http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_E._Spencer

George Eliphaz Spencer (November 1, 1836 – February 19, 1893) was a U.S. senator from the state of Alabama.

Born in Champion, New York, he was educated at Montreal College in Canada. After relocating to Iowa he engaged in the study of law. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a captain on October 16, 1862. While serving on the staff of Brigadier-General Grenville M. Dodge, he requested a transfer to the 1st Alabama Cavalry Regiment (Union), a volunteer regiment made up of Southern Unionists, which did not have a permanent commander. Receiving a promotion to colonel, he led the regiment from September 11, 1863 till his resignation on July 5, 1865.

After the war, he returned to Alabama to practice law. For a time he served as register in bankruptcy for the fourth district of Alabama. Elected as a Republican to the United States Senate upon readmission of Alabama to the Union, he served from July 13, 1868 to March 4, 1879.