USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 1
USA > Iowa > Audubon County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 1
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08044185 4
IVO (Shelby
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/biographicalhist00wsdu
1. Shelly County, Ix - Biog 2. Audubon
3 wa, Governor 5
1-2 () 3. AH
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
-OF-
.
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA.
CONTAINING PORTRAITS OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM WASHINGTON TO HARRISON, WITH ACCOMPANYING BIOGRAPHIES OF EACH; PORTRAITS AND BIOGRA- - PHIES OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATE; ENGRAVINGS OF PROMINENT CITIZENS IN SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, WITH PERSONAL HISTORIES OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS AND LEADING FAMILIES. A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES, AND THE CITIES AND TOWNSHIPS.
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS, 113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO. 1889.
Min
jaghinter
CONTENTS
HTEN
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
George Washington 0
Jolın Adams ..
14
Thomas Jefferson 20
James Madison .. 26
James Monroe. . . .
32
John Quincy Adams
38
Andrew Jackson ...
47
Martin Van Buren.
52
William Henry Harrison 56
John Tyler. .
James K. Polk. 64
Zachary Taylor 69
Millard Fillmore 72
Franklin Pierce
76
James Buchanan ..
80
Abraham Lincoln
84
Andrew Johnson
93
Ulysses S. Grant.
96
Rutherford B. Hayes 102
Grover Cleveland .
117
Benjamin Harrison
120
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Aboriginal
.123
Caucasian
124
Pioneer Life.
133
Louisiana Territory .
137
Iowa Territory .
.139
State Organization and Subse- quent History 141
Patriotisnı
146
Iowa Since the War.
151
State Institutions
.151
Educational
154
Statistical. .
157
Physical Features
158
Geology
.158
Climate
163
James A. Garfield
109
Census of lowa.
164
Chester A. Arthur
113
Territorial Officers
164
State Officera
GOVERNORS OF IOWA.
Robert Lucas
171
John Chambers
173
James Clarke.
177
Ansel Briggs.
179
Stephen Hempstead
193
James W. Grimes.
187
Ralph P. Lowe. . ..
191
Samuel J. Kirkwood
195
William MI. Stone
190
Samuel Merrill . . ..
203
Cyrus C. Carpenter
207
Joshua G. Newbold.
211
John H. Gear ...
215
Buren R. Sherman
219
William Larrabee
223
HISTORY OF SHELBY OUNITY.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY . .
229
Geology, Topography and Natural History ..
230
CHAPTER II.
EARLY SETTLEMENT-THE MORMONS.
232
County Government .... 235
Organization of Townships 236
First Events. 238
CHAPTER IHI.
OFFICIAL VOTE OF SHELBY COUNTY
241
County Officers.
241
County-Seat History. 245
CHAPTER IV.
THE GREAT CIVIL WAR
....
. ...
249
CHAPTER V.
THE NEWSPAPER PRESS
.. 251
CHAPTER VI.
VARIOUS THINGS.
254
Population in 1885, by Townships.
254
Valuation of Property.
254
Agricultural Society
254
Medical Society.
255
School Population
255
CONTENTS.
The Marriage Record . 255
PRESENT TOWNS AND VILLAGES 260
Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company. . 256
Harlan. 260
The County Poor Farm 256
Shelby.
2733-
The County Jail. .
256
Irwin.
277
Church of Latter-Day Saints.
257
Defiance
279
Elkhorn-Postoffice and College
257
Village of Earling.
Then and Now
258
Panama 283
DEFUNCT VILLAGES.
259
Portsmouth 985
Itan. .
259
Village of Westphalia. 287
Shelbyville
259
Kirkman 290
Simoda
250
C'orley
201
Manteno.
Botna
292
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A.
Abbott, & D. 147
Adamis, A/21.
Brock, J. F
374
Cullison, G. W 576
Adamson, James 621
Brommenschenkel, P 460
Albers, ('aus. 552
Broomhall, Thos. 624
Allortus, Fred.
