USA > Michigan > Newaygo County > Portrait and biographical album of Newaygo County, Michigan : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county also containing a complete history of the county, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 1
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GC 977.401 N42P
PUBLIC LIBRARY
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01075 6010
GC 977.401 N42P
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL
LBUM
OF
NEWAYGO COUNTY, MICH.
CONTAINING
PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF
Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County,
TOGETHER WITH PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF MICHIG.I .. AND OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
ALSO CONTAINING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT . TO THE PRESENT TIME.
- 1
CHICAGO: CHAPMAN BROTHERS. ISS4.
PREHAG G
387566
AVING completed our labors in writing and compiling the PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF NEWAYGO COUNTY, we wish, in presenting it to its patrons, to speak briefly of the importance of local works of this nature. It is certainly the duty of the present to commemorate the past, to perpetuate the names of the pioneers, to furnish a record of their early settlement, and to relate the story of their progress. The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age, and this solemn duty which men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity, demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In local history is found a power to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this region from its primitive state may be preserved.
JON 2 1 1939
Surely and rapidly the noble men who in their prime entered the wild forests of Newaygo and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their graves. The number remaining who can relate the history of the first days of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preservation of historical matter without delay, before the settlers of the wilderness are cut down by time. Not only is it of the greatest importance to render history of pioneer time fall and accurate, but it is also essential that the history of the county, from its settlement to the present day, should be treated through its various phases, so that a record, complete and impartial, may be handed down to the future. The present, the age of progress, is reviewed, standing out in bold relief over the quiet, unostentatious olden times; it is a brilliant record, which is destined to live in the future; the good works of men, their magnificent enterprises, their lives, whether commercial or military, do not sink into oblivion, but, on the contrary, grow brighter with age, and contribute to build up a record which carries with it precedents and principles that will be advanced and Observed when the acts of soulless men will be forgotten, and their very names hidden in th
In the preparation of the personal sketches contained in this volume, unusual care and pains were taken to have them accurate, even in the smallest detail. Indeed, nothing was passed lightly over or treated indifferently in the entire book, and we flatter ourselves that it is one of the most accurate works of its nature ever published.
As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of numerous repre- sentative citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of to-day, as well as the pioneers, represented in this department; and we congratulate ourselves on the uniformly high character of the gentlemen whose portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men, and are selected from all the callings and professions worthy to be represented. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with those presented, but of course it was impossible for us to give por- traits of all the leading men and pioneers of the county.
CHAPMAN BROTHERS.
CHICAGO, February, 1884.
ـو
INDEX.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
A
Abel, Myren.
.406
Adams, John.
23
Adams, John Quincy.
. 39
Alger, C. M
. 365
Alvord, Charles N
187
Anderson, Robert
.263
Anderson, W'In A .192
Andrus, A 438
Angevine, A H ..
418
Armstrong, A. F
.247
Armstrong, Hon. S.
.265
Arthur, Chester A
99
Avary, Henry
229
B
Backart, George. . 335
Backart, J. B. 386
Bagley, John J. 157
Bailey, John ..
.212
Bailey, Wm. H
.244
Baillargeon, J
259
Baldwin, Henry P 153
Barbour, Frank W 185
Bardan, Richard .319
Barder, Joseph
. 301
Barks, John
.278
Barlow, I. H. .440
Barnhard, S. P .223
Barnes, C. M .412
Barnhard, Jacob .222
Barnhard, John .. 308
Barnum, S. D.
. 256
Barnum, Urben
.243
Barry, John S. .113
Bartlett, Geo. W . . 193
Barton, Henry.
.. 378
Barton, Hon. James .. 293
Barton, Mark. .. 298
Barton, Wm -394
Basford, Frank A .456
Beaton, Duncan .412
Begole, Josiah W 169 Cook, Joel G .343
Bennett, John N .279
Bigelow, Geo. L 212
Bigelow, Phebe E . 200 Bingham, Kinsley S. .137
Bisard, Asahel. .278
Bisard, Benj
.325
Bisard, Mrs. S
267
Bitely, Stephen
.391
Blair, Austin
145
Blair, Henry M.
.183
Blood, Charles
.195
Bonner, S. I).
. 445
Botsford, J. A.
. 333
Bowman, F. M
. 437
Boyd, Richard
.298
Boyd, Wm. A
.300
Brace, H. L.
