USA > Ohio > Greene County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > Part 1
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > Biographical and historical record of Greene and Carroll counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state and a concise history of the two counties and their cities and villages > 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 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
3 3433 08044192 0
-
-
-
-
a
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/biographicalhist00lewi
BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL
RECORD
OF
Greene and Carroll Counties, lowa.
CONTAINING PORTRAITS OF ALL THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES FROM WASHINGTON TO CLEVELAND, WITH ACCOMPANYING BIOGRAPHIES OF EACH; PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATE; ENGRAVINGS OF PROMINENT CITIZENS IN GREENE AND CARROLL, COUNTIES, WITH PERSONAL HHISTORIES OF MANY OF THE LEADING FAMILIES, AND A CONCISE HIS- TORY OF THE TWO COUNTIES AND THEIR CITIES AND VILLAGES.
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY, 113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO.
1887.
----------
.
301963
-
معيين
CONTENTS.
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
George Washington.
9
John Adams. 14
Thomas Jefferson 20
James Madison
26
James Monroe
John Quincy Adams.
Andrew Jackson
47
Martin Van Buren.
53
William Henry Harrison. 50
John Tyler.
60
James K. Polk. 64
Zachary Taylor 68
Millard Fillmore
Franklin Pierce 76
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
HISTORY OF 10WA.
Aboriginal 123
('ancasiau
194
Pioneer Life. 133
Lonisiana Territory
137
Ansel Briggs.
179
Stephen Hempstead.
183
James W. Grinies 187
Ralph P. Lowe .. 191
Samuel J. Kirkwood 195
William M. Stone
199
Samuel Merrill
203
Cyrus C. Carpenter 207
Joshua G. Newbold 211
Physical Features.
158
John II. Gear ..
215
Buren R. Sherman
219
William Larrabee
HISTORY OF GREENE COURTY. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A.
Adams, W. HI. 254
Addy, .360
Addy, W. L. .358
Adkins, H. H. .314
Albert, J. Il.
.413
Allan, William. 439
Allen, Mrs. R. A
433
Allen, Rensselaer .396
Allison, Alfred. .258
Allstott, John G. 442
Ames, W. E. .. .392
Anderson, B. F .323
Anderson, D. B
.313
Anderson, D. P. .370
Anderson, J. W 288
Anderson, S. B. .399
Andrew, George 426
Arch, J. D .. 450
Armstrong, T. J. .297
Atchinson, George 352
B.
Babb, V. S. .362
Barker, A. B .333
Barnes, I. M .315
Barth, W. C 350
Bassett, C. II. .347
Beaty, J. F 452
Beebe, llenry .418
Berrien, E. B .447
Berry, J. E. 266
Bish, Jolın. 374
Bistline, W. H .378
Blake, II. M. 338
Blanshan, D. ] 356
Bofink, Charles 279
Boggs, L. W. 407
Bolin, Benjamin .. 428
Bontz, J. P. 321
Boyden, John. .395
Bradley, J. F. M 450
Bradshaw, Frank. 344
Breiner, P. B. . 403
Bucher, Ilenry 375
Buchmiller, E. S 454
Burk, Archibald. 366
Burk, Joshua. 248
Burk, Leroy 259
Burke, James. .336
Burkholder, C. K 451
C.
C'ain, Abram 235
Cain, Edward .274
Cain, Robert. .234
Carey, A. II.
40G
Territorial Officers
.. 164
State Officers
.165
GOVERNORS OF 10WA.
Robert Lucas. 171
John Chambers. 173
James Clarke. .175
lowa Territory. .
.139
State Organization and Subse- quent llistory
141
Patriotism.
146
lowa Since the War 151
State Institutions.
151
Educational
154
Statistical
157
Geology 158
Climate .
163
Census of Iowa.
164
-
CONTENTS.
Carlton, E. O .895
Carter, E. IL. .319
Carter, J. C 337
('ass, F. D. 268
438
Childs, 11. L.
.301
Church, Z. . \
.294
Churdan, Joseph
239
Clark, E. C ..
Cleveland, C. L. .316
Clipperton, William
Clopton, Isaac ..
Cochran, Joseph 305
Conant, David .311
Gallup, J. N
Garland, J. B .277
Garrett, W. R 435
Gaylord, E. W. .156
Gibson, Robert. 361
Gilliland, A. Il 281
Gilliland, G. M
Gilroy, G. W 235
Goodrich, Calvin. 260
Goodrich, Washington 298
Goodwin, Robert ...
