USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 1
USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa, containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa; portraits and biographies of the governors of the territory and state; engravings of prominent citizens in Wayne and Appanoose counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of Wayne and Appanoose counties > Part 1
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL
RECORD
OF
Wayne AND Appanoose Counties, lowa,
CONTAINING PORTRAITS OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM WASHINGTON TO CLEVELAND, WITH ACCOMPANYING BIOGRAPHIES OF EACH ;' A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA; PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE TERRI- TORY AND STATE; ENGRAVINGS OF PROMINENT CITIZENS IN WAYNE AND APPANOOSE COUNTIES, WITH PERSONAL HISTORIES OF MANY OF THE LEADING FAMILIES, AND A CONCISE HISTORY OF WAYNE AND APPANOOSE COUNTIES, AND THEIR CITIES AND VILLAGES.,
RK
INTER-STATE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO. I886. SG
PUBLIC LIBRARY 635856
A EX AND
1.13 L
R
PREFATORY.
PREFATORY
N placing this volume before their patrons, the publishers feel that their work will stand the test of can- did criticism, and that the BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF WAYNE AND APPANOOSE COUNTIES will be received and perused with pleasure by all. This is not merely a local work, but one which in some measure is interesting to every true citizen of the United States. The nation justly is proud of its rulers, and their portraits and biographies will prove of interest in every American home. A State looks with pride over its development and growth from a barren tract to its present position among its sisters, and is interested in know- ing something of the men who have stood at the head of its affairs ; and in like manner the citizens of a county are interested in hearing and reading of those who have labored to make their county and its cities what they are to day. Thus we have en- deavored to meet all these desires and have prepared this volume. It may contain some errors, as perfection is not attainable in this world, but we trust they are so trivial that they will be overshadowed by the many entertaining and instructive
points that are free from error. In some instances we have noticed that members of the same family differ in the spelling of the name, and also in the dates of certain events. In these cases we have tried to "follow copy," not knowing which was correct. Thus it will be seen that if mem- bers of the same family differ, members of a community also will not agree in relating the same circumstance, and the historian is often at a loss to know which statement to record. We have tried to prove all things and to give to our readers those items which are of interest in as reliable a form as possible.
We are glad to be able to give to the citizens of Wayne and Appanoose counties this RECORD, and feel sure that as the years go by it will grow in interest and value, giving the rising generation an account of the lives and adventures of their fore- fathers-the pioneers, who labored to make the homes they now enjoy. Many of these, were it not for works of this kind, would soon be forgotten, and. the part they took in the early days would in many cases be ascribed to others ; but in after years, when the historian i's gathering data, he will examine and cull from this RECORD the items with which to prepare a memorial of the early settlers of Wayne and Appanoose counties.
THE PUBLISHERS,
CHICAGO, July, 1886.
CONTENTS.
LULLLLA
8
PRESIDENTS . OF . THE UNITED . STATES.
George Washington. 9
John Adams .. 14
Thomas Jefferson 20
James Madison.
26
James Monroe
32
John Quincy Adams. 38
Andrew Jackson
47
Martin Van B ren.
William Henry Harrison. 56
John Tvler 60
Jane. K. Pola 64 Patriotism .146
Zachav Tavlor
Millard I'llmore.
State Institutions.
Educational
151
.151
James Buchanan,
Statistical
157
Abraham Lincoln.
S4
Physi al Feature- .158
Geology
15S
Climate 163
Census of Iowa.
164
Territorial Officers
State Officers ..
165
GOVERNORS + OF . IOWA.º
Robert Lucas 171
John Chamber
173
James Clarke.
175
Ansel Briggs
179
Stephen Hempstead
183
James W. Grimes IS7
Ralph P. Lowe 191
Samuel J. Kirk wood
195
William M. Stone. 199
Samuel Merrill. .203
Cyrus C Carpenter 207
Joshua G. Newbold. .211
John HI. Gear. .
.215
Buren R. Sherman.
,219
William Larrabee
223
+
RECORD OF WAYNE COUNTY .;
·BIOGRAPHICAL . SKETCHES ..
A
Adams, W. C .. .411
Alcorn. J. C. 474
Alcorn, j. C. 476
Alexander. Janics 351
Allen, \ E 250
Allen, C S
Allen, J R
Allen, O. G
Allen, P'
Allen. w. ()
....