.251
Breckon, Geo R., M. D) .406
Bromley, Henry
203
Brooks, Samuel F.
407
Brotherton, John
.302
Brown, J. O.
185
Buchanan. James
75
Bull, M. D
. 399
Burrit, E. S.
.249
Bush. Russell
.285
C
Campbell, A .196
Cander, Benj 411
Canovan, J. H.
.203
Carlisle, Mrs. C. C ..
204
Carlisle, Jacob.
418
Carpenter, Asa P 306
Carpenter, Benj · 359
Carpenter, J. R
369
Carpenter, J. W
. 354
Carpenter, Wm. F
.419
Carrington, George. .238
Cavender, L. L .348
Chapman, Justice.
. 297
Childs, J G.
.306
Churchill, H.
. 320
Clark, Heury D 213
Coburn, S. D 249
Cole, John 276
Collins, David .394
Cook, Asa. 315
Cook, Joseph W .354
Cook, Nelson P. .306
Coolbaugh, B H.
.461
Coon, Ezra. .. 28+
Cope, Wm. H ..
. . 307
Cornet, John A
. . 198
Corsaut, James .. 455
Courtright, W.
467
Crabtree, James
. .. 301
Cram, David
.250
Cram, W'm . 324
Crandall, John V
. 393
Crapo, Henry H. . 149
Crawford, H. W
.215
Croswell, Charles MI
.161
D
Dake, Aruna.
. 457
Daly, Peter
.216
Darling, Henry.
. 225
Darling, J. H
.456
Darling, Wm.
.188
Davenport, Warren 257
Davenport, Wm. M
355
Davenport, Wm. H.
. 326
Davis, Daniel.
.226
Davis, Martin .269
Davis, Wm .196
Day, Albert G.
208
Gibbs, J. M
.. 360
Dean, James M
185
Dean, John T.
207
Degroot, A. A ., M. D. 195
Delong, Jesse P
446
Dickinson, Wm
188
Dingman, J. 414
Dobson, E. . 204
Dobson, Hiram
.346
Docherty, J .334
Doud, S. E.
223
Dragoo, Tucker
.211
Dubois, Wm
H
. 288
Duffy, James
. 369
E
Edgecomb, Silas .. 308
Edwards, Edward
444
Edwards, Timothy
.400
Elwell, Elias.
.315
English, Geo. W .319
Evans, John F .213
Evarts, F. E.
.379
Evens, Samuel T
205
Everington, T.
.. 202
F
Felch, Alpheus
. . 117
Fellows, H. H.
- 283
Fillmore, Millard
67
Fisher, Robert
286
Flora, D. W , M. D
. 303
Fowler, H. E.
. 207
Fox, Irwin C.
.232
Franklin, J. A
.319
Franklin, Marshall B. 476
French, Mrs. S. E
355
Frey, Theo. S.
. 202
Fuller, Wm. D).
. 179
G
Ganson, Fred A
.234
Gard, Squire.
.321
Garfield, James A
95
Gauweiler, J. F
326
Gerber, Andrew
.216
Gerber, Joseph. .417
Giddings, A. H
.474
Giddings, B.
.432
Gifford, Fred
. 247
Giles, Gustus.
. 282
Gleason, Edwin
- 440
Gowell, John D.
209
Gracey, Alex
.455
Grant, Ulysses S
87
Gray, Edgar L. .452
Graham, J. H. 431
Graham, Wm
368
Grant, J. A.
.228
Graves, Peter
.465
Grawn, John
. 243
Green, Jesse R. 369
Greenly, William L
121
Grovesteen, J M ..
473
Grow, Gilbert ..
.321
Grundy, T. C.
.225
H
Haight, Ambrose
... 356
Haight, E. R
. . 468
Hall, F. F.
..... 334
VI
INDEX.
Hall, Jotham W .287
Harrison, P. A. .217
Harrison, Wm . H. 51
Hart, James F 279
Hartt, Samuel.
.366
Haskins, James H
.408
Hatch, David C.
262
Hatfield, J. E
.222
Hawley, H. C., M. D
.205
Hayes, Rutherford B.
