Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 1

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 502


USA > Iowa > Adams County > Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 1
USA > Iowa > Montgomery County > Biographical history of Montgomery and Adams counties, Iowa : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States, with accompanying biographies of each ; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state, engravings of prominent citizens of the counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


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


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Gc 977.701 M76b 1252533


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GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01081 4629


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018


https://archive.org/details/biographicalhist00unse 2


BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY


OF


Montgomery and Adam


Counties, Iowa


Containing Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States, with accompanying Biographies of each ; a Condensed History of Iowa, with Portraits and Biographies of the Governors of the State; Engravings of Prominent Citizens of the Counties, with Personal Histories of many of the Early Settlers and Leading. Families.


" Biography is the only true history."- Emerson.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY, 1892.


1252533


INTENTS


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 Buren .


52


Louisiana Territory 137


Iowa Territory 139


State Organization and Subse- quent History .


141


Zachary Taylor.


68


Patriotism .. 146


William M. Stone.


199


Samuel Merrill 203


Cyrus C. Carpenter 207


Joshua G. Newbold. .211


Jolın H. Gear .. 215


Buren R. Sherman .219


William Larrabee


223


Horace Boies. 225


HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY AND ADAMS COUNTIES.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


A


Ballantyne, J. I) .386


Barker, C. S 282


Boller, J. J. 369


Alexander, J. W.


401


Amdor, E. R 394


Amdor, F. P. .372


Anderson, M. F. 402


Beeson, R. W.


.240


Brittan, L. A. 349


Anthony, G. W. ,374


Arnold, J R


.446


Avrill, G. A


238


Bevins, P.H


.267


Brown, B. L. . 367


Beymer, A. M


399


Brown, James M.


338


Bishop. Albert


.318


Brown, John 289


Ball, F. N.


448


Bixler, Jackson 433


Brownlee, W. C. 250


Bixler, R. A .251


Bryant, C. H .. 457


Ballantyne, Andrew


444


Bixler, Wm


326


Census of Iowa. 164


Territorial Officers. 164


State Officers


165


GOVERNORS OF IOWA.


Robert Lucas 171


John Chambers. 173


James Clarke 175


Ansel Briggs


179


Stephen Hempstead.


183


James W. Grimes. 187


Ralph P. Lowe 191


Samuel J. Kirkwood. 195


Iowa Since the War. 151


State Institutions


151


James Buchanan


80


Abraham Lincoln. 84


Andrew Johnson 93


Ulysses S. Grant. 96


Rutherford B. Hayes 102


James A. Garfield. 109


Chester A. Arthur. 113


Grover Cleveland 117


Benjamin Harrison


120


HISTORY OF IOWA.


Aboriginal. 123


Caucasian 124


Pioneer Life .. . .133


William Henry Harrison 56


John Tyler.


60


James K. Polk 64


Millard Fillmore ..


72


Franklin Pierce 76


Educational 154


Statistical.


157


Physical Features 158


Geology. 158


Climate. 163


Boise, J. S.,. .389


Barker, George. 432


Bonnett, B. L.


237


Barnett, Jolin


.315


Booker, Samuel. 366


Barry, James


260


Booth, A. E. 319


Bayliss, Jacob. 442


Belding, J. M . 373


Brokaw, Isaac. 277


Benninghoff, David .283


Bronner, Claude. .380


B


Bainter, C. W 269


Bivens, J. J.


303


Brown, S. G. 307


Ball, H . J 454


Bullock, H. D.


316


Bowling, Mrs. Emma 305


Abbey, William L .444


Leider - 60.02


iv


CONTENTS.


Bullock, L. L. . 293


Bullock, Marshall 294


Burkett, J. W. 455


Fisher, Joseph 282


Flowers, D. M. . 364


Focht, Wm 363


Fosmire, E. R. 398


Frederick, J. M. 401


Fudge, Wm. 392


Fuller, C. M. 341


G


Gadd, Philip. 421


Garrett, Jas. 263


Gerard, J. B. 266


Gladson, J. M. 990


Gourley, John .350


Granger, H. T 374


Grant, Geo. W .. 448


Gray, W. I .. .324


Greenlee, F. P. .325


Griffith, Thos. .241


H


Hall, T. J. 345


Hamilton, Jas. J.


.418


Hamilton, J. I 233


Harden, Thos. 398


Harlow, C. W .. .288


Hart, J. D. .352


Hebard, A. .443


Hedinger, Fred .. .334


Darrah, Matthew .375


David, J. A .440


Davis, F. M .. .229


Davis, J. B.


