Elihu Washburne: Lincoln and Grant Supporter

While in Galena last week, I came across an article about the demolition of Washburne's house he lived in while his mansion was being built. His mansion, right on US-20 entering Galena, is open as a museum. I'll be writing about the demolition in my history blog.

I had heard of the name but didn't know much about him.

From Wikipedia.

Elihu Washburne (1816-1887) played a prominent role in the early Republican party, supported Abraham Lincoln and was a leader of the Radical Republicans. He strongly opposed the Reconstruction policies of President Johnson and supported black suffrage and civil rights.

Grant appointed Washburne Secretary of State in 1869, but he served just a short time before becoming U.S. minister to France.

--Old Secesh