91
Headley, H. A
288
Headley, Orvin
219
Hertzer, E. H
283
Hertzer, G. A. H., M. D 345
Hewett, J . W
284
Hindes, J. A
.251
Hirdning, John
.238
Hoag, Abram J
.186
Hoag, Wm. H.
240
Hoffman, P. P.
201
Homes, Henry
458
Hopper, John W.
-25€
Horning, Wm. H.
. 261
Hyde, J. H
248
I
Ish, Benj
.275
J
Jackson, Andrew
43
Jakeway, Ami J
194
Jarse, Mrs. Julia.
.207
Jay, Wm ...
.. 324
Jefferson, Thomas
27
Mclellan, Peter
.433
Jenne, H. C.
-338
Jernstadt, John
.281
Jerome, David H.
.105
Jewell, J. B.
.. 347
Jewell, Wm. J
.296
Johnson, Andrew
Johnson, Arnold
.251
Jones, E. N.
.208
Merrill, I. D
.451
Jones, Geo. B
.284
Merrill, W. S.
.230
Jones, Hiram
.103
Joslin, D. R
.210
K
Kaufman, C.
.. 332
Keefe, Charles F
.. 305
Kempf, Christopher
209
Ketchum, John B
195
Kimbell, Wm
.259
Kinch, T. C.
.325
King, Levi W .282
King, Wm. C.
26g
Monroe, Charles
283
Knowles, Alfred
.433
Knowles, T. J ..
.432
Kriger, J . R.
. 333
Kritzer, Conrad
.. 228
Kritzer, Henry
. 385
L
Lambson, A. W
.. 353
Lareva, John.
. 264
Lawrence, Alex . . 234
Lawrence, Silas .232
Le Baron, Wm.
. . 316
Lentz, George
.. 356
Leonard, Jackson
.232
Lewis, Hiram.
.332
Lewis, Samuel .
. 439
Myers, James.
.. 276
Lewis, Wm. A.
.387
Lincoln, Abraham
79
Lordon, Dennis
.255
Luce, Eleazer
314
Luton, George
.465
M
Macumber, N. D
.267
Madison, James
3
Mallery, J. B
.336
Mallory, Freeman
.446
Manning, J. H.
.242
Marshall, Fred.
. 277
Martin, Geo. F
.426
Martin, Wm
. 365
Mason, Stevens 'T
. 105
Mathews, Frank
. 321
Maynard, F. J
467
Maynard, Henry T.
187
Maynard, J. F
455
Maze, Jesse
266
McClelland, Robert.
.129
McCool, Michael
264
McCowen, J. C.
. 432
McCullor, Neil
205
McDonald, Nelson
.305
McDonell, Thos
. 348
Pawling, F
. 263
McFarland, John ..
.297
McKee, J. H.
262
McKie, Charles.
258
Mc Kinley, Alex
.274
McLeod, James
.336
McNabb, J. W., M. D
467
McNutt, George
Mead, A. G
Meier, John.
.357
Meyers, Lewis
- 307
Millard, D.
.223
Platt, W. S.
.238
Miller, Dennis
.211
Miller, George
.206
Miller, Jacob.
.230
Miller, John
.279
Millis, George H.
.210
Millis, Silas
295
Mills, Geo. A
. 227
Mills, L. E
.242
Misner, E ..
. . 38 1
Misner, R. E
.221
Monroe, James
35
Monroe, P
. 437
Moon, Cyrus.
. 360
Moote, John
.323
Morgan, L. C.
322
Morton, B. E
.318
Moses, Michael
.241
Mudge, Andiew
434
Mudget, A. T.
. 342
Rathbun, C I
.240
Mulder, K ..
.28
Read, H. M
.264
Reed, H. T., M. D . 405
Reed, Joseph ..
.260
Reed, Sylvanus.
. 282
Reinoldt, Louis
.233
Reynolds, Floyd 184
Riblet, S. K.
. 380
Rice, James R
.345
Richardson, E.
. 208
Roedel, Phil. M
420
Rogers, Benj
. 367
Rogers, Robert
.315
Rooke, John
. 197
Rose, Sam.
. 423
North, E. S.
.461
Rossiter, Jeremiah
.221
Northway, A. H.
.275
Norton, L. E., M. D
.455
Norton, Wm. H.