Brown, Gabriel. 553
Alberius, F. D
Brown, Japbeth 548
Custer, llenry
497
Albertus, J. A.
452
Brown, R. (' 518
Allen, D). W.
551
Allen II. R.
562
Alloway. G. W
630
Bullard, .] 4-0
Dagget, Samuel 598
Daley, Daniel.
Daminand. R. P 351
Darling. Thomas 534
Davis, W. . ] 315
Deen, David 626
Dent, W. H.
Dighton, B. B 609
Doughty, G. II.
Dunham, Fletcher
318
Dunlap, J. M.
434
Baird, J. M 599
Da rd, Wm 618
Baro, John
Bair, G. S. 428
Chase, D W
332
Barrett, Th .
363
Chatburn, J. W.
Barrett W. G
383
Christopher, W. F.
417
Eokars. George
Erickson, E. 11 5(0)
L .- cher, II. A
417
Evans, G. R.
F
Fay, R. G. 458
Fish, E. F 587
Fish, G. M. Joli
Comstock, Orville 45,9 Fish, I. J 429
Fish, Mason. 5:2
Fisher, Azaiiah
Fleming Daniel. . . 613
Ford, Robert. 592
Fountain, Pierson 530
French, J. W
:62
Bonne, J ( ..
511
Cory. I. O .
Cesgrowve, Thos 511
Fritz, Silas
: 20
Theoth, Nathaniel
Cox, B. H
-1 ,t
IFrost. L. D
Hosley, dacol
Craig. If. W 631
l'ry, D .. niel 577
Bowlin, P M. 872
1 Crandall, George. 507
Fry. L. W 400
B yd. R. I 190 Crique, Joseph 393
Bradford Bruce. 611
Croft, G. S. 341
Branson, W. S
Croft, G. W. 521
Crouch, Frank 459
Curtis. R. J 632
Custer, B. C .. 440
('nster, Henry 393
Armstrong, John 436
Byers, II. W
373
. quith, T. G 410
Averill, T. E 541
B
Caldwell, T. J . . . 633
Campbell, Alex.
328
Campbell, M. K
Campbell, W. C.
460
Carmichel, Neil
372
Chance. W. P
350
Bartlett, L. L
(Jark, .I. M. 612
('lark, J M. B
610
Banghn, W. L 405
('leveland. W. F
359
Brard, Cyrus
('Joster. ... (). 535
500
Bell, G. H.
Colby, G. F 51
Cold, P. F 566
Collins, David
510
Bigler, E. S. 501
3.11
Billeter, Jr., P
344
Cook, Thomas 474
Dirks, Riley
483
('ook, Thomas 625
Cooper D. C. 443
Cooper, W. E.
5.15
Boardman J 441
Copeland Abuer 631
Fritz. John
Benjamin, Daniel 578 430
Berry, A. J
But. M. V. 354
Collins, E. A 303
Billeter, br., P.
Constable, Wm 402
D.
Buckman. J. t' 532
Austive, Theodore. 616
Burke, J. T. 413
Armentrout, Jacob. 629
Burwell, John
519
Armentrout, Philip 629
Buss, J. T 621
Bacon Thomas 439
E.
Edwards, Garland. 569
Edwards Wm 517
Battey, George 490
Bel:, J. F .. 575
Cobb, E. A.
Bi hop, M. S. 409
Black, Alex 496
Broker. E. B 519
Tudge M S
Brindley, J. 165
Buckman A. N 301
CONTENTS
G.
Gallagher, Thos 579
Gammon, Warren 39.4
Gardner, Joseph. 561
Garland, 1I. J 352
Geiger, J. W 353
852
tilmore, .I. P
438
Gingery, Lewis
317
Wish, David. 320
Gooding, Fred 35S
Graves, C. E. 525
Graves, Z. II. 600
Gregg, A. E. 492
Green, D W 596
Groat, A. J .. 540
Gubbels. Peter
454
Guthrie, J. II 530
Ilack, Il. P. 445
Ilall, David. 617
HIall, J. L.
