted in 1869. Unfortunately, only a few months later, Rawlins died of the same disease which took his first wife in Washington D.C.. He was subsequently buried at Congressional Cemetery in Washington and later re-located to Arlington National Cemetery.
Today, there are at least two monuments to General John Rawlins, first the city named after him 131 years ago and secondly a statue of the General found in Rawlins Square in Washington D.C. as shown below. Photos were donated courtesy of a woman who works near this square and sent me the photos but I have inadvertantly lost her name. I would love to give you credit for these fine photos so if you sent the pictures, please e-mail me again. I apologize for it taking so long to get these pictures up and for losing your name but I truly appreciate your effort.
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 General Rawlins & U.S. Grant |
 General John Aaron Rawlins |
 General Rawlins Circa 1867 |
 General Rawlins his daughter and second wife |
Copyright © 1996 by Lee Bonnett | 8 ^ )