Allen, Willlam. .303
Alln an, Daniel
Armstrong F HI.
Arnol I, R. R.
335
Au rin, C. IF 234
B
Babbitt, W. C. 370
Banning, C W
. 3GS
Banta, Ira ...
.. 233
Barker, Calvin .. So
Barker, G W
.372
Brown, Jacob.
.352
Barnes, M. O .
254
Brown, Marcellus 335
Barnett, William
479
Bruner, D. M 433
Bryan, A. L. 350
Bullard, John 293
Bullington, J. S. 349
Bullis, W. L. .419
Buoy, NE .. 311
Burk, Joshua. :39
Burland Thomas .324
Burnet, M. C .. 363
Burnet. W. P 368
Burton, E P 2SS
Burton, W. B. 2ST
Byrum, Mrs. L .. I. .405
Bracewell Res. J. .330
Bracewell, John. . . 344
Bracewell, W. E 45:
Breuer, C. H. .434
Brooks, Ezra 332
159
:Bolster, C. W
.354
Bomgardner, P. F
.394
.257
Bracewell, B .450
.391
·Blick, A J.
132
Black, S. K
.437
Blackburn, Thom
Blakely, R. L.
Beal Thomas .. 105
Belvel, E. R. . .312
. Berry, J. L. 163
. Bishop, G. F
· Bott, V. T
C.
C.In, M. G. 372
Caldwell, Jame .
.332
Caldwell, Levi ..
.308
Rutherford B. Hayes. ,10:
James A Garfield.
Chester A. Arthur. .13
Grover Cleveland.
,115
*HISTORY . OF . IOWA F
Aboriginal. 123
Caucasian. 124
Pioneer Life. 133
Louisiana Territory 137
Iowa Territory ..
139
State Organization
and Subse-
quent History .1.41
Iowa Since the War. .151
Frank in Pierce. 70
Andrew Johnson.
93
Ulysses S Grant.
Brooks, J. H .. . 353
53
CONTENTS.
Caldwell, Nicholas.
.350
Calif, J. P .. .451
Campbell, James .407
Cannon, W. B .. .290
Foreman, J. C.
.366
Fox, J. C.
.443
Jamison, John .387
Jared, B. F
.346
Jeffries, J. N .. .244
Jellison, Rev. John.
.285
Jenison, Elias. 329
Jennison, E. 239
Jenkins, S. E.
326
Johnson, J. A .309
Johnson, Loren
325
Johnson, R. O 257
Jones, J. A ... 426
Jones, William
423
Jones, W. J.
479
Jones, W. R.
296
Jordan, L. C. 397
K.
Kelso, Daniel
.249
Kelso, R. F.
.431
Kemple, Lem .425
Kilbourn, Francis.
. 380
Kimple, P. S. .276
King, Samuel .392
King, T. F.
433
Kirby, H. B.
.435
Kirk, David.
.323
L.
Laing, John.
382
Lancaster, J. W
.477
Latimer, B. T. 413
Laughlin, T. M .. .386
Lawson, J. A.
.449
Lawson, William. .466
Leavell, J. M. .282
LeCompte, C. F
328
Lewis, B. B .298
Lewis, John. .267
Lewis, L. W. .438
Lewis, Seth. 373
Liggett, Abraham. 378
Littell, W. M. 259
Logan, W. N. 283
Lohr, P. P.
370
Lord, C. H.
.461
Lusher, H. H. .448
M.
Mardis, Alex
.373
Marick, Jesse.
.354
Markley, John. .422
Martin, J. L. .
.447
Massey, L. D.
. 385
Matkin, J. R 379
465 May, H. G. . .262
McAnely, John. .475
McCallister, J. L .401
McCart, George.
.245
McCoy, Hugh
.475
McCoy, J. N. .470
McCoy, R. Z. .243
McCulloch, Hon. George .. .250
Mccullough, N. G.
273
.453
McGhee, H. C. .315
Hubbard, H W 413 McGuire, Josiah. . 282
Humeston, Alva. .457 McGuire, J F 258
Humeston, D. D.
439
Humeston, M. W
.269
Hutchins, William.
.400
Hutchinson, R. E.