Ilamdorf, llenry 345
Ilammer, Peter. 401
Ilammes. Michael 595
453
Harford, T. N
305
llarrod, HI. .. 33 t
Havens, Mrs. M. M. 321
Ilawkins, James. 30-1
Langenfeld, Jolın. 466
Larson, M 500
Larson, N.
518
Lawrence, J. M 600
Lawson, J. E.
545
Ledwich, Thomas
391
Henrickson, IL. N
386
Henry, O. T
566
Herkenrath, Peter 489
Iliggins, John 479
Hinkle, Jacob.
495
Holcomb, H. ('.
354
Holcomb, O. E
495
Loehr, F. W
Long, T. A.
554
Paulk, J. W. 410
Paup, George. 299
Penniston, Edmun 1 520
Perry, J. P. 544
Peters, W'm.
623
Peterson. Andrew 309
Pieter, J. M 509
Plumb, Francis. 409
Plumb, Valentine 551
Poling, Martin. 365
Pomeroy, Joho 502
Pomeroy, R. M
356
Pool, S. G 552
Porter, Robert.
613
Potter, II. C.
457
Potter, John.
Potter, J. S 353
Potts, G. W 608
Pratt, J. M. 572
Pratt, S. K.
Pritchard. A 509
Pulver, Ilarman
Pulver, MI 533
Johnson, Alonzo
435
Mckeever, Anthony 3.45
McKeig, Wesley 1.1 1
McNaughton, F. J
Means, Otbo. 515
Meier, C. W. 434
Michaelson, Chris. 53J
Miller, F. A 590
Miller, G. H.
Miller, J. J
Jofi
Miller, J. P
414
Miller, Noah.
513
Miller, T. J. 108
Miller, W. F. 559
Mills, J. S. 361
Mitchell, Thos 53.4
Morgan, Jap. 516
Morgan, J. W 594
Morris, D. E 517
Muck, R. W. 554
Muldoon, II. W
Murfield, 1). F.
414
Musselman, Daniel
559
Myers, Eliab.
611
N.
Neil, J. IF 595
Nell, Oscar 466
Newberry, A. M 629
Newhy, James. .
319
Newhouse, George
355
Nichols, II. G.
612
Nicolls, H C.
Nieman, HI. A 531
0).
Obrecht, Martin. 526
Osborn, A G
Olson, dens 516
Olson Nels
355
Olson, T. B.
451
2
Panian, John :92
Pattee, A. J . .71
Patterson, G. K 343
457
Paulk, C. II.
423
581
Howlett, Sr., Wm
309
Lorge, N. J
581
Howlett, Jr., Wmn. 437
Louis, J. II.
I.uecke, H II
354
I.
Ickes, G. W 580
Irwin, Ebenezer 569
Madsen, John 582
Malick, J. M. 488
Mansfield, J. C. 446
Martinson, Peter 541
Maxwell, Alex 418
McCoid, G. W.
597
596
McCord, Alex 557
Mccluskey, II. C 503
McDonald, Thomas. 305
McDowell, Luke 535
McDowell, Oliver 524
MeGinness, WI. 312
Jarvis, L. L 275
Jenson, L. ( 3×4
Jenson, Peter. 547
Johnson, Christian 589
Johnson, Wmo.
.Johnson, W. J. 624
Jorgenson, James. 424
K.
Kavanagh, T. CIT
Keairnes, Win 575
Keairnes, Willson 523
Kechner, Karl 023
Keeney, M. T 351
Kees. H. B
000
Keller, G. F 487
Kellogg, Lewis. 607
Kerr, L. M 395
Keyes, C. HI .. 330
Kidd, Charles.
5 5
Kite, R. W
603
Kleeb, Wm
448
Kohl, E. V.
