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 30
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 30
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
some of these bon mots.
CALDERON CARLISLE,
the third and only surviving son of James Mandeville Carlisle, was born in the city of Washington on the 27th of February, 1852. His education was obtained at St. John's college, at Annapolis, Md., from which institution he was graduated in 1871
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He subsequently studied law with his Mr. Johnson's paternal grandfather was father, and at the law school of the Colum- of English descent, his father having bian university; was admitted to the bar, come to America in the latter part of the and has been actively engaged in general past century, and settled in Maryland. practice to the present time. He was as- sociated with his father especially in in- ternational matters and succeeded him in 1877, as the legal adviser of the British legation, which position he still holds.
His maternal grandmother was an Italian lady, born in Turin, province of Piedmont, but in early life became a res- ident of France, where her father served as an officer of the Twenty-first regiment In 1878 he was appointed one of the counsel for Spain, before the mixed com- mission formed under the agreement of February 12th, 1871, between Spain and the United States, and so continued until the commission closed in 1883, when he was decorated by the king of Spain, in recognition of his services. of dragoons under Napoleon Bonaparte. The father of W. Goodyear Johnson, Henry Lezziardi Johnson, was also a native of Washington, was educated at Georgetown college, and from 1851 until his death in 1888, occupied the position of chief of the mail equipment division in the United States post office department. In October, 1890, he devised and recom- mended the application for writ of pro- hibition in the case of the British sealer "W. P. Sayward," which obtained na- tional prominence as the Bering sea case. As counsel for the Dominion of Canada, in company with Mr. Joseph H. Choate, of the New York bar, who was retained by his advice, he argued before the supreme court of the United States the motion for leave of file, which was granted at the October term, 1890 (138 U. S. 404), and also argued the case at the final hearing during the October term, 1891 ( 143 U. S. 472 ) . Mr. Johnson's maternal grandfather William P. N. FitzGerald, was also of English descent, his father, a kinsman of Lord Edward FitzGerald, having come to America as an officer of the British army during the Revolution, under a pledge never to return until the " rebel colonists" were subjected. W. P. N. was at one time a professor at Amherst col- lege, and afterwards a lawyer, having practiced in Washington and also in New York. W. G.'s maternal grandmother was Sarah A. Goodyear, a first cousin of Charles Goodyear, the inventor. W. G. Johnson's early education was by Mr. Carlisle is conversant with the French, Spanish, and Italian languages, and has given especial attention to the study of international law, and in addition to the legations of England and Spain, has, from time to time, advised the Danish, Belgian, Switzerland, German, Vene- zuelan and Italian legations. private instruction at home, afterwards attending various select schools and com- pleting his education at Columbian uni- versity in Washington in 1880. The next year, 1881, he entered the law school of the Columbian university, graduating in 1883 with the degree of LL. B., and re- ceiving the additional degree of LL. M., in 1884. He was admitted to the bar of the WILLIAM GOODYEAR JOHNSON, supreme court of the District of Columbia of the Washington bar, is a native of the in June, 1884, and has been actively en- national capital, and was born June 8, 1860. gaged since then in general practice. He
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was admitted to the bar of the supreme | and a brave heart, after twenty years of court of the United States in 1889.
