USA > Washington DC > Eminent and representative men of Virginia and the District of Columbia in the nineteenth century. With a concise historical sketch of Virginia > Part 13
USA > Virginia > Eminent and representative men of Virginia and the District of Columbia in the nineteenth century. With a concise historical sketch of Virginia > Part 13
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of Columbian university, Washington, D. next in a battle at the head of Osage
1830. His youth was passed in attend- ance at the Woodville Latin Grammar C., is descended from an old Virginia family of Scotch origin, and was born in Rappahannock county, Va., December 16, the Indian territory. His final surrender took place at Jacksonport, Ark. After the close of the war he was elected pro- river; the next day in one on the prairie, and a week later in one on the border of
school, and in assisting his father on fesser of chemistry in Columbia college, the plantation during vacations until he Washington, in 1871 was elected to the same chair in the National Medical col- lege, still holding both positions, and in 1872 was elected to fill the same chair in was seventeen years of age, when he en- tered the Virginia Military institute, from which he graduated in 1850; he then taught school one year in Culpeper the National college of Pharmacy. Be- county and one year at Surrey Court sides the academic honors received by House, Va., after which he entered the the professor, he has received from Will- university of Virginia, from which he iam Jewell college, in Missouri, the de- graduated three years later with the gree of LL. D. in 1870, and in 1873 he degree of A. B. During the last year of received the degree of Ph. D. from the
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National college of Pharmacy in Wash- |may be found in James B. Taylor's His- ington.
Mr. Fristoe has been four times a mem- ber of the assay commission, appointed by the president to examine the coins and has been engaged on several occasions to do very important professional work by the treasury department.
In 1859 Prof. Fristoe was so fortunate as to secure in marriage the hand of Miss Julia Laub, daughter of Andrew Laub, of Washington, D. C. and to their union were born two children, viz: Luther Smoot Fristoe, who married Carrie Bloss, and Nattie Lee Fristoe, who was wedded to F. Rule, of Knoxville, Tenn. After twenty years of wedded bliss, Mrs. Fristoe was called from earth in 1879.
Joseph Fristoe, father of the professor, was born in Culpeper Co., Va., in 1801, and in 1836 married Martha Rudasill, daughter of Wm. Rudasill, of Rappahan- nock county, Va., and of their three children, Charles B., the eldest died in 1863 from sickness contracted in the Con- federate service, and William S., died of injuries received in the same service in 1864. Mrs. Martha Fristoe is still living at the age of ninety years, but had the misfortune to lose her husband in 1851.
tory of the Baptist Ministers of Virginia. The great-great-grandfather came to America from Scotland early in the seventies, and settled at Dumfries, Va. The professor has led a very busy life and has published many treaties on scientific subjects.
WILLIAM MATTHEW GALT
( deceased ) was born near Taneytown, Carroll county, Md., June 13, 1834. He was the son of Sterling and Margaret ( Grayson ) Galt. Descended from the old Scotch Presbyterian stock, he in- herited many of the best qualities of his race, modified and developed by the times in which he lived. He was edu- cated at the district school of the neigh- borhood and employed on his father's farm till he reached the fifteenth year of his age. This proved to be the limit of his boyhood. Then, leaving the paternal homestead which had been in his family for one hundred and fifty years, he en- tered the store of Mr. Jesse Reifsneider of Westminster, Md., who carried on a trade in the general merchandise of the day. After a two years' experience there, he removed to Washington, D. C., and while yet a youth of seventeen years he
The paternal grandfather of the pro- fessor was named William and was born found a position in the dry goods store of in Fauquier county, Va., in 1770. He Messrs. Clagett & May, on Pennsylvania married a Miss Botts in Fauquier avenue. Here he remained till he reached his majority - growing in the favor and confidence of his employers to the last. On becoming of age he re- solved to enter upon business for himself, county and shortly afterward removed to Rappahannock county, and was all his life a farmer, and died in 1815. The great-grandfather of the professor was also named William, and was born in and formed a partnership with his cousin, what is now Prince William county, Va., Mr. Thomas J. Galt, to engage in the in 1744; he was renowned as a Baptist wood and coal business in Washington preacher, as were two of his brothers. city. They established themselves at the He also wrote a history of the Baptist foot of Seventeenth street, near the old church of that day, and his biography canal lock. Beginning with small capital
umhace