248


Davis, J. H. .387


Day, J. W. .397


Day, Samuel S .. 232


Densenberry, D. B 431


Devore, R. J. 404


Dewey, C. B. 403


Divine, Robert .. .414


Donnelly, Dennis 231


Dougherty, T. S. H. 240


Downing, Albert. .399


Doye, Peter. 410


Dunlap, J. R. .302


E


East End Livery, Feed and Sale Stables .. . 416


Egan, Patrick 396


Egleston, B. H. 435


Ellenwood, Wm. H. .460


Ellis, J. L. 281


Ellis, W. W 242


Elmendorf, C. H. 270


Eno, Harvey . 432


Ensign, W. H. .435


Essley, O. P. .372


Evans, D. E. .354


F


Farris, Gideon. 446


Jewett, Mrs. Nancy E


449


Johnson, John. 392


Johnston, S. G 408


Jones, A. D. 400


Jones, B. L. .458


Jones, Daniel. 272


Jones, J. W.


430


K


Kane, John J. 341


Kane, R. C ... 306


Kennedy, Ed. 328


Kennedy, M. M. 408


Kennon, Frederick .383


Kent, Hiram. 416


Kindred, Geo. W. .301


Kindred, J. H .. 300


King, N. M .. 438


Kirkpatrick, H. L 369


Kraut, Adam


457


Kretchmer, E. .286


L


Lamboley, Harry .295


Landers, John H .. 453


LaRue, F .379


LaRue, H. H ... 376


Latimer, Josiah P 456


Lawrence, C. D. .309


Leach, Matt. 244


Leigh, G. W. 426


Lewellen, M. S. 244


Liegerot, Chas.


.278


Lindsay, M. 416


Linn, A. J. 339


Lovejoy, J. A. 382


Lovig, Ole T 396


Lutz, J. F. 379


Lyon, C. W 358


M


Madison, Chas. 360


Madison, Jesse. 424


Mahr, Philip 368


Martin, J. S. 389


Mason, J. A. 285


Mauderly, Xavior. 348


Maxedon, Joseph W. 331


McCall, J. S.


425


McClelland, P. D.


409


McCune, J. H. 265


McFee, J. T .. 316


McGinnis, J. A. 305


McGinnis, S. J .. 257


McIlravy, David 428


McIntyre, W. A. .292


McKean, Adam 296


Means, J. S ... 289


Means, Isaac O. 288


Mercer, James T. 293


Mercer, John. 311


Miller, M. W.


332


Miller, S. P.


.301


Miller, W. R. 252


Mitchell, J. S. 274


Mitchell, W. O 445


Moore, Benjamin 413


Morley, B. F.


254


C


Campbell, Thomas .291


Carl, Joseph. 461


Carothers, Charles. 261


Casey, Jolın. . . 410


Cashman, W. M 412


Chaffee, A. H


271


Chapman, Loyd


314


Church, R. A


245


Clark, I. P


.371


Clark, Justus


Clark, Wm. 415


Clarke, Frank A. 406


Clelland, Thomas


.450


Coleman, J. T


.246


Collman, A. F 322


Conrad, Samuel. 250


Cooper, George. .290


Cowles, J. E. .284


Cramer, C. W 308


Creighton, R. M. .428


Cresswell, F. H. 275


Culver, D. R 279


Curtis, I. P 277


D


Dale, H. F .319


Heller, J. B. .355


Henry, John. 327


Hewett, J. W .249


Hill, Peter .. .317


Hillweg, C. A 269


Holbrook, J. R. .357


Hollenbeck, A. H. 330


Homan, Edmund. 342


Homan, Isaac I. 311


Homan, J. N. 354


Homan, Wesley 276


Horn, S. J. 441


Ilouck, John. 260


Houck, John W


287


Houck, Joseph.


264


Howie, J. B. 423


Hoxie, W. H.


267


Humbert, John 361


Humbert, John F 417


Humbert, L. II. .452


Humbert, P. P. 360


Hummel, P. B. 236


Hurdle, F. M. 304


I


Iden, G. W .966


Ivey, B. F. .235


J


Jackson, Geo. L .. 330


Feazell, Jordan.


.334


Fickel, T. S. 231


Fife, Jas. T. .437


Butler, A. S. 411


Buxton, Robert .307


Bycroft, Ed. 420


877


CONTENTS.


Moser, Fred. .371


Munns, Jas., Jr 254


N


Narigan, Joseph .356


Neill, J. L .. 459


Nickols, A. W. .380


Noble, T. J. . 302


Norton, C. C. .370


0


Odell, Noah N 407


Olive, Israel. 320


O'Neil, Hugh .359


Osborn, David .. 296


P


Palmer, Abel. .321


Palmer, H. Il .. .280


Parcher, D. M. .375


Parrish, J. E. .352


Park, W. T.


