"(February 11, 1829 -- July 7, 1889) William Anderson Pile was a(n) minister, member of a conference, soldier, general, governor, Minister Resident, and American politician. He was born close to Indianapolis, Indiana and moved to Missouri. He studied theology and was made a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a member of the Missouri conference, governor of New Mexico, and Minister Resident to Venezuela (1871 - 1874). Pile served in the Union Army as chaplain of the 1st Regiment Missouri Light Artillery (June 12, 1861), lieutenant colonel of the 33rd Regiment of Missouri Infantry (September 5, 1862), colonel (December 23, 1862), brigadier general of Volunteers (December 26, 1863) and major general (April 9, 1865). William was a Republican to the 40th Congress (March 4, 1867 - March 3, 1896) and unsuccessful for reelection in 1868. During his time on Congress, he served as chairman on the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department (40th Congress). [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 - Present', available at https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=P000350]"