410
Kohl, G. D 416
415
Korth, Jacob
594
Korth, P. J. 592
Korth, Peter.
Kostelecky, Charles. 516
Kuhl, J. 1I. 427
Kuhl, M. P
591
L.
Lamphere, John. 609
Hawley, George 4,50
Hawley, Pierce 479
Heck, G. E 568
Mleese, J. ( ... 505
Ileglin, G. (' 363
Lee, Ilenry.
3.57
Leinen, Constand. 626
Leinen, Matthias. 6 0
Leytham, Richard. 478
Leytham, Thomas 491
Holcomb, H. C.
Linn, J B. 520
Linn, S. B. 382
Ilon, Jesse. 543 598
Iloover, E. E.
Irwin, E. W 364
Irwin, D. S 570
Ivey, James. 430
J.
Jackson, Alfred. 472
Jackson, John. 524
Jacobson, Andrew 520
Jacobson, Lorens 459
James, George 591
James, Robert 571
Metiorrisk, W. B 341
Mcintosh, J. A. 307
Hummert, J. B. 453
M.
Macy, N. W. 331 Pinney, Harmon 610
McCoid, Thomas
Lorge, Jobu.
593
HIandy, Wm
Kohl, S. F
616
Gibbs, G. S.
CONTENTS.
R.
Slates, Samuel 458
W.
Smith, Caleb
543
Ramsay, J. O
438
Ramsay, S. J .
457
Redfield, C. C.
302
Reed, C. A ..
497
Reynolds, Miles
406
Riley, A. K. 465
Roberts, Wm.
424
Roberts, Benj.
526
Robinson, Charles
453
Robertson, J. M.
539
Roland,
482
Rorabaugh, A. P 329
Roundy, N. J. 509
Roundy, Sarah
471
Roundy, W
310
Runnells, H. J 576
Ryan, T. J.
565
S.
T
Salter, J. W .. 558
Sarvis, G. W. M. 545
Teske, Charles 479
Saunders, C. A. 428
Theile, Frank. 589
Schafer, Philip. 422
Thomas, Wm 408
Schiltz, John .. 470
Schouboe, A. A 395
Schnuettgen, A 504
329
Seymore, Monroe 60℃
V.
Vandeburg, J. D. 604
Vering, Ferdinand 423
Yackey, Joseph
501
Silliman, S. P.
.162
Vogt, Nicholas ..
547
Yoder, Stephen
376
PORTRAITS.
Armentrout, Philip 628
Gregg, A. E. .493
Porter, Robert .619
Baughn, W. L. 404
Keairnes, Willson 522
Rouudy, W .311
Bosley, Jacob. 574
Keller, Geo. F 486
Ryan, T. J. 564
Brindley, J. 404
549
Kite, R. W. 609
Sunderland, Mrs. Mary E. 339
Burke, J. T
412
Kuhl, J. H. 426
Tingle, A. H. 476
Campbell, W. C. 468
613
Ledwich, Thos 390 Watterbury, Lewis. 420
Cleveland, W. F
858
Loehr, Fred 456
Wheeler, W. W .397
Collins, E. A.
303
McCord, Alex .556
Wyland, C. J .. 29.4
Cooper, D. C. 442
Miller, J. J .537
Wyland, D. M 347
C'ullison, G. W 377
Olson, T. 15 .450
Wyland, O. P. .3:0
Eokars, Geo.
432
Penniston, Edmund 528
Wyland, Wm 321
Fish, E. F.
584 Perry, J. P. 544
Wadkins, Wm .. 541
Walmer, G. W 483
Walters, D. B. 501
Walters, Jacob 502
Warner, A. B .. 375
Watterbury, Daniel 440
Watterbury, Edward. 546
Watterhury, Lewi 421
Watterbury, Stephen 435
Westrope, T. R 313
Wheeler, W. W 396
Wilcox, A. C.
553
Wilfong, Andrew
401
Will, Peter.
