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
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M.L
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
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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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