.386


Parker, W. L.


.313


Parmer. B. F.


.230


Pease, O. A. .309


Penn, Mrs. Hannah. .451


Peregrine, Jos. . .297


Perkins, Milton .334


Perks, H. J 439


Peterson, Henry. .362


Piatt, Allen .429


Pickett, Chas.


422


Polson, Irvin


.264


Probasco, Jos .271


Proctor, J. 402


R


Ramsay, J. N. .337


Readhead, R. F. 403


Red Oak National Bank. 377


Red Oak Sanitarium .. 259


Reed, J. H., Jr ... .262


Reichardt, E. M. 419


Reid, T. C. .320


Reily, Martin. . 454


Richards, Chas. E .. 442


Richards, Fred .. .393


Richards, R. E. 346


Richey, L. V. .323


Ridgeway, G. H. 331


Ritnour, Geo. W 353


W


Walford, Chas .348


Walker, Jas .384


Walter, Fred. 421


Walthall, Robt. .261


Waters, T. T.


.390


Weber, J. P 340


Weed, J. W. 383


Weidman, Thos .436


Whipple, C. F .447


Whitaker, O. E .3<5


White, Hamilton. 259


White, Jas. 419


White, S. W 248


Widener, Z. T. 401


Widner, F. M. 272


Williams, G. G .383


Williamson, Jas. M 447


Williamson, Wm. A. 452


Willits, L. P. 258


Wilmarth, E. B 420


Wilson, Hosea. 237


Winne, C W 400


Wood, H. M. 256


Wood, Joseph ..


.387


Woodward, J. N


273


Wycoff, R. R 395


I


Young, H. R.


.329


Young. Josiah .368


Z


Zimmerman, W. E.


.....


.328


ILLUSTRATIONS.


Davis, F. MI. 229


Fife, James T .. .437


Greenlee. F. P. .325


Holbrook, J. R. .357


Holbrook, Mary A 357


Mercer, J. T. 293


Mitchell, W. O. 445


Shaw, Sarah B. 405


Shaw, W. D ..


405


Walthall, Robert. 261


Roberts, W. W .. 343


Robeson, Calvin .365


Robeson, Frank. .365


Rogers, Robert .. .255


Rowland, John A, .339


Rudisil, John, Jr. .426


Russell, Jas. M . 298


S


Salts, A. J . .247


Schafroth, Edward. .318


Schafroth, Fred .. 412


Scholz, E. A. 268


Scholz, R. T. 455


Schooling, R H


279


Schrader, F. W. 417


Schroeder, F. T. 862


Scott, D. C. 427


Scott, W. M. 312


Scranton, F. H 268


Seley. W. B. 423


Shafer, Wm. T. .271


Shaw, A. B .380


Shaw, W. D .405


Shewman, Andrew 322


Simpson, S. G.


Smith, John


443


Smith, Jerome 274


Snyder, Sylvester. 312


Stanley, L. M. 239


St. Clair, B. A 450


Stipe, Wm. 335


Stover, Jacob. 333


Strait, Jacob. 358


T


Thomas, Wm 414


Thompson, F. M. .344


Timmerman, John 235


Tindall, Wm. 441


Titus, B. E 394


Toohey, Patrick. 434


Towner, H. M 388


Townsley, Robt. 391


Trushel, Wm. .346


Tully, Geo ..


.310


Twining, J. L. .384


V


Van Houten, David.


284


406


Smart, Samuel.


.335


.


Flashingtern r


9


GEORGE WASHINGTON.


ORGE WASHINGTON.


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


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 con- mission and retired to Mount Vernon.


It was in 1788 that Washington was called to the chief magistracy of the nation. He received every electoral vote cast in all the colleges of the States voting for the office of President. The 4th of March, 1789, was the time appointed for the Government of the United States to begin its operations, but several weeks elapsed before quorums of both the newly constituted houses of the Congress were assembled. The city of New York was the place where the Congress then met. April 16 Washington left his home to enter upon the discharge of his new duties. He set out with a purpose of traveling privately, and without attracting any public attention ; but this was impossi- ble. Everywhere on his way he was met with thronging crowds, eager to see the man whom they regarded as the chief de- fender of their liberties, and everywhere


12


PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.


he was hailed with those public manifesta- tions of joy, regard and love which spring spontaneously from the hearts of an affec- tionate and grateful people. His reception in New York was marked by a grandeur and an enthusiasm never before witnessed in that metropolis. The inauguration took place April 30, in the presence of an immense multitude which had assembled to witness the new and imposing ceremony. The oath of office was administered by Robert R. Livingston, Chancellor of the State. When this sacred pledge was given, he retired with the other officials into the Senate chamber, where he delivered his inaugural address to both houses of the newly con- stituted Congress in joint assembly.