labor he had triumphed in the acquire- In 1891, Mr. Johnson was elected a member of the faculty of the law school of the Columbian university, having charge of the moot court of the post graduate course. In 1892 he was again honored by his alma mater when the chair of "legal catechetics was created as an adjunct to the senior and junior classes, he being elected professor of that course of instructions. ment of wealth, accompanied with the un- blemished reputation for honor and in- tegrity. He was engaged in the business of engraving and printing from 1820 until 1840; and in this capacity was for a long time employed in engraving for the government. The fac-simile of the Dec- laration of American Independence was engraved on copper by Mr. Stone, with his own hand, for the department of state, by order of the then Secretary of WILLIAM JAMES STONE, SR., State John Quincy Adams, July 4, 1823. was born in London on the 25th of April, This fine work of the engraver's art will 1798; during infancy he was left an orphan, and was brought over from Eng- [and to this country by his uncle, in the year 1804. He received a common school education, at Lower Dublin academy, kept by Mr. John W. Chapman near Holmesburg, Penn. He learned the art of line engraving with Peter Maverick, a noted steel engraver in New York city; having as a fellow-pupil Asher B. Durand, the artist, who afterward executed the masterly engravings of Trumbull's " Dec- laration of Independence" and Vander- line's "Ariadne." From that time until recently engravers like James Smillie, Sr., A. H. Ritchie, John Marshall and J. C. Buttre have carried this art to a high de- gree of excellence. Mr. Stone settled in Washington city in 1815, and he resided in the District of Columbia for upward of fifty years, until he died January 17 1865. "Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well," was his favorite motto preserve to future generations of the United States that proud monument of our country's freedom and liberty. On the 22nd of October, 1821, Mr. Stone was married to Elizabeth Jane Lenthall, the daughter of Jane King and John Lenthall, who was one of the first architects of the national capitol building. Mrs. Stone, through her father, was descended from Sir William Lenthall, one of the speakers of the English house of commons. There were four children born to this marriage, three sons and one daughter, Jane Lent- hall Stone. The youngest son, George Blagden Stone, after graduating at Prince- ton college, was attending medical lec- tures at the university of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he died December 23, 1849, in his twentieth year, the daughter having died on the 17th of August preceding, in her twenty-third year. The eldest son, Robert King Stone, was a distinguished physician and sur- and one which he practiced through life. geon, and was the family physician of He was a self-made man, and the success President Lincoln. William J. Stone, Jr., he achieved was due entirely to his own the second son, was a lawyer of eminent exertions. Commencing life's struggles learning, and was one of the leaders of without the aid of wealth or influential the Washington bar. friends, but with hope inspired by energy In 1842 Mr. Stone, having retired from
William J. Store
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business, removed to his country place, " Mt. Pleasant," which he had chosen as his future home. More than fifty years have passed since he planned the old homestead on the oak-crowned terrace, with its massive walls and commanding view of the beautiful Potomac, yet it still remains in a remarkable state of preserva- tion.
In 1847, Mr. Stone made an extended tour in Europe and devoted several months to the study of art, particularly sculpture. He enjoyed the privilege of a friendly acquaintance with Hiram Powers, and received from the eminent sculptor valuable information and instruction. A fine bust of Mr. Stone was beautifully cut in marble by Mr. Powers, and it has been presented by his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth J.
Mr. Stone was the captain of a volun- teer military company, called the Wash- Stone, to the Corcoran art gallery. ington Yagers, organized in the city about the year 1885, as some of the oldest inhabitants of Washington will remember. During his residence in the city he served for several years in the city council from the second ward, and he was also for horse of Arabia. Among the finest works of Mr. Stone are his bust of President John Quincy Adams, the bust of a grandson, the medallion of Mr. George Evelyn Harrison, of Brandon, Va., and the statuette of a spirited blooded Also the beautiful many years a member of the vestry of St. John's Episcopal church. dimpled form of a child half kneeling, her sculptured figure life sized and represent ing the youthful Psyche with hand ex - tended upward striving to grasp the
After removing to the country he de- voted himself to the study of literature, science and fine arts, especially to sculp- butterfly. ture. He had supplied himself with a By reason of failing health, his last work, unhappily for art, he left unfinished; yet it remains a remarkable evidence of his taste in design and his success in execution, his boldness of conception and fidelity to nature. It was to represent the fate of the American Indian - a noble- looking chief, the last of his race, driven to desperation by the ever advancing impatiently standing upon the brink of a rocky precipice overlooking the Pacific - was pausing for a moment, preparatory to taking his last leap headlong into the great beyond. The life sized sculptured form of the horse was complete; his head was finished, with staring eyes, swelling choice library of well selected works, where he was an ardent student; and in the spacious "studio," filled with copies of the finest models of the sculptor's art, he devoted much of his leisure time to modeling in clay, and executing busts, medallions and statuettes in plaster. He loved the fine arts and possessed an ex- quisite purity of taste in detecting that whites, mounted on a magnificent horse, which was beautiful as well as that which was defective. From very love of science he devoted himself to the study of medi- cine and anatomy, as he knew that a knowledge of the latter science was especially necessary in executing designs in sculpture, and attended with profit the courses of lectures on anatomy delivered veins, nostrils extended and ears turned by his distinguished son, Dr. Robert forward; only a few more weeks of study and the use of the carving tools were re- quired. But the sculptor's hand grew weary with the weight of years, and his King Stone, the professor of anatomy, physiology and microscopic anatomy in the National Medical college.