.214
O
Odell, James R
.- 443
Odell, Salmon P
.. 191
Ohrenberger, J. W
.357
Oshurn, John
.408
Ostrom, Wm H
.286
Overly, Geo. D
215
P
Packard, Geo. W
.. 279
Sharp, Monroe L
452
Painter, John
Parmeter, J. F.
248
. 439
Shaw, E. O.
370
Shepherd, George.
.274
Parmeter, L. L
. 328
Parsons, Andrew
.133
Simpson, Parker
407
Sidler, Wm. C
.208
Peacock, Richard
230
Simcoe, James
.388
Peacock, Wm. J.
. 364
Skinner, A. S
.426
Peets, Charles W
. 348
Slocum, George B.
.413
Persons, Wellington .
.382
Slocum, S. K
.433
Smeltzer, Joseph
.325
Smith, Barlow
.212
Smith, C. G.
.316
Smith, Daniel D
.318
.. 476
Pickett, L. W.
.377
Smith, Simon P
. 345
Pierson, Wm. M ..
.191
Snyder, A. H
107
Pike, Francis M ..
407
Pittwood, John
.468
Platt, Jonathan
.328
Polk, James K
59
Pollard, George
.257
Pond, Gny C.
.206
Stearns, C. E.
.. 274
Powers, David
.474
Stevens, S. B. B
. 387
Preston, S.
226
Stirling, Walter
.256
Price, T. L., Jr.
. . 300
Stockton, J. E.
. 343
Q
Quackenbush, R.
.. 328
R
Surplice, Richard
358
Sutliff, A. E.
.225
Sutliff, C. A
.237
Swain, D. T
.. 336
Sweet, Alonzo
. 192
Sweet, John
.228
T
Taite, Geo. W.
.. 196
Tannewitz, J., Jr.
. 367
Taylor, Alanson
.224
Taylor, George E.
. 363
Taylor, Zachary
63
Thayer, Alonzo,
.. 221
Rull, George W
.286
Rupp, George
. 347
Russell, John .
.241
Rutherford. R. W
.239
S
Schanck, Thercn C.
.. 184
Schroeder, John F
. 302
Scott, M. W
.277
Seaman, W
214
Seeley, Alex. M
. 344
Seeley, A. S.
438
Shick, Isaac.
260
Spencer, James
.206
Squier, A. T
. 364
Squier, David W
.227
Squier, R J.
.269
Stacey, Seth S
. . 388
Standish, Col. J. H
. 462
Stone, Hon . Charles W.
.341
Stone, H. C
.246
Stuart, T. H.
216
Stuart, Richard
·358
Race, Walter M
.. 346
Raider, J. F. A.
.391
Randall, J . H.
.287
Randall, Leroy.
.276
Randolph, C. T
265
Ranney, Edwin J
. 192
Ransom, Epaphroditus
. 152
Mundy, A. J
.246
Mundy, Jasper.
.414
Mundy, John A
.295
Murphy, S. J ., Jr .. 458
Murphy, Wm. L.
.. 288
N
Nafe, Geo. W., M. D.
.. 270
Nelson, J. E.
.250
Neville, Patrick
.. 304
Newburg, M
. 4C2
Peters, George H
475
Peterson, F. H
.. 314
Mc Nabb, Orlando
197
Peterson, N
.263
Peterson, S. W
280
273
Pfeifle, C.
. 392
Smith, O. L
.277
Meeker, L. R.
.377
Pierce, Franklin
.70
Smith, Tyson, M. D.
402
Selby, F. C.
. 426
INDEX.
vii
Thomas, E. O. .. 224
Tibbitts, B. E. .. 252
Tibbitts, Margaret E .220
Utley, George 414
Utley, Wm. S . 381
Tift, Leroy .. .255
Toner, John
. 320
Town, Elias .261
Town, J . A.
258
Townsend, J. C. .370
Train, Mrs. L.
.246
Trask, R. S., M.D. 451
Traver, D. C.
.387
T'reiber, J. F. .343
Trumbley, J ... .231
Trumbull, J. W .261
Tucker, J. W . 323
Turcotte, Michael. .446
Turner, Charles .. .233
Turner, Hezekiah . . 193
Turner, Win
187
Tyler, John 55
U
Upton, A. E.