314
J.
Jackson, C.
266
Jackson, William .293
Carlisle, D. W.
238
Carpenter, W. H.
427
Cas-ity, J. R
.349
Cessna, C. W. .396
Chadwick, William 378
Chiles, W. R .385
Clark, A. A. .415
Clark, C. H. .233
Clark, D. M .469
Clark, D. P.
.371
Clark, Williamn.
.374
Clemens, J. W
.294
Clever, M A.
.313
Clothier, L. S. .445
Combs, G. K. .330
Comstock, D. H. .249
Conger, C. A
265
Conklin, Hugh.
.420
Corbett, S. R.
.339
Corbit, A. M. 322
Cox, George.
424
Cox, Samuel. . 281
Cox, S. L ..
Crawford, Andrew.
.359
Crawford, Elijah . .
.472
D.
Darraugh, John
.316
Davis, Charles .381
Davis, I. G.
.422
Davis, Jesse.
.343
Davis, J. M.
.311
Davis, Josiah. .. 312
Davison, J. N .317
De Silva, C. A. 337
Dick, G W .448
Dotts, John
416
Double, Z.
246
Douglass, N. .464
Dowell, Peter .451
Duden, W. H. 286
Duncan, A. R .353
Duncan, G P. .446
Duncan, H. M. . 360
Duncan, J. C ..
.274
Duncan, T. D .364
E.
Earnest, W. H. .379
Edgmand, J. B. .237
Elder, Samuel .406
Elder, Thomas. .398
Elson, N. O.
.462
Evans, Aaron .340
Evans, G. I. . 283
Evans, Hiram .377
Evans, H. L.
.28o
Evans, Jerry .357
Evans, John .411
Evans, J. H.
.346
Evans, J. R. .303
Everett, B. S
. 300
Everett, F. M.
.281
Ewers, Smith ..
.343
Ewing, Samuel. .400
F.
Fenley, John. . 307
Ferrel, Edward. . 268
Ferrel, Henry.
.386
G.
Garnes, J. R.
.255
Garnes, R. C. . 254
Garratt James. . 344
Garton, A D. .262
Garton, G. W .. 321
Garton, H. B. .286
Gibbens, Powell. 388
Glendenning, Hon. E
431
Glendenning, H. C. 358
Goodell. H. E 325
Goodell, L. H. 445
Goodhart, J. A. 402
Green, J. W .... .. 326
.279
Greenlee, Sylvester.
331
Guinn, R. È
48I
Gwinn, J. M. .339
H.
Halfhill, Luke
289
Hall, James. 436
Hall. James ..
304
Hampshear, Henry
480
Hancock, Thomas.
399
Harbert, G. W 471
Harlan, J. S .. . 367
Harnden, J. L. B. .345
Harper, Barton .478
Hart, E. L.
.316
Hart, K. M. .342
Hart, N. A. .295
Hartshorn, William 259
Hartsough, Walter. 269
Hasbrouck, J. D. . 240
Hatfield, J. H.
.397
Hauks, Isaac. .
.428
Havner, D. H. 284
Havner, G. J. 342
Hayes, John,
414
Hayes, Joseph
.457
Hayes, J. O .385
Helt, G. W. . 367
Helton, A. M. .408
Hemenway, F. M 414
Henderson, W. H.
Henry, W. L
352
Herbert, H. J
473
Herbert, John 460
Hibbs, S. A ..
395
Hickenson, J. A 460
Hickman, Byard. 384
Hickman, S. N
472
Higley, E. R.
.318
Hill, J. A. 435
Howell, W. F. .373
McIntosh, W. E.
424
McKee, Allen.
.396
Mckinley, J. R
.421
Frame, J. W. 428
Frame, William .4.38
Frame, W. G. .499
Freeland, J. W .308
Fry, F. R. .235
Fry, Samuel. 255
Fuller, L. C. 421
Ferrel, John. .328
Ferrel, Joseph .397
Fisk, Daniel.
270
McCully, A. Y
CONTENTS.