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tools were laid aside forever. He was a nently identified with the establishment, remarkable man - a man of striking and commanding qualities. Physically and mentally he was cast in a very peculiar mold. His physical frame was one of extraordinary power and energy, capable of great endurance and continuous labor. His mind was as active as his body - elastic, self-reliant and eminently fertile in resources. He was alive in every faculty, and it may be truly said he lived two lives in the nearly three score years and ten allotted to him.
ROBERT KING STONE
was born in the city of Washington, D. C., December 11, 1822. He was the son of William J. Stone, Sr., and Elizabeth Jane Lenthall, the daughter of Jane King and John Lenthall, the latter one of the ar- chitects of the national capitol building. who was killed by the falling of one of the arches of the old senate chamber. After the death of Mr. Lenthall, his widow and children, Mary, Elizabeth and John Lenthall (afterwards chief of the bureau of construction United States navy), were kindly taken care of with the affection of a father by their uncle, Rob- ert King. Upon the marriage of Eliza- beth to Mr. Stone, Sr., her uncle presented her with a home, which is now known as No. 1209 Pennsylvania avenue, and which was the birth-place of all of her children. It was in affectionate remembrance of her uncle's kindness and fatherly care of her. that Mrs. Stone gave to her eldest child the name of Robert King Stone.
prosperity and welfare of the national capital. Robert Stone possessed a nat- ural talent for music and drawing; and his native gifts were well cultivated under the direction of his gifted aunt, Miss Mary King Lenthall, who was one of the most accomplished women of her day. He received his elementary education in Georgetown, D. C., at the "Classical and Scientific Academy" of Rev. James Mc- Vean, a Presbyterian clergyman, who was possessed of the rare gift of being able to impart his knowledge to the students com- mitted to his care.
At an early age Robert Stone entered Princeton college, where he was distin- guished for his high moral character, and a proficiency in his studies which ranked him among the brightest scholars of his day. Receiving his degree of A. B. from that time-honored institution in the year 1842, he returned to his native city flushed with his high collegiate honors, and en- tered the office of Dr. Thomas Miller as a student of medicine. Dr. Miller, the preceptor, entertained a high apprecia- tion of the excellent qualities and rare talents of his pupil, whom he regarded as the most prominent of his class, and pe- culiarly suited to his chosen profession. After he had studied medicine with Dr. Miller for a few months, on account of his rare excellence the preceptor selected him as assistant in the dissecting room. Dr. Stone was a close and minute dis- sector and was devoted to anatomical studies, and especially to minute anatomy. After attending a course of lectures in the National Medical college in the city of Washington, he went to the university of Pennsylvania, where he distinguished him-
The ancestors of young Stone were highly appreciated and honored by their fellow-citizens of the District of Colum- bia. They were among the earliest set- tlers of the city, and not only contributed self as a student of rare gifts and supe- greatly to its progress, but were promi- rior scholarly attainments, and in ยท 1845
Robert Ning Stone, MD.
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received his medical diploma. Soon after In this chair he greatly distinguished him- obtaining his degree of M. D., he visited self. His knowledge of human and com- Europe, and walked the hospitals of Lon- parative anatomy gained for him the don, Edinburg, Vienna and Paris, devot- esteem and confidence of the trustees and ing himself to the general science of his faculty, and the applause of his pupils. profession. By the advice of Dr. Miller Upon the resignation of the professor of he paid particular attention to ophthalmic anatomy in the National Medical college, surgery, and availed himself of the ad- he was appointed by the trustees full pro- vantages offered in studying the diseases fessor of anatomy, physiology and micro- of the eye and ear. After completing scopic anatomy; and here in this wider his general studies, he became the private field, if it were possible, he won greater pupil and friend of the celebrated Des distinction that ever in his former posi- Marres, and assisted him in his opera- tions. tions. While in Europe, he did not allow
He was a ready and fluent lecturer, and his attention to ophthalmic surgery and always illustrated his lectures by the most anatomy to interfere with his favorite beautiful diagrams and drawings, made studies of comparative anatomy and oper- ative surgery, in both of which he acquired more than ordinary distinction.