In the manifold details of his civil ad- ministration, Washington proved himself equal to the requirements of his position. The greater portion of the first session of the first Congress was occupied in passing the necessary statutes for putting the new organization into complete operation. In the discussions brought up in the course of this legislation the nature and character of the new system came under general review. On no one of them did any decided antago- nism of opinion arise. All held it to be a limited government, clothed only with spe- cific powers conferred by delegation from the States. There was no change in the name of the legislative department ; it still remained "the Congress of the United States of America." There was no change in the original flag of the country, and none in the seal, which still remains with the Grecian escutcheon borne by the eagle, with other emblems, under the great and expressive motto, " E Pluribus Unum."


The first division of parties arose upon the manner of construing the powers dele- gated, and they were first styled "strict constructionists" and " latitudinarian con- structionists." The former were for con- fining the action of the Government strictly


within its specific and limited sphere, while the others were for enlarging its powers by inference and implication. Hamilton and Jefferson, both members of the first cabinet. were regarded as the chief leaders, respect ively, of these rising antagonistic parties which have existed, under different names from that day to this. Washington was re- garded as holding a neutral position between them, though, by mature deliberation, he vetoed the first apportionment bill, in 1790, passed by the party headed by Hamilton, which was based upon a principle construct- ively leading to centralization or consoli- dation. This was the first exercise of the veto power under the present Constitution. It created considerable excitement at the time. Another bill was soon passed in pur- suance of Mr. Jefferson's views, which has been adhered to in principle in every ap portionment act passed since.


At the second session of the new Con. gress, Washington announced the gratify. ing fact of "the accession of North Caro- lina" to the Constitution of 1787, and June I of the same year he announced by special message the like " accession of the State of Rhode Island," with his congratulations on the happy event which " united under the general Government" all the States which were originally confederated.


In 1792, at the second Presidential elec- tion, Washington was desirous to retire ; but he yielded to the general wish of the country, and was again chosen President by the unanimous vote of every electoral college. At the third election, 1796, he was again most urgently entreated to consent to remain in the executive chair. This he positively refused. In September, before the election, he gave to his countrymen his memorable Farewell Address, which in lan- guage, sentiment and patriotism was a fit and crowning glory of his illustrious life. After March 4, 1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon for peace, quiet and repose.


13


GEORGE WASHINGTON.


His administration for the two terms had been successful beyond the expectation and hopes of even the most sanguine of his friends. The finances of the country were no longer in an embarrassed condition, the public credit was fully restored, life was given to every department of industry, the workings of the new system in allowing Congress to raise revenue from duties on imports proved to be not only harmonious in its federal action, but astonishing in its results upon the commerce and trade of all the States. The exports from the Union increased from $19,000,000 to over $56,000,- 000 per annum, while the imports increased in about the same proportion. Three new members had been added to the Union. The progress of the States in their new career under their new organization thus far was exceedingly encouraging, not only to the friends of liberty within their own limits, 'out to their sympathizing allies in all climes and countries.


Of the call again made on this illustrious


chief to quit his repose at Mount Vernon and take command of all the United States forces, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, when war was threatened with France in 1798, nothing need here be stated, except to note the fact as an unmistakable testimo- nial of the high regard in which he was still held by his countrymen, of all shades of po- litical opinion. He patriotically accepted this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop to all action under it. He again retired to Mount Vernon, where, after a short and severe illness, he died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The whole country was filled with gloom by this sad intelligence. Men of all parties in poli- tics and creeds in religion, in every State in the Union, united with Congress in " pay- ing honor to the man, first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his country- men."


His remains were deposited in a fami !; vault on the banks of the Potomac at Mount Vernon, where they still lie entombed.



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.


JOHN ADAMS


0


OHN ADAMS, the second President of the United States, 1797 to 1801, was born in the present town of Quincy, then a portion of Braintree, Massachu- setts, October 30, 1735. His father was a farmer of mod- erate means, a worthy and industrious man. He was a deacon in the church, and was very desirous of giving his son a collegiate educa- tion, hoping that he would become a minister of the gospel. But, as up to this time, the age of fourteen, he had been only a play-boy in the fields and forests, he had no taste for books, he chose farming. On being set to work, however, by his father out in the field, the very first day con- verted the boy into a lover of books.




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