Mckinley, Willoughby 231
MeVes, Henry 3 7
McVey, Jacob. .290
Michael, G. . \ .258
Roderick, E. 337
Rogers, H S .357
Miles, Lewis. :80
Miles, William 245
Miller, J. G
436
Mitien, Jesse
Momcih. Robert 170
Moore, Corl 433
Moore, D. C. . .. 151
Moore Josephus
351
Modre, S H 279
Moore, W 1. 395
Morford, H. T. .363
Morgan, Dani 1 341
Morgan, W. . 1 355
Morrent, J. S . 365
Morrett, Jaich .271
Morrison, K. P'
.427
Morrison, W P .410
Muss. W. F .. :60
Neill. Dyas 297
Newcomb, S. P 296
Nides, Cornelius 352
Noble, C. R .267
()
Ockerman, D. R ..
.479
Ockerman, David.
39-
P
Pallady, John .476
Parks, J. B .357
Perkins, T. M. .440
P'eren. Olof. 477
Petty, William
2:5
Phillipe. J J .405
Phillips. P. M
Plerce, W. F. .215
Porter, D. B 300
Porter, Samuel. .313
Poston, R. C
.369
Potter. John. . 434
Prav. JH1 .380
Prav, W. M. .315
Price. David. 235
Prince, W. 1
. 360
Protzinan, I. F
.334
R.
Rankin | R . 310
Ratcliff M G 302
Ratellife, 1'. J .420
R. E. A .329
Reml John.
26
Red. ] M
406
Remington J
1.
355
Rew, M. D) 275
Rew. M W.
3-45
Reyno le, Thomas 3.30
Richardson, G G . 304
Richardson, J J. 463
Richardson, ThomJA 272
Richardson, W. O
410
Richman, M. H 314
Rifc. Peter. 285
Riggle, J T 301
Riley, VT
Rissler, Geor 399
Ritchie, J. H
261
Robinson, P. L .444
Rockhold, A. L. .302
.11
Wade, William. 247
Walden. T. P. .298
Walker, D. C .. 256
Walker, Joseph. 462
Walker, Sanders 35S
Wallace, W. C. 327
Ward, William 393
Warren. . \ W. 447
Wasson, J. D. 271
Wasson, W. B 3S
Weeks, Aaron 3.56
Welch, T. W. .303
294
Whitmore, Samuel. 474
Whittaker. J. S. 482
Williams, Charles.
45S
Williams, J. S. 379
Wilson, J. H. 410
Wischart, G. W. .393
Woods, Jeremiah 335
Wooden, Amon. 273
Woodmansce, G. W. 315
Wright, Aaron .. 450
Wright, C. R .. 370
Wright, Hon. G. 236
Wright, G. T .433
Wright, John .. .360
Wright, Mrs. M. J .3SS
Wright, Ilon. Samuel. .449
W'ymer, John ..
394
Y.
Young, Merritt ..
GENERAL · HISTORY
Introductory 4S5
Early History 4So
Political. .496
Official Register 505
The Civil War. 50S
The Press .523
The Bar
526
The Medical Profession. .529
Miscellaneous
Corydon 535
Allerton. .542
Seymour
547
Humeston
551
Lineville
5.5.5
Other Villages. 559
PORTRAITS.
Arnold, R R ..
3.34
Beal, Thomas. tot
Bishop, G. P. 390
Bullard, John
Cassity, J. R.
344S
Clark, DM
Evans, Hiram 376
Garton, A. D
Garton, G. W 320
Glendenning, Hon. E. 430
Hasbrouck, J. D.
241
Humeston, Alva.
.456
McCulloch, Hon George. 251
Mckinley. Willoughby 230
McVey, Henry .300
Moore, S. 11.
Morford, H T.
362
Standifird, A ...
533
Surbangh, J. Il.
.317
Swain, Richard .323
T.
Tabler, J. W.
.47-
Taylor, James, .364
Tedford, W. H .300
Terry, C. W.
.386
Thomas, A. C.
310
Thomas, D. MI
Thomas, J. L.
.256
Thomas, Jonathan
.336
Thompson. W. M
.414
Thorn, E. W.
Trogdon, Nathan 253
Tulles, Davki.
.372
Tuttle, Noah
.452
Fox, J C.
U.
U'lerich, John
232
Underhill, Jackson
V.
Van Benthusen, S. 235
Vance. Robert. 473
Van Der Veer, B. W 335
Vaughn. Stephen.
454
Vest, S. L.