by himself, as he was a most accomplished draughtsman. His lectures were well at- tended and elicited encomiums from not
Upon his return to this country, in 1847, only the students, but from all who listened he settled in Washington and commenced to him. Though by education, talents and general practice, against the earnest advice cultivation, he was admirably well suited of his friends in the profession, who to this position, he gave a decided prefer- deemed him particularly qualified for the ence to ophthalmic and aural surgery. As special practice of ophthalmic and aural soon as this was known to the trustees surgery. He soon became prominent, and faculty, he was appointed to the chair, and few young men ever attained a higher and here he earned laurels which still en- position in so short a time. His fine men- dure in the memories of those who heard tal culture, his extensive experience in his lectures and witnessed his operations.
foreign countries, his close observation,
Devoted in early life to hard study and his accuracy and acumen in diagnosis, his close observation, he was not only an or- skill in operating, his urbanity of manners, nament to the profession of his choice, and his devotion to his profession, all but an authority in science and general tended to place him in the foremost ranks literature, in the investigations of which and gave him the well deserved reputa- he took delight. An anatomist, a physi- tion of a popular and most successful ologist, a pathologist, a hygienist- he was, practitioner. He was referred to by his seniors, and was the adviser of junior and a finished scholar. He was learned members of the profession.
moreover, an artist, a general historian, in the literature of his profession; and,
Soon after his return from Europe he being possessed of a most remarkable was made assistant to the chair of anat- memory, he could call to mind events of omy in the National Medical college, and months and years and refer to cases and in 1848 was appointed adjunct professor incidents long past. He read with pleas- to the chair of anatomy and physiology. ure the poets in the Greek and Latin lan-
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guages, and with the same zest and fluency that he did the French, with which he was as familiar in speaking or writing, as he was with his native tongue. His patients were devoted to him, and by his genial and urbane manners he won their esteem and confidence. He was a most success- ful oculist, and many owe it to his skill that they can now distinguish daylight from darkness.
On the 17th of April, 1849, he was mar- ried to Margaret Fouschee Ritchie, the daughter of Thomas Ritchie of Virginia, the distinguished founder and editor of the Richmond Enquirer. Dr. Stone was the father of three children, two daugh- ters and one son.
From 1861 until 1865 he was the family physician of President Lincoln, enjoying his confidence and friendship, and was present at the death-bed of the martyred president.
Dr. Stone died on the 23d of April, 1872, in his fiftieth year.
WILLIAM JAMES STONE, JR.,
the son of William J. Stone, Sr., was born in Washington, D. C., October 20, 1824. In company with his brother, Robert, he attended the school of Rev. James McVean in Georgetown, D. C., where he was pre- pared for college. He entered the college of New Jersey at Princeton, where he re- mained for two years and graduated with honor in the class of 1843. Upon his return
return to Washington, entered at once upon the practice of his profession.
On the 4th of December, 1849, he was married to Mary Frances Green, the daughter of Mr. Thomas Green, a promi- nent lawyer formerly of Richmond, Va., who had removed to Washington city and resided in the beautiful Van Ness place.
From the commencement of his career he exhibited a remarkable zeal in the pur- suit of his profession, stimulated by pride and an honorable ambition to achieve success by means of untiring devotion to the learning of the law, the most pains- taking and careful preparation of his causes, and an earnest fidelity to the in- terest of his clients. These characteristics gave him the high position which he justly deserved among his brethren of the bar. Love of truth was an actuating motive which accompanied him in all his labors.
With him it was intense and constant. It was this which led him with so much labor to ascertain the facts of his case, to study and make himself sure of the law, and to learn the principle on which it rested. To a natural intellect of great force and vigor Mr. Stone united an indomitable perse- verance and industry, which carried him to the high position which he occupied in the noble profession he adorned.
