Capt. E. P. Bye

BYE, Capt. E. P. — Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 22, P. O. Knoxville. Of the prominent agriculturists and stock-men of the county, there are none more deserving of special mention than the subject of this sketch, who was born in Columbiania county, Ohio, April 27, 1827. His parents were Redelon and Sarah, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. He traces his lineage to German and English ancestry. E. P. received the benefits of the common schools of his native county, as his limited opportunities permitted, for his early life was that of a farmer boy. When he attained his thirteenth year the family removed to Jay county, Indiana, where they engaged in farming, and where the subject of this sketch resided until 1851, when he came to Marion county, arriving in Knoxville November 27. Being a man of close observation, he had become proficient in the art of mechanism, his father being a cabinet-maker, although E. P. had never learned the trade. The demand for mechanics in Knoxville at that time was good, and he made his departure as an architect. Many of the old land-marks at the present time are specimens of his handiwork. During the memorable cholera plague he furnished the greater portion of the burial cases. In 1860 he went to Pike's Peak, and in 1861 he returned to Knoxville, and enlisted as private in company G, Fifteenth Iowa volunteer infantry. During his military career he participated in many of the stirring engagements, Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign, was with Uncle Billy on his famous march to the sea, and various others. He was mustered into the service as private, promoted to corporal; immediately after the battle of Corinth, in 1862, was promoted to sergeant; and in October, of the same year, to second lieutenant; and on March 7, 1863, to first lieutenant, the duties of which office he discharged until August 27, 1864, when he was commissioned as captain of company G, in which capacity he was honorably mustered out, at Louisville, Kentucky, July 24, 1865, and discharged at Davenport. He returned to Knoxville, residing there until 1869, when he removed to his present home. Capt. Bye has been twice married. His first wife was Levena Palmer, married in 1855. She died January 23, I860. By this union he has one daughter, Emma. On the fourteenth of October, 1865, Mrs. Elmira Eldrige became his wife. She was born October 7, 1841. Her parents were Richard and Susan Brewer. May 14, 1861 she married Rufus H. Eldrige. He was a native of Ohio, and removed to Iowa with his parents, at an early day. He went into the army, in 1861, as lieutenant of company K, Fifteenth Iowa volunteer infantry, and was killed at the battle of Corinth, October 2, 1862. Albert Brewer, her brother, went out at the first and served all through the war. Mrs. Bye's parents at present are residents of Marysville, Marion county. She has one son by her first husband, a promising young man, E. R: Eldrige, now a student at the Iowa State University. Their family consists of three children: Delbert, George and William. Mrs. Bye is a lady possessed of those winning ways that make her a ray of sunshine to the home. She is a skilled manageress of household affairs, and her husband's best counselor. The captain's estate comprises 200 acres. Stock-raising is his principal business, and he is making a success of it, by his discreet management. He is closely identified with the educational interests of his district. As a soldier, Capt. Bye stands foremost among the patriotic veterans of the late war.

SOURCE: Union Historical Company, The History Of Marion County, Iowa, 1881, p. 557-8