.401
Vestle, Jacob
461
. 354
Sires, George .327
Slack, W. R. .402
Smith, G. W.
.336
Smith, L. L. 416
Snider, S. A.
412
Snyder, Charles
253
Sollenbarger, David.
460
Sonder, J. A .415
Standifird, A
Stech, G. A
Stech, John 261
Stech, P. L 470
Steele, C. W .295
Steele, E. P .439
Steele, J. H 297
Sullivan, J. M. .433
205
Shock. Alexander
.340
Showalter, N. 11 .. .359
Shriver, Adamson 237
Shriver, Elli-
Shriver, William
.351
Scott, Q. .. 413
Scott, W. F 478
Sharp, A. W 425
Sherritt, R. W
Shirley, D. D.
S
Sager, Abraham. 365
Sager, S S 3,56
West, Humphrey
270
Sanford, Heck 245 White, W. L .366
Sayre, C. L. 2So
Sayre, George .200
Savie, J. W .471
Scott, B 1.
Rogers, Kendall. 440
Ross, James
Ruf. Anton 246
Rush, George 247
Rush, John. 466
.371
Rockhold, Charles .374
Rockhold, Talbot. 257
.442
263
366
Whitely, J. E.
CONTENTS.
RECORD OF
APPANOOSE COUNTY .=
BIOGRAPHICAL *SKETCHES.k
A.
Andrews, J. O
.616
Arvalt, John ..
.597
Ashby, E. G.
.628
B.
Barrows, J. C. .
.619
Bevington, J. C.
635
Blachley, H. W.
637
Bradley, D. C.
.624
Broshar, Edward.
.630
Brown, Samuel.
637
C.
Callen, A. D.
624
Callen, P. L
622
Campbell, D. C. 589
Clark, William. .587
Clemmens, Levi.
632
Cochran, Harvey
.638
Cole, S. S .. .
611
Cozad, Rev. Elijah. .651
Croft, C. M.
629
Croft, John.
.621
Cummins, Ephraim
587
D.
Daily, John
.582
Day, Jesse ..
.601
Dodd, R. W.
.572
Duffield, G. W
.613
Duffield, O. J
618
Duvall, John.
619
E.
Eells, A. H
.647
Eelis, Franklin. .627
Elgin, A. M .
633
Evans, R. McC.
651
Evans, W. F.
.648
Evans, William
.642
F.
Fee, T. M.
.645
Ferren, M. A.
.596
G.
Gallaher, George ..
631
Gay, W. S .. .617
Gedney, J. B.
.654
Goss, Henry.
617
Goss, Joseph.
.593
H.
Hamilton, James
620
Hamilton, J S.
646
Hardman, D. W
.596
Harvey, S. L.
.573
Hayes, A. A.
.591
Hayes, S. A. 612
Haynes, E. C .. .636
Henderson, Robert
.650
Henry, G. A ..
.633
Henry, L. McD
.634
Hiatt, Lewis.
.647
Hoffman, Hague.
.597
Houser, S. G ..
.574
Howell, C. F.
.580
Howell, C. H.
.604
Hudson, John.
.605
J.
Jennings, Samuel.
.583
Johnson, W. S.
.575
Jones, N. M.
628
K.
Kerr, Cyrus.
.649
Knapp, Jacob.
.613
L.
Lain, J L
. 589
Lane, C. W
.621
Lankford, John. .590
Lantz, Jonathan.
.642
Loughridge, J. M.
.581
Luse, Aaron ..
.630
M.
Maher, James
.649
Main, Lewis.
590
Mann, J. J . . .
.635
Maring, J. B.
.603
Martin, W. J.
.593
May, J. N ..
. 584
McCreary, W. M
.583
Merritt, James
.571
Merritt, Moses
.572
Miller, Joshua.
.595
Miller, R. H.
599
Moore, R. M ..
.573
Moore, S. M.
639
Murdy, W. F. S.
588
N.
Needles, G. W
.605
P.
Pence, Daniel .
.614
Pendergast, Addison. .617
Peugh, David.
.623
Porter, G. D.
.655
Powell, W. D
.609
Pratt, J. J ..
.612
R.
Ransom, Elisha
.600
Reich, F. A.
.603
Richard, August
650
Rinard, S. K.