By faithful study he acquired a profound, thorough knowledge of the law, and he always had that knowledge so entirely at his command as to make him singularly from Princeton, he studied law in the office useful to those who had the fortune to ob- of the distinguished advocate, Walter tain his assistance in their affairs. He Jones, and was admitted to the bar of the was esteemed by all who knew him, and District of Columbia, March 1, 1847, and was admired by his brothers of the pro- to the bar of the supreme court of the fession with an admiration untainted with United States in 1849. After being admit- envy. His accurate knowledge of the dis- ted to the bar, he made an extensive tour trict laws and practice was of assistance ' in Europe, attending the law lectures in time and again to nearly every member Paris during two winters; and, upon his of the bar. There was scarcely one of his
William J. Stone jun-
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professional brethren who was not in the in the fall of which year he was installed habitof going to him for consultation and pastor of the Presbyterian church at advice upon difficult questions. At such Batavia, N. Y., where he remained till times no trouble nor no labor was too great for him to take. His wonderful stores of learning and research, his re-
1851, when he was called to the pastorate of Park Presbyterian church at Syracuse, N. Y., where, declining installation for a markable memory for cases, and nice time, he labored as pastor-elect until appreciation of fundamental principles of early in 1853, when he accepted a call from the First Presbyterian church of Washington, D. C., over which he was in- stalled in April, 1853, and of which he still has charge.
the law, were at such times always cheer- fully placed at the command of his brother lawyers. He was devoted to his profes- sion, and practiced it not for sake of its emoluments or its honors, but from a true appreciation of its spirit and a deep love of its study. He was learned in the law of church corporations; and as a counselor of the church he was regarded by his rector, the late Bishop William Pinkney, as being without a superior in that peculiar department of the law. He was admired and respected by the judges before whom he practiced; and enjoyed the intimate acquaintance and friendship of Chief Justice Taney, who held him in highest esteem for the solidity of his mind and attainments.
Mr. Stone died at Mount Pleasant, the home of his father, August 30, 1866, in the forty-second year of his age, leaving a widow and seven children. He was an eminent and successful lawyer, a good citizen and a true and earnest christian gentleman.
DR. BYRON SUNDERLAND.
In July, 1861, Dr. Sunderland was elected chaplain of the United States sen- ate, which office he resigned in 1864 on account of impaired health, and with the view of taking charge of the American chapel at Paris, France, to which he had been appointed for a term of four years by the board of directors of the American and Foreign Christian union of New York city. He arrived in Paris September 13, 1864, and at once assumed charge of the chapel there, which position he held till December, 1865, when, on the restoration of his health, he resigned it and returned to his pastoral labors in the First Pres- byterian church of Washington, D. C.
On December 8, 1873, he was again chosen chaplain of the United States sen- ate, and held that office till March, 1879. During his long pastorate in Washington he has been connected with the various charitable, beneficent and other institu- tions. He was moderator of the synod
Dr. Byron Sunderland was born Novem- of Pennsylvania in 1867; for a number of ber 22, 1819, in Shoreham, Addison county, years president of the board of directors Vt. He graduated at Middlebury col- of Howard university; a director of the lege in 1838, and received the degree of Washington Lying-in asylum; the oldest doctor of divinity from his alma mater in surviving director of the National Deaf 1855, and, after teaching for some time, Mute college in the District of Columbia; began to study theology at Union Theo- a director of the Foundling hospital; a logical seminary, in the city of New York, charter trustee of the Soldiers and Sail- remaining there from 1841 to May, 1843, ors' Orphans' home. He is chairman of
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the executive committee of the American |fill places of honor and responsibility un- Colonization society and one of the board of visitors to the government asylum for the insane, and beside holds membership in several other important organiza- tions, showing the varied occupations of a long and busy life. He still contin- ues actively in a pastorate in which he has now been engaged for almost forty years, and stands among the foremost preachers of the Presbyterian church. He is an eloquent speaker, a ready ana- lyzer; rigid in his adherence to sound doctrine; self-sacrificing in his labors, and possesses and exhibits a sweetness of character and purity of life that win him the love and esteem of all who know him.
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