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and much competition, they had many capital, and then, attracted by the wider difficulties to surmount. They set up the relations of the vast trade springing up first steam machine for sawing and split- between the old east and the far west, he severed his connection with Mr. Morri- son, and succeeded in obtaining the old government store-house at the corner of First street and Indiana avenue, N. W., a site convenient to the depot of the B. & O. railroad, then the only one lead- ing to the capital. Here he commenced a flour and grain trade, which for some ting wood in the district, though at first it was derided by many of the older men as a sheer waste of money. But they soon began to receive orders and slowly make their way to public patronage. For sev- eral years this business was pursued with untiring assiduity. Meanwhile unseen disaster was impending. The business which they had toiled so hard to build up time he conducted by himself. A huge was suddenly arrested by a destructive sign, conspicuously displayed, proclaimed fire, which destroyed about sixteen thou- the coming extent and importance of his projected enterprise. And here it was that his marvelous judgment, energy and industry found the widest scope, and secured a noble fortune. sand dollars' worth of property, while a vessel, freighted with their coal, was lost at sea, and, to crown all, the insurance company in which they had placed their risks had made an utter failure. In after
Later on he took into business com- days Mr. Galt was wont to say, "It pany some younger men - of whom Mr. knocked our last prop from under us!" T. J. Mayers, a native of Switzerland, and Many a man would have succumbed to such misfortune, but Mr. Galt knew no such word as "fail." his own son, Mr. Ralph L. Galt, still sur- vive. Their acquaintance, which em- braced the millers of the country, brought
In 1861 he was married to Miss Harriet them into contact with the largest oper- T. Turner, a native of Shoreham, Vt., a ators, and extended their own line of first cousin of the Rev. Dr. Byron Sun- trade in every direction. They had a derland, and then a member of his range of business not only with the family. Soon after, Mr. Galt withdrew government but also with many of the from the "wood and coal firm" to seek larger cities in Maryland and Virginia, another field of operation. He spent and still further throughout the south. Finally their transactions extended over Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, some time in western travel and then re- joined his wife in Vermont, whither she had gone to visit friends. From this Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Da-
kotas, and the entire grain region of the great northwest.
point they found residence in Brooklyn, N. Y., where, for some months, he en- gaged in the produce commission busi- As a business man Mr. Galt had the confidence and respect of all with whom he came in contact. In whatever he en- gaged he became at once the master- spirit, and for many years after his business was established, it was not ness. But on receiving a proposal from Mr. D. L. Morrison - a flour dealer il Washington, the scene of his former efforts - he formed a co-partnership with that gentleman at a stand on Ninth street, near the great Centre market of the city. known that he ever failed in anything to There in a single year he doubled his which he set his hand. When the first 13
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great fair was to be opened at Ivy City, it was surprising to see the transforma- tion he accomplished in an almost in- credibly short time, and where but a few weeks before was a natural wilderness, spacious buildings arose and the latest improvements of art in every depart- ment suddenly blossomed forth as it were by magic.
On the occasion of the inauguration of President Cleveland, he was made chair- man of the national executive committee to arrange for that great national occa- sion. There being at that time in the whole city no adequate accommodation for the customary inauguration ball, it became a serious question how to meet this emergency. The Pension building in Judiciary square, with only its four bare walls, then standing incomplete. was about the only resort. It was gravely maintained by government engineers and architects, of long experience, that it could not be brought into any fit condi- tion for such a use in time. But Mr. Galt, in the face of these assertions, and knowing no such word as "fail," in one of the most inclement periods of storm and cold, took the business in hand and personally superintended the whole work, commanding the admiration of the public in the magnificent result. This aptitude and energy appeared on many other occasions, in which he met the demand with eminent success. He may be said to have been a born builder.
the subsequent development of the now splendid northwestern part of the city. It was in allusion to this enterprise, the first of any note after the building of the house of the English embassy, that it be- came proverbial along that fashionable promenade that "an English minister lived at one corner of the square and an American minister at the other." Mr. Galt was universally regarded as in all respects a representative citizen of the capital. His last achievement in house- building was the noble mansion on Ver- mont avenue, in which he closed his earthly career.