............... 252
Utley, C. W .. .377
Weaver, P. H. .466
Webster, G. D .420
Webber, Wm. A .250
Webster, Geo. R . 302
Webster, H. F . . 300
Webster, Dr. James · 375
Webster, John E . 365
Webster, Wm. R .313
Westbrook, E. A .. 280
Wheeler, Wm. M .240
Whipple, D. J . 367
Whipple, Luther .323
Whipple, Walter L. .317
White, Augustine .202
White, W T .234
Whitehead, Joseph .198
Whitman, Wm .265
Whitney, Frank . 285
Washington, George 19
Waters, L .250
Wilcox, Charles 4.39
Waters, Merrick .249
Wilcox, D. W . . 204
Waters, T. L. .198
Watrous, S. S .331
Weaver, Daniel. .. 412
Wisner, Moses . . . . 14 I
-
Wonch, John R .. 360
Wood, Benj. F . 296
Wood, Jack T 245
Wood, John F., Sr .356
Woodard, C. M .186
Woodbridge, Wm .100
Woods, Thos. T . 194
Y
Vates Alonzo .. .. 458
Young, Clark N. .337
Young, John. .278
Youngs, Benj. .. 357
Z
Zerlaut, Henry. ........ 245 Zerlant, J A ..... 270
Zolber, Frank
.. 413
Adams, John.
22
Croswell, Charles MI . 160
Felch, Alphens. I16
Fillmore, Millard 66
Fuller, Wm. D .. 178
Garfield, James A
04
Gerber, Joseph 416
Graham, J. H. 429
Graham, Mrs. J. H 428
Grant, Ulysses S 86
Greenly, William L.
120
Grovesteen, J. M. 470
Grovesteen, Mrs. J. M ..: .471
Harrison, Wm. H 50 Buchanan, James 74 Hayes, Rutherford B. Bull, M. D. .. 396 Headley, Orvin 218
Bull, Mrs. M. 1) . 397 Hoffman, Philip .200
Jackson, Andrew 42
Jefferson, Thomas. 26
Jerome, David H .164
Johnson, Andrew . .
Kritzer, Henry . 384
Lambson, A. W . 350
Lambson, Mrs. A. W. -35 I
Lincoln, Abrahamn 78
Madison James 30
Mason, Stevens T 104
McClelland, Robert 128
McNutt, George. . 272
Monroe, James 34
Mulder, Kornelis. .28
Odell, James R .. 442
Parsons, Andrew 132
Pierce, Franklin .. 70
Pierson, Wm. M. .188
Pierson, Mrs. W. M . 189
Polk, James K. 58
Ransom, Epaphroditns 124
Reed, H. T 404
82
Rose, Samuel.
. 422
Adams, John Quincy 38
Arthur, Chester A .. 98
Bagley, John J. .156
Baldwin, Henry 1' .152
Barry, John S 112
Barton, James. 290
Barton, Mrs. J. .291
Begole, Josiah W. .168 Bingham, Kinsley S. .136
Bitely, Stephen - 390
Blair, Austin. .144
Van Buren, Martin. 46
Washington, George. 18 Watrous, Seth S. . 330
Webster, James, M D. .372 Webster, Mrs. J. . 373 Webster, Wm. R. .310 Webster, Mrs. Pbebe A
Wisner, Moses. .. 140
Woodhridge, William . . 108
Coolbaugh, B. H 460
Crapo, Henry H .148
Stone, Hon. Charles W . . 340
Sutliff, C. A. .2 35
Sutliff, Mrs. C. A. .236
Taylor. George E. . 362
Taylor, Zachary. 62
Tift, Leroy .. .254
Trask, R. S., M: D. .. 448
Trask, Mrs. R. S. .449 Tyler, John 54 Utley, Ephraim .410
Bowman, F. M 436
Utley, Ephraim . 4II
V
Van Buren, Martin .. .. . 47
Vanderwater, Lewis .. .... 344
11
Wade, Geo. N . 296
Walker, S. V. .457
Wallace, R. C. .231
Warren, Horace . 359
Wilbur S. R. .211
Willius, Martin .244
PORTRAITS
Collins, David - 394
viii
INDEX.
