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 35
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 35
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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
never at any time, notwithstanding the intervention of other duties, desisting from that pursuit. In 1867 he was em-
MICHAEL IGNATIUS WELLER.
There is not in the city of Washington ployed by the local government of the a more energetic man of business than city of Washington, and compiled and the gentleman whose name stands at the published, in 1868, a digest of the ordi- head of this sketch, or who, as a real
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estate dealer, deserves a more extended Mr. G. R. Repetti, who is still Mr. Wel- mention among the prominent residents of his adopted city.
Mr. Weller was born June 10, 1846, one of a family of thirteen children residing in the west end of London. His parents were in good circumstances, and gave their son an excellent education, supple- mented by travel on the continent until he was nearing his twentieth year, hav- ing received his training from the City of London school; he spent previously three years at the military college of Boulogne, France, and for several years received a tu- tor's instruction at Vienna; then the spirit of independence which has characterized all his latter life asserted itself, and the plan of coming to America, where he might win his own way in life, was soon formed.
ler's partner in real estate transactions of the east section of the city. This house was in active business until 1885, when, both partners having formed large inter- ests in other lines, the establishment was closed out, and a new joint business put under way, the handling of Washington real estate comprising the principal item, although banking matters and topics of general improvement, both in the city and elsewhere, were given due attention. While still engaged in the tobacco trade, Mr. Weller made his first trip to Europe since leaving native European soil, in the interest of the Florida International rail- road company, and so highly was his journey successful that he determined to follow that class of financial affairs en- tirely, with the result that to-day he is considered one of the solid citizens in east Washington, where, with Mrs. Wel- ler, formerly Miss Rita Repetti, and a family of three sons and one daughter, he resides at 408 C street, S. E.
Soon after arriving in New York he engaged in the wholesale tobacco trade with an old-established firm, but the newly fledged business man very soon received an education which has since proved a valuable acquisition. The co- Since 1885, Mr. Weller has devoted the greater part of his business time to the realty trade and matters connected with it in the way of public improvements, which are likely to attract the attention of outsiders to Washington's claims as one of the most enterprising cities of the country. He is a prominent member of the District Mutual and Washington real estate companies, and takes pride in the fact that no wild-cat schemes have ever emanated from those corporations, but only the most substantial and safe invest- ment kind of holdings are handled by them. Mr. Weller is one of the rare class of men, who, starting in at the very lowest round of the ladder, and gaining ample means, believes that money should partnership did not last very long, and Mr. Weller found a more conge- nial as well as a more lucrative occu- pation in commercial traveling, for his original associates in trade were evidently more anxious to carry on business than to look carefully into the methods em- ployed. At this last line of work the now prominent real estate man passed the next five years of his life, mostly in the eastern states, when, in 1872, having become a regular American citizen, he turned his steps toward the nation's cap- ital, and started at 501 Pennsylvania avenue, in the wholesale tobacco trade, with a large cigar manufacturing annex furnishing the pretensions of the firm, which was composed of Mr. Weller and be put into circulation through the me-
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dium of improvements, of whatever sort to feel that the assistance was a matter appear the most advisable and necessary of course. While he thinks the capital the garden spot of the country, east Washington is his particular admiration, and in its success he has unbounded faith. under given circumstances. That he not only preaches but also practices this idea, Mr. Weller illustrates by his membership in the East Washington Citizens' associa- tion, of which he is treasurer, and which MAX WEYL, has done more than anything else, per- haps, to build up and make desirable that portion of Washington east of the capitol. The association never loses an opportu- nity to take advantage of a favorable situ- ation, and in its recent memorial to the district commissioners asking for over $500,000 worth of public improvements in east Washington is an evidence of the aggressive nature of the organization, and that its members are fully alive to the importance of having their properties placed in a better position among the val- uable tracts of the capital.