As to the standing and respect which he held among all classes, various testi- monials and biographical sketches ap- peared from time
to time in the public press. Probably no man was more highly appreciated or more warmly applauded for his public spirit and generosity than he. Not less sincere was the testimony of multitudes in the business circles, and in the more private and humble walks of life, to his sterling integrity, uniform kindness and substantial sympathy with every form of human distress. Those who knew him best were ever loudest in his praise. Per- haps one of the most unexpected and proudest moments of his life was when his colleagues on the committee of in- auguration' assembled at his house to present him with a magnificent token of their esteem. Mr. James L. Norris, one of Washington's noblest citizens, in the midst of a distinguished company of gen- tlemen, voiced their sentiments in the following terms:
During a life of intense activity, he was yet a man of home and family affections. Having from small beginnings acquired a large real estate in Washington, he at length purchased the beautiful site on " The members of the executive con- mittee, desiring to make known to you our esteem and to evince our apprecia- Connecticut avenue looking out upon Dupont circle, where he erected a fine mansion and became the pioneer of all tion of your devotion and unselfishness
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as our chairman, here now present to you ments, in regard to which no long time a tangible token of our regard. Nothing was requisite to show his keen foresight is more pleasant and befitting in society and reliable judgment. As his means than a recognition of those who zealously were ample and his mind active, he was ally themselves in doing good to others, ever planning some new enterprise. His and in losing sight of self in the exciting restless energy could brook no supine- race to contribute most to the general ness. Having finished one labor he was interest and welfare." To this Mr. Galt ever ready to begin another. Sometimes, replied with evident emotion, warmly thanking them for their kind expressions
indeed, to the inner circle of his friends he would speak of retirement from the and saying he should always retain happy perplexities and exactions of a trade recollections of their association. The which, in its market fluctuations, is one of inscriptions on the massive silver bowl the most hazardous forms of risks known will make it a treasured family heir-loom in the business world.
for coming generations.
In hours of respite he would dream of
Although Mr. Galt was by heredity more indulgence in leisure and in home and conviction more nearly allied to and foreign travel, and firmly assure him- democracy than any other political party, self that these halcyon days were near. yet partisan strife and public office of- But no sooner had the day broken than fered no charms for him. He sought all such visions vanished and he was ambitions more quiet and not less honor- again in his counting-room watching the ever shifting currents of an unstable market, whose crises he had often grasped and whose mysteries had for him some undefined but fascinating charm. able. His predilections were for associa- tions which tended to promote charity and beneficence -- to mitigate the evils and improve the conditions of society.
During his more active business life -
He employed in his business large num- when on one or two occasions an almost bers of people, to whom he was not only universal panic spread over the commer- just but generous. He exacted fidelity cial world -his feet stood firm, his and care, and dismissed the delinquent courage was equal to the emergency, who required his orders a second time. while he showed a commanding general- He insisted that those in his service ship which turned adverse conditions into
the stepping-stones for a more substantial and took in their future an almost pater- and surprising success.
In his later years, his extensive dealings with the great railroads far and near, and his consequent travels in his own country, brought him into personal contact with the wonderful people and the material development of the far west. He was con- versant with most of the surprising dis- coveries, inventions and appliances of our unparalleled civilization. In several of the more prominent he made invest-
should save something from their wages, nal interest. At his funeral they came with their own sturdy hands to bear him to his burial.
The same beneficence marked his treat- ment of the deserving poor. His heart was ever open to the prayers of the needy. Dealing as he did in the very staff of life, he became to many, without distinction of race, color or religion, what the patriarch Job was in his princely estate, "A father to the poor, and the
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CHARLES CARROLL GLOVER,
cause of the needy he searched out." More than one young man, with no claim banker, Washington, D. C., was born in upon him but that of his own generosity, was launched by him upon a prosperous business career. Scores and hundreds, quietly aided by him without ostentation, survived to miss and mourn him as their noblest benefactor.