.655
Rummel, Jacob
591
Russell, H. A
.537
S.
Sawyers, J. L.
598
Sears, P. W
.631
Scott, N. M
.640
Sidles, Peter
.582
Smith, J. P.
.595
Spooner, C. F.
.. 592
Spooner, D. A.
.602
Stauber, Joseph .614
Stevens, G. L.
653
Stewart, Samuel
646
Stone, J. M.
618
Stratton, E. T.
604
Strickler, G. W
.629
Swan, J. N. .
615
Swearngen, W. T
648
T.
Tannehill, Harvey
571
Taylor, G. W.
602
Taylor, L. L. 620
Teator, C. C ..
.639
Thompson, A. F.
594
Thompson, W. R
600
Turner, T. J.
.638
Turner, W. D
653
U.
Ullem, John
656
V.
Vrooman, C. E.
.598
W.
Walden, M. M
.610
Wales, T. L.
.641
Wells, Benjamin.
.619
White, John.
609
White, J. W.
.615
Williams, J. W.
.622
Wilson, James.
.634
Wilson, Thomas
.632
Wilson, T. O.
629
Wooden, J. R.
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Wright, J. R.
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Young, W. H.
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1
PRESIDENTS
OF THE
UNITED S
TATES.
THEIL. TORR PUBLIG LICHARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
9
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
GEORGE
ASHINGTON.
EORGE WASHING- TON, the " Father of his Country" and its first President, 1789- '97, was born Febru- ary 22, 1732, in Wash- ington Parish, West- moreland County, Virginia. His father, Augustine Wash- ington, first married Jane But- ler, who bore him four chil- dren, and March 6, 1730, he married Mary Ball. Of six children by his second mar- riage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John, Au- gustine, Charles and Mildred, of whom the youngest died in infancy. Little is known of the early years of Washington, beyond the fact that the house in which he was born was burned during his early child- hood, and that his father thereupon moved to another farm, inherited from his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford County, on the north bank of the Rappahannock, where he acted as agent of the Principio Iron Works in the immediate vicinity, and died there in 1743.
From earliest childhood George devel- oped a noble character. He had a vigorous constitution, a fine form, and great bodily strength. His education was somewhat de-
| fective, being confined to the elementary branches taught him by his mother and at a neighboring school. He developed, how- ever, a fondness for mathematics, and en- joyed in that branch the instructions of a private teacher. On leaving school he re- sided for some time at Mount Vernon with his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as his guardian, and who had married a daugh- ter of his neighbor at Belvoir on the Poto- mac, the wealthy William Fairfax, for some time president of the executive council of the colony. Both Fairfax and his son-in-law, Lawrence Washington, had served with dis- tinction in 1740 as officers of an American battalion at the siege of Carthagena, and were friends and correspondents of. Admiral Vernon, for whom the latter's residence on the Potomac has been named. George's inclinations were for a similar career, and a midshipman's warrant was procured for him, probably through the influence of the Admiral; but through the opposition of his mother the project was abandoned. The family connection with the Fairfaxes, how- ever, opened another career for the young man, who, at the age of sixteen, was ap- pointed surveyor to the immense estates of the eccentric Lord Fairfax, who was then on a visit at Belvoir, and who shortly after- ward established his baronial residence at Greenway Court, in the Shenandoah Valley.
10
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Three years were passed by young Wash- ington in a rough frontier life, gaining ex- perience which afterward proved very es- sential to him.
In 1751, when the Virginia militia were put under training with a view to active service against France, Washington, though only nineteen years of age, was appointed Adjutant with the rank of Major. In Sep- tember of that year the failing health of Lawrence Washington rendered it neces- sary for him to seek a warmer climate, and George accompanied him in a voyage to Barbadoes. They returned early in 1752, and Lawrence shortly afterward died, leav- ing his large property to an infant daughter. In his will George was named one of the executors and as eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece soon succeeded to that estate.