Although a strict man of business, Mr. Weller has figured in affairs political at times, and at present serves as chairman of the democratic central committee from the twenty-first district, beside being chairman of the executive committee of the Columbia democratic club. He was also state president of the Catholic Knights of America, and has figured prominently in different state conven- tions. As secretary of the well remem- bered committee of one hundred he was among the hustling crowd of that organi- zation until its practical disbandment sev- eral years ago, when the members came to the conclusion that municipal afiairs were not altogether agreeable subjects to handle as an every-day diet, when they could be left with the discretion of the district commissioners. Personally Mr. Weller is a man always ready to lend a willing hand in anything which is never obtrusive, and the object or person made
the famous artist of Washington, D. C., was born in Muhlen-on-the-Neckar, king- dom of Wurtemburg, South Germany, in December, 1840. In 1853 he came to America with his parents, who settled in Clinton county, Penn., and there the young artist remained until December, 1861, when he removed his studio to Washington, as offering a better mart for his creations. In 1862 he turned aside temporarily from his high vocation and engaged in the jewelry business, but in 1877 he returned to his artistic pursuit with a love of which nature had endowed him and his genius had fitted him. Since then he has executed many classical works and many masterpieces in land- scape painting, among them being the following: "Close of Day," sold to the Corcoran art gallery at Washington in 1891; "Salt Marshes," sold to S. W. Woodward, of Boston; "A November Day," sold to the American gallery of New York; "The Environments of Wash- ington," sold to the American gallery of New York; "Springtime," sold to Mr. Douglas for his private gallery in New York; "A Twilight," sold to Thomas E. Waggaman, of Washington city; “A Coast Scene," sold to S. H. Kauffmann, of Washington city, who also bought "A Gray Day" and several other fine pieces, Mr. Kauffmann being one of the first to recognize Mr. Weyl's transcendent genius. The Brazilian minister to the United States also became one of the artist's liberal patrons, and purchased a
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number of his most delightful landscapes, 1858 to 1860; appointed colonel First including "A Springtime," "A Scene on the Potomac," than which river no other stream in America, excepting, perhaps,
Michigan three months' volunteers, May 1, 1861; engaged in the capture of Alexan- dria and Fairfax court house; First Bull the mid-Hudson of New York and the Run, commanding brigade of First and upper Ohio, could afford a scene more gentleman also purchased several scenes Fourth Michigan, Eleventh New York, attractive to the artist's eye. The same fire-zouaves, and Thirty-fourth Pennsyl- vania, July 24, 1861, when he was badly in the Adirondacks, whose picturesque shot on horseback and captured in the grandeur had called into activity the extreme advance, Bull Run. Held as brush of Mr. Weyl, and South America, prisoner of war, in hospital at Richmond, with its noble Amazon and lofty Andes, Charleston, S. C., Castle Pinckney, has now in its possession the artistic Columbia jail, Libby prison and Salis- paintings that display the beauties of the bury prison as hostage for privateers, etc., more modest, but not less grand, scenery from July 21, 1861, to August 19, 1862. of stream and mountain in the United While a prisoner in Charleston he was States. The marriage of Mr. Weyl was happily celebrated in 1862 to Miss Marian Raff, daughter of B. Raff, Esq., of Wash- ington.
GENERAL ORLANDO B. WILLCOX,
put into the condemned cell with the pleasant information that he was to be hanged as soon as the confederate authorities had received a report, which was hourly expected, of the hanging of certain confederate privateers, con- demned as pirates. He was given a pack of cards and a bible and left to amuse himself as he could. After a time he fell asleep and dreamed that he was wander- ing in a grave-yard, where he saw a head- stone bearing this legend: "Orlando B. Willcox, died 1876," but he awoke with the full assurance that he was not to be
colonel of the Twelfth United States infantry, brevet major-general, United States army, and governor of the Soldiers' home at Washington, D. C., was born at Detroit, Mich., April 16, 1823. Following is a compact summary of his life, which has been almost entirely that of a soldier. Graduated from West Point, 1847; applied for immediate orders for Mexico and was hanged, and he was not, for the news appointed second lieutenant Fourth artil- came that the sentence of the confeder- lery; served in Mexico as lieutenant in ates had been remitted. Appointed brigadier-general August 20, 1862, to rank from July 24, 1861; he served with dis-