Macon county, N. C., November 24, 1846, but is of Washington parentage, his father and mother, some fifty years ago, having removed from Washington to North Car- olina, settling on a plantation. In July, 1855, the lad was returned to Washington With all this occupation he was one of the most domestic of men. He found his most sacred shrine in the bosom of his own family. His own home was a place of elegance to his family and friends and he felt no need of the external allure- ments of social life. In his latter days he was an extensive and discriminating reader. His favorite selections evinced both the tenderness and delicacy of his and was educated at Rittenhouse academy. In 1862 he entered Frank Taylor's book store as a clerk, and three years later entered the banking house of Corcoran & Riggs, where he acted as receiving and paying teller for a number of years, when, in about 1873, he was taken into partner- ship. Since he has been a member of the firm he has seen the deposit account of the institution grow from $700,000 to over sentiments, and the substantial principles $5,000,000. His life in the meantime has of a just and upright life. So he passed been a continual battle with an avalanche through scenes of mingled joy and sor- row, which touched him to the very center of his being.
of work. Quiet and unassuming in his manner, systematic in his habits, genial and unruffled in his intercourse with men, he is enabled daily to transact an amount of an ordinary man. Above all, he possesses tact. When he undertakes to accomplish a purpose he knows how to go about it, in the proper way. And in this drew near. It was in these days that all characteristic lies the secret of much of his great success.
The scenes of his final illness were ex- ceedingly pathetic. On Tuesday, the of business that would bend the shoulders eleventh of December, 1888, he came home from his place of business never to return. On that day he retired to his chamber with the conviction that his end the power of his christian faith, his for- titude in suffering, his love for his family Mr. Glover had the advantage of good parentage. His grandfather, after whom he was named, was, in the early years of this century, a prominent and esteemed citizen of Washington. He was an hon- ored guest at the reception given by the president to Gen. Lafayette, and attended the dinner given in the latter's honor by Secretary of State Adams. He owned a large amount of property, too, accumulat- ing enough in his lifetime to have made and friends and his triumphant hope of the future life were displayed. After giving his farewell counsels to his wife and children he serenely expired about midday on Wednesday, January 3, 1889. Three days later, his obsequies were per- formed amid a large concourse of the most prominent people of the capital, and he was laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery, lamented by the entire community. It will be many years, if not decades, hence, ere his grandson the richest man in Washing- Washington will again see such a man. ton if a great deal of it had not been
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sacrificed to meet the liabilities of a bank- | Georgetown Railroad stock. The com- rupt friend. Some of it still remains,
pany needed reorganization. Its interests however, in the family, notably the prop- were being jeopardized by stockholders erty at the northeast corner of Tenth and D streets, which was leased for ninety- nine years to Peter Force. who, living out of the city, were gradually making a very valuable franchise worth- less. Mr. Glover, then owning only thirty shares of stock, stepped into the breach. from adroit argument to earnest plea, he secured all the proxies that he could find. He still lacked several hundred shares of
The grandfather, Charles Carroll Glo- ver, was born near Ellicott City, Md., and By every honest method at his command, was prominent as a lawyer, his prac- tice being chiefly in Washington, in which city he settled perma- nently about the year 1800, and for a a controlling interest. "We must buy number of years was chief clerk in the 1,200 shares," he said to Mr. Riggs. The stock, which had been selling at $30, now advanced to $60, but the shares were pur- chased. The annual election was held. The old board of directors were defeated and new blood infused into the Mr. Riggs, somewhat elected a director, and when he died Mr. Glover succeeded him on the board. It is not too much to say that to Mr. Glover has been due all the improvements which have added to its popularity, the carrying capacity, and the earning power of the road. It was on his motion that the hand- some two-horse cars were secured for Fourteenth street, that the cable line was laid on Seventh street, that the Nailor square was purchased for a power-house site, and that the cable system was