367
Williams, G. M. 486
Williamson, C. 491
325
Wilson, Daniel. 417
Wilson, John 484
Winters, Mrs. A. G. M. 305
Wooster, J. C. 567
Wright, J. T 415
Wyland, C. J . 295
Wyland, D. M 346
Wyland, J ... 827
Wyland, O. P 341
Wyland, T. J 356
Wyland, Wm. 325
Wyland, W. W 394
Sheller, D. B. 333
Y.
Shorett, Lewis 505
Sidener, S. A .. 576
Trotter, M. W. 437
Truman, Mrs. H. A. 374
Scutt, Wesley.
Sunderland, L. D. 336
Swain, J. B. 580
Swift, C. F 579
Swinehart, George. 525
Smith, T. H. 314
Smith, W. J. 407
Snyder, H. L 492
Snyder, H. M. 615
Sontag, Theodore 622
Sorenson, J. P. 373
Stanley, J. L. 454
Starr, G. W. 60-1
Steen, Robert .. 313
Stephens, J. R. 366
Stephenson, G. R. 605
Terrill, Dwigh 335
Tingle, A. H .. 477
Kidd, Charles. .514
Sunderland, L. D 338
Brown, Japheth
Larson, M. 507
Walters, D. B. 500
Clark, J. M.
Ralston, J. N 603
Smith, Harrison 382
Smith, J. W 405
Willson, W. L.
CONTENTS.
HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY,
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
637
Geology, Topography and General Features. 638
CHAPTER II.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION. 639
First Events 641 Organization 643
CHAPTER III.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT 645
CHAPTER IV.
ELECTION RETURNS-COUNTY, STATE AND NA- TIONAL .
651
Liquor Prohibitory Amendment. 654
CHAPTER V.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER MATTERS. 655
Special Events. 655
Assessed Valuation of Property in 1888. 656 Marriage Record. 650
Population, by Townships, in 1885. 656
Population at Various Dates. 656
CHAPTER VI.
THE NEWSPAPER PRESS
657
CHAPTER VII.
VARIOUS THINGS. 662
Educational . 662
Audubon County Soldiers 663
Railroads, the Squatters, etc .. 663
Stock-raising ..
665
Agricultural Society. 665
CHAPTER VIII.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES 667
Record of Village Plats 667
Audubon 668
Exira. . 675
Brayton. 680
Gray.
681
Ross.
683
Kimballton
683
CHAPTER IX.
CRIME IN SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES. .... .685 The Jellerson Murder and Subsequent Lynch- ing .. 686
Polk City Murderers Captured and Lynched. 689
Crooked Creek Outlaws
692
Murder of C. H. Kleva.
693
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A.
Allen, A. E. 794
Allen, F. D .. 714
Andrews, H. F. 701
Armstrong, A. F
B.
Bagley, Charles 728
Baker, Luke 716
Baker, Robert 795
Bartlett, H. M. 736
Bartlett, Washington 805
Basham, J. H
757
Bauer, Valentine
771
Beason, Silas. 802
Beers, Bradley 779
Beers, L. A. 771
Bell, J. T. .. 715
Consigny, J. F. 697
Cotton, G. E .. 767
Cousins, E. B 703
Crane, W. A .. 724
Creveling, R. J ,40
Cunningham, Bernard. 731
Curtis, Joseph 779
Curtis, Wm.
702
D.
Davidson, R. H 823
Davis, Wm. E. 739
Detwiler, A. N 809
Carpenter, R. C. 806 Doak, J. B. 723
Donaldson, S. F 786
Dubois, G. M. 757
E.
Eddy, A. J
752
F.
Ferguson, David 732
Fiscus, Elias. ,88
Fiscus, Wilson 823
Foreman, B. Q 783
Frahm, J. H .. 751
Bradley, F. P. 804
Brookfield, B. C. 814
Brown, I. N .. 780
Burnside, Wilson
722
C.
