W. H. Eba

William Henry Harrison Eba (November 5, 1831 – August 31, 1911) was the mayor of Ashland, Kentucky. He also helped incorporate, on November 23, 1887, the Kentucky Power Company.^[1]

Biography

Eba was born to George and Maria Eba on November 5, 1831 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.^[2] He moved with his parents in 1836 to Monongahela City, Pennsylvania and was educated in the common schools and Monongahela Academy.

Eba began to work in a cigar factory, but after a year concluded to learn stove and hollow-ware molding. He served four years' apprenticeship at this trade, receiving in wages five dollars a month the first year; eight dollars a month the second year, twelve the third year and twenty the fourth. A few months before his time expired the works were destroyed by fire.

Eba then found employment as a second clerk on a steamboat plying between Pittsburgh and Wheeling, West Virginia. In July, 1852, he removed to Kentucky, landing at Catlettsburg, July 3, and becoming salesman there in the general store.

During the Civil War, Eba enlisted in Company I, Fifth West Virginia Regiment; was promoted to sergeant-major, March, 1862; first lieutenant. He declined the post of adjutant after being acting adjutant two months. He was commissioned a month later by Governor Pierpont captain of Company F, same regiment. He was in various engagements, but none of the great battles of the war. Once his shoulder-strap was shot off, but he was never wounded.

Eba was mayor of Ashland one term, and then became city truant officer.

He died on August 31, 1911.^[3]

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