Trying to identify this man

[MWagner]

Several years ago, my mother received an old picture from a family friend. For years and years it hung on our wall. The frame was always very ugly and beat up, and as a present, I got the picture reframed. This picture was found behind the frame.



I placed it away, and kind of forgot about it. I came across it, and have been trying to find the identity of the man in the picture. I was hoping someone here would might be able to give me a name. What type of uniform, what rank he might be based on his uniform.

A quick background, if it helps. The picture was given to us from a family in central Illinois. Beyond that, I do not know anything about it.

Thanks,
Mark

[MWagner]

Those are blown up pics of the shoulders and buttons. Maybe that will help as well.

[ole]

Them are eagles on the buttons, but the shoulder straps could as easily be anchors as stars. Someone will know.
Ole

[30th_il]

That is George Dewey

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Dewey

[MWagner]

Oh wow.. thanks so much. It's interesting to have a picture like this. I wish I had some sort of place/need for it.