Lloyd Tilghman's Maryland volunteer battery, also in Lovell's Fourth artillery battery expedition to Cuerna Yaca, Mex- tinction at battles of South Mountain and ico, and with the same battery on the Antietam in command of first division, plains under General Sumner, 1850, 9th corps, and in command of 9th corps against the Arrapahoe Indians; distin- guished at Anthony Burn's riot in Boston, 1854; on sea-coast and lake artillery service to 1856; served in Billy Bowlegs' Florida war, 1856-7; resigned January I, 1858; practiced law at Detroit, Mich., from at first battles of Fredericksburg; marched in command of 9th corps to Kentucky, spring of 1863; commanded successively 9th corps and district of central Ken- tucky, district of Indiana and Michigan (during draft riots and Morgan's raid)
33
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and district of the Clinch in Cumberland |life at Detroit; was reappointed in the mountains in east Tennessee, from April 10, 1863, to April 16, 1864, holding com- munications open between Kentucky and east Tennessee, during siege of Knox- ville; engaged in action at Blue Springs and successfully repulsed separate at- tacks at Walker's Ford and Strawberry Plains; in command of division, Ninth corps to the end of the war. Fought in the battles of the Wilderness, Ny River (sep- arate engagements), Spottsylvania (re- pulsing repeated attacks of enemy on extreme left of army with heavy losses on each side), skirmishes on the Talopotomy, battle of Bethesda Church, attacks on and operations around Petersburg, June 17, 18, and July 30, 1864, to April 26, 1865, viz: three actions on Norfolk and Weldon roads and recapture of Fort Stedman; actions at Gurley House, Pegram Farm and Hatcher's Run, to October 27, 1864; siege of Petersburg and capture of same- Willcox's division being first to break through the lines and receive the sur- render of the city. In command of defenses of Washington, from April to August, 1865, and district of Lynchburg, Va., from October, 1865 to March, 1869, commanding at various times troops from Maryland, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and de- tachments from other states, during the war. Brevetted brigadier-general United States army, for "gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Spottsylvania court-house; major-general United States army for similar services in the capture of Petersburg, and major-general (volun- teers) for same, in the several actions since crossing the Rapidan." H e as The grandfather of General Willcox, was John Willcox, who was a native of mustered out of the volunteer service, January 15, 1866, and returned to civil Connecticut, and entered the Revolution-
regular service July 28, 1866, as colonel of the Twenty-ninth infantry-transferred afterward to Twelfth infantry; appointed brigadier-general in the regular army, October 13, 1866, and assigned to the command of the department of the Missouri. The New York Times, in its issue of October 14, 1866, speaking of the promotion of the general, who was then Colonel O. B. Willcox, says: "There can be no criticism upon the selection of Colonel Willcox. He was the senior - colonel and is an officer of long and dis- tinguished service, as well as a most agreeable and cultivated gentleman. Indeed he in a certain sense represents the artillery, as his first appointment, in 1847, was to the Fourth regular artillery, serving in the Mexican war. He com- manded the district of Lynchburg, Va., from November, 1866, to March, 1869; com- manded a regiment on Pacific coast from April, 1869, to April, 1878-except fifteen months recruiting service as superintend- ent -then served in and commanded the department Arizona to September, 1882, four years and a half, suppressing Indian hostilities of Chimehuevas, Apaches, etc., in Arizona and southern California, operating in New Mexico, on the Mexican frontier, Colorado and Gila rivers, etc., received the thanks of the legislature of Arizona by joint resolution, January 9, 1881. Retired from active service, for age, April 23, 1887; appointed governor of the United States Soldiers' home, Wash- ington, February 27, 1889. Civil record: Author of "Shoepac Recollections." "Faca, an Army Memoir," and various magazine articles on events of the war.
albert, a. Wilson.
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ary army as a boy of nineteen, and served alone in his business has confidence been also in the war of 1812 as a captain of placed in his judgment, activity and militia. There were sixty-four Willcoxes shrewdness. in the war of the Revolution. The emi- grant ancestor of the general was William Willcoxson, who came from London, England, to America, in 1630, settling first at Hartford, Conn., and then at Stratford, Conn., and representing his district in the colonial council.