HISTORICAL
INTRODUCTORY
479
Newaygo Republican 519
Postoffices
545
PHYSICAL FEATURES
481
Newaygo Tribune
520
TOWNSHIPS
546
Geology
482
Fremont Times 521
Ashland
546
Botanical
483
Fremont Indicator 521
Barton
547
INDIANS
484
Hesperian 521
Beaver
548
Indian Life
485
Hesperian Investigator
521
Big Prairie
548
The Indian Dead
486
Gleaner
521
Rridgeton
549
EARLY SETTLEMENT 488
Leader
521
Brooks
550
How Our Fathers Lived
490
News
521
Newaygo Village
66
MUNICIPAL
491
EDUCATIONAL 522
Croton
557
" Russell County "
496
MATERIAL INTERESTS
524
Dayton
558
Supervisors
497
Navigation
524
Denver
THE BAR
500
Railroads
526
Hesperia
559
NEWAYGO'S PART IN THE WAR
506
The Beginning
507
PIONEER SOCIETY
532
Garfield
562
Enrollment and Enlistment 508
Goodwell
563
Drafts 508
508
MISCELLANEOUS 541
Lincoln
564
The Close
509
County Jail
. 542
Monroe
THE " INDIAN WAR"
509
Poor Farin
542
Norwich
565
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' REUNION
510
First Dam
543
Fremont
566
POLITICAL
511
First Marriages
543
Sherman
570
Election Returns
511
Fires in the Forest, 1871 544
Troy
..
THE PRESS
519
Population
545
Wilcox
571
6.
Medicine
543
Sheridan
561
Agricultural
530
Everett
REMINISCENCES, BY T. L. WATERS 537
Grant
66
The End
Lumber Interests
529
Ensley
6.
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RESIDENTS.
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9
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FIRST PRESIDENT.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
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HE Father of our Country was born in Westmorland Co., Va., Feb. 22, 1732. His parents were Augustine and Mary (Ball) Washington. The family to which he belonged has not been satisfactorily traced in England. His great-grand- father, John Washington, em- igrated to Virginia about 1657, and became a prosperous planter. He had two sons, Lawrence and John. The former married Mildred Warner and had three children, John, Augustine and Mildred. Augus- tine, the father of George, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, two of whom, Lawrence and Augustine, reached maturity. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles - and Mildred.
Augustine Washington, the father of George, died in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, and to George he left the parental residence. George received only such education as the neighborhood schools afforded, save for a short time after he left school, when he received private instruction in mathematics. His spelling was rather defective.
Remarkable stories are told of his great physical strength and development at an early age. He was an acknowledged leader among his companions, and was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- ness and veracity which characterized his whole life.
When George was 14 years old he had a desire to go to sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, but through the opposition of his mother the idea was abandoned. Two years later he was appointed surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In this business he spent three years in a rough frontier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very essential to him. In 1751, though only 19 years of age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for active service against the French and Indians. Soon after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter who did not long survive him. On her demise the estate of Mount Vernon was given to George.
Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, and the journey was to be made without military escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The
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GEORGE WASHINGTON.
trip was a perilous one, and several times he came near losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was then begun against the French and Indians, in which Washington took a most important part. In the memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock were disabled early in the action, and Washington alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter to his brother he says: "I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped unhurt, though death was leveling my companions on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit him.
After having been five years in the military service, and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an active and important part. January 17, 1759, he married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy widow of John Parke Custis.
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When the British Parliament had closed the port of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- delphia, Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and responsible office was conferred upon Washington, who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he receive no salary. He would keep an exact account of expenses and expect Congress to pay them and nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the fortunes and liberties of the people of this country were so long confided. The war was conducted by him under every possible disadvantage, and while his forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his
commission as commander-in-chief of the army to to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all connection with public life.
In February, 1789, Washington was unanimously elected President. In his presidential career he was subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part of other governments; trials from want of harmony between the different sections of our own country ; trials from the impoverished condition of the country, owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His clear judgment could discern the golden mean; and while perhaps this alone kept our government from sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and very annoying.
At the expiration of his first term he was unani- mously re-elected. At the end of this term many were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there his few remaining years free from the annoyances of public life. Later in the year, however, his repose seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to take command of the armies. He chose his sub- ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- ters in the field, which he superintended from his home. In accepting the command he made the reservation that he was not to be in the field until it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations his life was suddenly cut off. December 12, he took a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- teenth his body was borne with military honors to its final resting place, and interred in the family vault at Mount Vernon.
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