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Stephen B. Elkins

Stephen Benton Elkins
Stephen Benton Elkins Restore.jpg
United States Senator
from West Virginia
In office
March 4, 1895 – January 4, 1911
Preceded by Johnson N. Camden
Succeeded by Davis Elkins
38th United States Secretary of War
In office
December 17, 1891 – March 5, 1893
President Benjamin Harrison
Preceded by Redfield Proctor
Succeeded by Daniel S. Lamont
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Mexico Territory's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
Delegate
Preceded by José Manuel Gallegos
Succeeded by Trinidad Romero
Personal details
Born (1841-09-26)September 26, 1841
New Lexington, Ohio, U.S.
Died January 4, 1911(1911-01-04) (aged 69)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Sarah Jacobs
Hallie Davis
Alma mater Masonic College
University of Missouri
Profession Politician, Lawyer
Military service
Service/branch Union Army
Rank Captain
Battles/wars American Civil War

Stephen Benton Elkins (September 26, 1841 – January 4, 1911) was an American industrialist and political figure. He served as the Secretary of War between 1891 and 1893. He served in the Congress as a Delegate from the Territory of New Mexico and a Senator from West Virginia.

Stephen Benton Elkins was born on September 26, 1841 near New Lexington, Ohio and moved with his family to Westport, Missouri (now part of Kansas City) in the mid-1840s to Philip Duncan Elkins and Sarah Pickett Withers. He attended the Masonic College in Lexington, Missouri in the 1850s, and graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1860. After graduation, he briefly taught school in Cass County, Missouri. Among his pupils was future James-Younger Gang member Cole Younger.

In the American Civil War Elkins' father and brother joined the Confederate Army under Sterling Price, but he joined the Union Army. Before he joined the Union Army he was to encounter Quantrill's Raiders twice and was spared from being killed because of his father and brother. He noted:

Elkins entered the Union Army as a captain of militia in the 77th Missouri Infantry. He served under Kersey Coates and only saw action once in the Battle of Lone Jack, which he said filled him with disgust for war. Elkins noted that his good fortune of being protected by Quantrill matched a fear of being butchered by Quantrill for becoming a Union soldier as Quantrill's Raiders were thought to be present at the battle.


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