On the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie as Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia in 1752 the militia was reorganized, and the prov- ince divided into four districts. Washing- ton was commissioned by Dinwiddie Adju- tant-General of the Northern District in 1753, and in November of that year a most important as well as hazardous mission was assigned him. This was to proceed to the Canadian posts recently established on French Creek, near Lake Erie, to demand in the name of the King of England the withdrawal of the French from a territory claimed by Virginia. This enterprise had been declined by more than one officer, since it involved a journey through an ex- tensive and almost unexplored wilderness in the occupancy of savage Indian tribes, either hostile to the English, or of doubtful attachment. Major Washington, however, accepted the commission with alacrity ; and, accompanied by Captain Gist, he reached Fort Le Bœuf on French Creek, delivered his dispatches and received reply, which, of course, was a polite refusal to surrender the posts. This reply was of such a character
as to induce the Assembly of Virginia to authorize the executive to raise a regiment of 300 men for the purpose of maintaining the asserted rights of the British crown over the territory claimed. As Washing- ton declined to be a candidate for that post, the command of this regiment was given to Colonel Joshua Fry, and Major Washing- ton, at his own request, was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. On the march to Ohio, news was received that a party previously sent to build a fort at the confluence of the Monongahela with the Ohio had been driven back by a considerable French force, which had completed the work there be- gun, and named it Fort Duquesne, in honor of the Marquis Duquesne, then Governor of Canada. This was the beginning of the great "French and Indian war," which con- tinued seven years. On the death of Colonel Fry, Washington succeeded to the com- mand of the regiment, and so well did he fulfill his trust that the Virginia Assembly commissioned him as Commander-in-Chief of all the forces raised in the colony.
A cessation of all Indian hostility on the frontier having followed the expulsion of the French from the Ohio, the object of Washington was accomplished and he re- signed his commission as Commander-in- Chief of the Virginia forces. He then pro- ceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in the General Assembly, of which he had been elected a member.
January 17, 1759, Washington married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, a young and beautiful widow of great wealth, and de- voted himself for the ensuing fifteen years to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- rupted only by his annual attendance in winter upon the Colonial Legislature at Williamsburg, until summoned by his country to enter upon that other arena in which his fame was to become world wide.
It is unnecessary here to trace the details of the struggle upon the question of local
II
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
self-government, which, after ten years, cul- minated by act of Parliament of the port of Boston. It was at the instance of Virginia that a congress of all the colonies was called to meet at Philadelphia September 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties-if possible by peaceful means. To this Congress Colonel Washington was sent as a dele- gate. On dissolving in October, it recom- mended the colonies to send deputies to another Congress the following spring. In the meantime several of the colonies felt impelled to raise local forces to repel in- sults and aggressions on the part of British troops, so that on the assembling of the next Congress, May 10, 1775, the war prepara- tions of the mother country were unmis- takable. The battles of Concord and Lex- ington had been fought. Among the earliest acts, therefore, of the Congress was the selection of a commander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This office was unani- mously conferred upon Washington, still a member of the Congress. He accepted it on June 19, but on the express condition he should receive no salary.
He immediately repaired to the vicinity of Boston, against which point the British ministry had concentrated their forces. As early as April General Gage had 3,000 troops in and around this proscribed city. During the fall and winter the British policy clearly indicated a purpose to divide pub- lic sentiment and to build up a British party in the colonies. Those who sided with the ministry were stigmatized by the patriots as " Tories," while the patriots took to them- selves the name of " Whigs."
As early as 1776 the leading men had come to the conclusion that there was no hope except in separation and indepen- dence. In May of that year Washington wrote from the head of the army in New York: " A reconciliation with Great Brit- ain is impossible. When I took command of the army, I abhorred the idea
of independence ; but I am now fully satis- fied that nothing else will save us."
It is not the object of this sketch to trace the military acts of the patriot hero, to whose hands the fortunes and liberties of the United States were confided during the seven years' bloody struggle that ensued until the treaty of 1783, in which England acknowledged the independence of each of the thirteen States, and negotiated with them, jointly, as separate sovereignties. The merits of Washington as a military chief- tain have been considerably discussed, espe- cially by writers in his own country. Dur- ing the war he was most bitterly assailed for incompetency, and great efforts were made to displace him ; but he never for a moment lost the confidence of either the Congress or the people. December 4, 1783, the great commander took leave of his offi- cers in most affectionate and patriotic terms, and went to Annapolis, Maryland, where the Congress of the States was in session, and to that body, when peace and order prevailed everywhere, resigned his com- mission and retired to Mount Vernon.
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