ALBERT A. WILSON,
one of the most extensive real estate brokers in the District of Columbia, was born in what was then known as the First ward of the city of Washington, April 1, 1840. His first instruction was received at Emerson's institute, he being one of the first pupils to enter that popular insti- tution; he next attended a boarding school at Alexandria, Va., taught by the well remembered instructor, Benjamin Hallowell, and later graduated from Gal- lagher's business college in Baltimore, Md., at the age of twenty years. Being thus well equipped, as far as general edu- cation is concerned, he embarked in re- tail trade, in which he continued ten years, and then entered into his present more lucrative business of real estate dealing, in which traffic he is now in the foremost rank. He has ever been con- scientious in his dealings with his patrons, and has guarded their interests with jeal- ous care, and has never misled those who sought for investment of their capital by misrepresenting the prospective enhance- ment of the value of the property under negotiation, or by exaggeration of the profits to be derived from a future "boom." His methods of doing business have been straightforward, honest, and discreet, and
On December 2, 1885, Mr. Wilson was called to the office of United States mar- shal for the District of Columbia by President Cleveland, and faithfully did he perform its duties throughout that presi- dent's administration. He has been pres- ident of the Firemen's Insurance company for the past fifteen years, vice-president of the Metropolitan Railroad company, vice-president of the National Bank of the Republic, director in the Washington Loan and Trust company, was treasurer of the democratic congressional commit- tee of the District of Columbia during the campaign of 1884, was president of the District of Columbia democratic club for several years, has been appointed a World's fair commissioner by President Harrison, and has been the recipient of many other evidences of the confidence reposed in him by public officials and pri- vate individuals.
The parents of Mr. Wilson were native- born Washingtonians, and his father was a member of the board of aldermen and common council under the old city corpo- ration. Mr. Wilson has lived to see his birthplace grow from a mere village to be the most beautiful city in the world, much of its growth being due to the patriotism, progressiveness and integrity of such men as he.
Mr. Wilson was married, in 1862, to Miss Virginia Entwisle, daughter of Thomas B. Entwisle, of Washington, D. C., and has only one daughter, married to Lieut. George B. Davis, United States army.
HON. BERIAH WILKINS,
. it is by these methods that he has won one of the proprietors of the Washing- and still retains his host of patrons. Not ton Post, was born in Union county, Ohio,
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July 10, 1846. He was educated in the | which he held many public offices, he be- Marysville, Ohio, common schools, and came a man of importance and much con- sideration in his locality. Alfred Frank- lin Wilkins was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., removing with his parents to Ohio. He was educated a civil engineer, finding in this new country ample opportunity for the practice of his chosen profession. He assisted in his early professional career in laying out the Great National road which reaches from Washington and Baltimore, Md., to the Indiana state line, and later had much to do in central Ohio with sur- veying the allotments of land made by the general government to the state of Vir- ginia. He was several times elected sur- veyor for his county and also as county treasurer. after graduating in the high school of that city he engaged in mercantile pur- suits, serving a term of enlistment in the army. In 1868 he organized the Farmers and Merchants bank of Urichsville, Ohio, of which he became the cashier and manager, holding this position for twelve consecutive years. Mr. Wilkins was, in 1879, elected to the Ohio senate, and in 1882 was elected to represent the six- teenth Ohio district in the forty-eighth congress, and was re-elected to the forty- ninth and fiftieth congresses as a demo- crat, and became conspicuous as chairman of the banking and currency committee of that body.
Before the expiration of his third con- gressional term Mr. Wilkins, in conjunc- tion with Mr. Frank Hatton, purchased the Washington Post, the leading morn- ing newspaper in the national capital, which journal, under judicious manage- ment, rapidly took rank with the leading newspapers of the world, and has become a most powerful leader in molding public opinion. Mr. Wilkins is an untiring worker (indeed a newspaper man must be), possessing a perfect knowledge of business principles and the tact to apply them at every opportunity; the successful progress of this great newspaper is due, therefore, in no inconsiderable degree, to his executive and business-like manage- ment of its affairs.
Mr. Wilkins' family is of English extrac- tion and originally spelled the name Wel- ken. His grandfather, Beriah P. Wilkins, for whom the subject of our sketch was named, was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., near Ballston Springs. Emigrat- ing to Ohio early in the present century, of which state he was a pioneer, and in covenanters.
Mr. Wilkins was always regarded as a gentleman of the highest character and undoubted integrity. In 1843, he married Miss Harriet J. Stuart, a daughter of Nathaniel Stuart, also an Ohio pioneer -the result of the marriage being six children, viz: James C., Beriah (the subject of this sketch), Keziah Stuart (wife of Col. A. B. Robinson, of Marysville, Ohio), Charles F., John M. and Joseph S.