Cameron, John. 821
Cameron, W. G 817
Carpenter, R. M 713
Carper, M. L. 751
Carper, R. N. 755
Clark, Wm. J 789
Cloughly, J. F.
799
Cloughly, Wm.
824
Colee, C. A. W 770
Conklin, Henry 782
Conrad, Joseph 757 Fancher, Amos. 784
Bickelhaupt, Philip 776
Bilharz, Emil. 713
Bonwell, J. C. 807
198
-
-
CONTENTS.
Francisco, O. B 820
Freeman, E. J. .. 698
G.
Gardner, S. M. 810
Garratt, Jacob. 773
Garroutte, Frank 823
Gault, Richard. 735
Gifford, M. K. 732
Gillespie, G. W C. 797
Graves, D. D .. 785
Gray, George 800
(treen, II. J. 795
Griggs, J. M. 758
HIall, James. 789
Hallock, I. P 696
Hamlin, Nathaniel. 709
Ilanna, II. W. 717
Hansen, II. P. 812
Hardenbrook, George. 759
Hays, Samuel. . 7344 1
Henderson, Robert. 420
IFendricks, D. W ** 0
liensley, F. M 734
Ifensley, J. J. 713
llensley, L. M. 178
llensley, W'm. E. 717
ITicks, J. 1. 749
Hill, Jacob Il.
781
Hoffman, Charles.
774
Holliday, James
Ilolmes, J. D 711
Houston, A. B
Hou ton, O. J.
803
llowald, D. F 750
Huffinan, F. P. 810
Hutchinson, .1. J
808
1.
Ide, O. F.
739
J.
Jarman, John 714
Jeffries, G. C. 761
Jenkins, I. H. 763
lidpath, Joseph. 753
Jenkins, J. T 718
Riley, John. 719
Roberts, A. II 710
Roberts, O. Il. P 761
Rodgers, A. F 766
Ross, G. M
785
Russell, G. B
798
S.
Sampson, C. II. 742
Sanborn, A. L 735
Scott, Wm. H. 729
Shaugur, D. E 701
Shingledecker, Jerome 724
Sibsou, Richard. 819
Sickles, Wm. W.
763
Sizer, Robert 769
Smith, Charles. 760
Statzell, I. L
Mason, G. S. D 7768 Steere, R. A. 698
McAnulty, D. A. 781 Strahl, M. P 793
1 McCain, George 801
McClure, Wm. H 824
McFadden, Joseph 725
McLachlin, G. J. 813
MeLaughlin, F. R. 815
McLeran, Wm. 591
Miller, Robert. 742
Morey, N. L 738
Myers, T. F 797
N.
Nash, John 792
Nash, John A 790
Newell, Joseph. 782
Newell, Win. J. ~12
W.
Walker, Thomas. 716
Walker, Wmn 71t
Walker, Wm. J.
Walkup, V. A. 700
Waycoff, J D C96
Webster, Il. Z S16
Weeks, C. H 731
Wever, A L. 717
741
Willeutt, C. F. 730
Willox, James 757
Winters, Thomas 713
Witthaner, Otto 7:0
Wood, G W
775
Y
Young, Edgar.
179
PORTRAITS.
Hamlin, Nathan ..
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Lewis. Josephus. 765
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Luse, J. F. 754
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Reynolds, J. M. 405 Wiseman, F. P 815
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Johnston, Win 811
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GEORGE WASHINGTON.
GEORGE 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 Bail. 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 carly 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 chuldhood 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- tor of his neighbor at Belvoir on the l'oto- 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 carcer, 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.
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 Ba: padoes. They returned early in 1752, and Lawrence shortly afterward died, leav- ing h. ; 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 cstate.
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 procced 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 I'rench from a territory claimed by Virginia. This enterprise had been declined by more than one officer, since it involved a journey through an cx- 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, whichi, 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 scat 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 mect 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 carliest 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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