ex- tended to Pennsylvania avenue and Four- teenth street. He, too, saw the value of accumulating large blocks of real estate for the company, and his foresight in this direction has added hundreds of dollars to the wealth of the corporation. office of the clerk of the supreme court of of the District of Columbia. He was a volunteer in the war of 1812, and took part in Bladensburg. In 1813 he mar- ried Jane Cocking, daughter of William Cocking, of Lincolnshire, England. His corporation. son, Richard Leonidas Glover, was born against his personal inclinations, was in Washington, D. C., in 1819. At an early age he entered the United States land office, where he remained a few years, and then, for a short length of time, followed his profession of surveyor. In 1845 he married Miss Caroline Percy, daughter of William A. Percy, of North Carolina, and to this marriage were born two sons-Charles C. and William Leon- idas-the latter dying unmarried, in 1881, at the age of thirty-one years. Richard L. Glover was but thirty years of age at his death in 1850, and his widow survived him until 1885. Charles Carroll Glover was married January 10, 1878, to Anna C. Poor, daughter of the late Rear Admiral Charles H. Poor, of the United States navy, and of the three children born to this marriage two survive- Elizabeth Lindsay and Charles Carroll, Jr.
Public spirited in the highest degree, Mr. Glover has found time, amid all the pressure of private affairs, to work with unflagging energy for the advancement of the district interests. The brightest
As a financier Mr. Glover stands with- out a rival in the district. It was at his suggestion that Mr. G. W. Riggs first became interested in the Washington & jewel in his crown just now is the Rock
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PERSONAL SKETCHES -DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Creek park. On the morning of Thanks- Georgetown Railroad company. He did giving day, 1888, he invited James. M. not leave the latter corporation, how- Johnson, of Riggs' bank; Calderon Car- ever, until the vast system of improve- lisle and Capt. Symonds to ride with him ments now in course of completion had through the Rock Creek valley. Stand- been decided upon, leaving only the ing on a hillside and overlooking the details to be carried out. Even now, picturesque country which lay around beside his large interest in Riggs' bank, about them these four gentlemen, at Mr. where millions of dollars are handled yearly, he is vice-president and director of the National Safe Deposit company, Glover's suggestion, pledged themselves to work for a national park. The bill was framed by Mr. Johnson and Mr. Carlisle, with $1,000,000 capital; a trustee of the and discussed in Mr. Glover's dining-room, Corcoran Gallery of Art, a director in the where, a few days later, a company of Columbia Fire Insurance company, a trustee of the Children's hospital, the executor of George Bancroft's estate, a vestryman of Epiphany church, and the president of the Washington Stock ex- change. He is also interested in the Belt Line railroad, which company he organized, and was formerly director in the National Union Fire Insurance com-
enthusiastic citizens heartily endorsed the project. Of the labor expended by Mr. Glover since that time, of the clever gen- eralship which he displayed in disarming opposition and securing friends, and of the unfailing faith which he felt in the success of the project, a volume of inter- esting facts might be written.
It was the same way with the reclama- pany. tion of the flats and the extension of the A firm believer in the great future of water supply, the first steps toward the Washington, Mr. Glover is the owner of accomplishment of which were inaugu- rated by Mr. Glover. The fact that Mr. Glover has for twenty years been an large tracts of suburban property, some of which, purchased years ago, are now immensely valuable. He is at present intimate personal friend of all the lead- building, near the proposed site of the ing legislators of the land has enabled National university, a handsome sub- him to exercise a vast amount of influence urban home, with a frontage of seventy- for the good of the city, but never for the five feet, and commanding a view furtherance of private ends. He has en- unsurpassed in natural beauty. His city joyed the confidence of every president home on Lafayette square is a model of since Grant occupied the White house, taste and refinement. Thoroughly domes- and, in a quiet but none the less effective tic in his habits, he enjoys the delightful way, has suggested to those high in society of a charming family. Still in the authority, the best means for advance- prime of life, vigorous and active, he can ment of the nation's capital.
look forward to many years of usefulness
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