Beriah Wilkins was married in October, 1871, to Miss Emily J. Robinson, daughter of James Robinson (deceased) of Ohio. They have two children, John and Robert. Mrs. Wilkins is one of the vice-presidents of the board of lady managers of the World's Columbian exposition, and she and Mrs. Gen. John A, Logan are the managers for the District of Columbia on this board. Mr. Wilkins' father died in 1876, honored and respected by all who knew him. His mother, who is living in Marysville, Ohio, at this writing, descends from a family of stern and sturdy Scotch
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di Philvon,
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JESSE B. WILSON,
before young Jesse was seven years old. He was then apprenticed by his uncle to a coach-maker in Anne Arundel county, near Ellicott's Mills, and by the terms of the apprenticeship, which lasted about seven y irs, was to have one year's school- ing during that time; however, when the time was within six months of coming to an end, the stipulation with regard to education not having been complied with, his uncle took him to his home in Howard county, and gave him two years' educa- tion in the public schools. Early in 1842, learning that a brother of Mr. Washing- ton Adams intended to retire from the grocery business, young Wilson set out on foot for Washington and made applica- tion for the vacancy. He was taken into the employ of Mr. Adams, and, develop- ing an unusual aptitude for business, he was afterward induced to enter the estab- lishment of Messrs. George & Thomas Parker, which occupied two buildings on Market space, fronting on Pennsylvania avenue, between Seventh and Eighth streets. Soon after this promotion he be- came the junior partner in the grocery firm of Morsell & Wilson, and in the fall of 1851, he bought the interest of Mr. Morsell in the business. This business he conducted himself on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets, for nearly twenty years, in- creasing it year by year until 1872,when, on account of failing health, he retired from business for a time; but, upon regaining health, he became engaged to a greater
or less extent in the real estate business, making this, too, a success; he then be-
president of the Lincoln National bank, Washington, D. C., was born in Prince came president of the Mutual Fire in- George's county, Md., in 1824. His father surance company. In December, 1890, he was elected president of the Lincoln National bank. For several years he has was Nathaniel Wilson, who belonged to one of the old and hospitable Maryland families, but both father and mother died been president of the Northern Market company and he has been a member of the board of trade since its organization. Mr. Wilson married Miss Scrivener, daughter of Rev. John Scrivener of Wash- ington, in 1849. They raised a family of twelve children, nine of whom are still living. Since 1870 he has been a member of the Mount Vernon place Methodist Episcopal church. His election to the presidency of the Lincoln National bank is a sufficient indication of the estimation in which he is held by his fellow-men.
HON. SIMON WOLF.
attorney-at-law at Washington, D. C., was born in the village of Hinzweller, in Rhenish Bavaria, October 28, 1836, and is consequently now in his fifty-seventh year. His parents are both still living in the city of Philadelphia, where they cele- brated their golden wedding on the 13th of January, 1886. His early education at school was cut short in his twelfth year. In that memorable year ( 1848) marked by the uprising of the German people in be- half of liberty, as a German youth he emigrated in the company of his grand- parents to America. It was in the great west that Simon Wolf began his first struggles for existence, and it is from the aggressive, liberal and enterprising spirit that prevailed there then that Wolf drew his first inspiration of American life. His beginning was sufficiently humble. In the little town of Urichsville, Ohio, he acted as clerk and cashier in the store of his uncles, Abraham and Elias Wolf, who
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are now two well-known citizens of Phila-[ without tramways or sewerage, without delphia. Subsequently he succeeded shade or pavements. Wolf was a forlorn stranger, without means, but full of ambition. For a few months he was without occupation, but finally joined Captain A. Hart, who had resigned from the army, and formed the law firm of Wolf & Hart, which continued until April, 1869, when Wolf entered upon the discharge of duties as recorder of deeds. For many subsequent years, the import- ant political offices which he held drew him away from the practice of his pro- fession. It was not (with the exception of the comparatively brief interval from 1878 to 1881) until 1882 that he again re- sumed active practice. The firm is now Wolf & Cohen, the latter gentleman be- ing Mr. Wolf's son-in-law. them in business. But Wolf was not cut for a merchant. In the general crash of 1857 he failed in business. With charac- teristic honor and energy he resumed business and paid every one of his credit- ors in full. For two years afterward he continued his career as merchant, and then although married and with a family to support decided upon a momentous change. He would become a lawyer. So he broke loose from his surroundings and entered the law school at Cleveland, Ohio, graduated in the winter of 1860-61, and was admitted to the bar at Mount Ver- non, Ohio, on the day the first battle of Bull Run was fought. He began his law ·practice in New Philadelphia, Ohio, as a member of the law firm of Neely & Wolf,
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