Graham, 11. W 314
Gray, A. J
Gray, John. 423
Greene, W. R. 359
Greif, JJ. C ..
451
Groves, W. R. 325
Gulick, J. P. 331
11.
llaight, D. B 427
llall, J. B. . 326
Ham, 11. M. .310
Ham, Kingman 313
Ilanks, George
300
Hanson, Robert. .411
llanson, G. F. 306
Ilarding, E 278
Harmon, Franklin. 441
Harmon, Lafayette. 441
llarmon, O. L
Harris, A. C ..
,347
llatfield, G. B. .413
llaun, J. ( 349
llead, A. M .383
Heath, Il. B. 430
leator, Jacob. 299
lleisel, John .408
Ilenderson, H. L 419
llenderson, J. A 293
Herron, S. W. 4.44
Higgins, James 358
ltillman, G. (
Iloshaw, J. M
Howard, R. L., 433
Huffman, G. A .328
Hughes, Frances. 257
Hughes, F. J. 256
llunt, j. L ..
Hutchinson, Jonathan
1.
Inbody, John.
416
Infield, Henry.
258
J.
Jackson, C. II.
Jackson, G. W. 219
Jaques, N. 1). 240
Jaques, Thomas. 377
Jay, Samuel 4.10
Jetfries, C. L. .323
Jenks, Rev. S. E 257
Jewett, W. F 452
John, D. B. .357
John, J. B. 300
Johnson, 2 230
Johnson, D. E. 445
Johnson, Emmerson. 243
Johnson, Ephraim.
285
Johnson, I. 11 268
.Johnson, Jesse .317
Johnson, J. B. .423
238
Johnson, Joseph. .350
Johnson, S. W 279
Jones, E.
Jones, 1]. . ]
.425
Jones, Josiah. .425
K.
Keller, A. 1) .437
Kelley, Charles .343
Kellogg, 11. W 276
Kendall, G. B.
408
Kettell, Henry .421
Kinsey, U. B. .431
Kions, M. W. .233
Knowles, A .454
Koenig, Angustus 424
Krause, A. F. 267
Krause, C. W
406
Kuder, G. W.
275
Lawrence, G. G
2.44
Lee, William. . 242
Libis, Francis. 404
Lilley, D. M.
Linn, J. J. 411
Linn, Mason 239
Linn, W. S 419
Livermore, IT. N 327
Livingston, W. B. .373
Lloyd, E. L. 409
Long, Charles. 417
Lovejoy, J. C .. .323
Lowery, O. W. 353
Lowry, R. A. 318
Luccock, Rev. G. N -145
Lunnon, George. 432
Lyon, J. L ...
3.18
Lyons, Theodore 405
Mack, A. J .. 364
Mack, Willard. .
Manning, Rev. Joseph ..
Mantz, P. C ...
405
!
Marker, Emanuel.
.339
Franklin, F. M
Franklin, W. A 281
Franklin, W. 204
Free, F. A. .354
Free, Samnel. 348
Free, S. Q .. .361
French, E. K. 363
French, E. P. .957
French, G. Y 411
334
Freund, Leo.
356
Frymier, I. W
286
Councilman, S. J
308
Cowan, J. T.
.352
Crabb, James.
C'randall, L. B. 319
Crow, W. M. 316
Crowder, W. G.
331
('ulley, J. MI 271
Curran, J. F. 140
D).
Davenport, John -101
Dawson, .J. 11 148
Day, G. W. 335
Derry, .I. J
311
Dickinson, Il. W
265
Dickinson, William 302
Dillavon, G. C. 2.17
Dillavon, James 251
Dinan, John 249
Dodge, C. M. 303
Dunterman, William 999
Dwinnell, HI. A. .370
Eagleson, G. G .250
Eason, Robert. .279
Edinborough, C. J 408
Edwards, Daniel. .428
Ellison, Samuel -109
Elmore, W. ... .391
Embree, Daniel .320
Entield, Charles .396
English, C. A. .305
English, J. R. .385
F.
Ferguson, F. M. 341
Ferguson, W. M
Perrin, Zebulon 253 Howard, I. D. .23.1
Fey, 1. 11 .231
Fitz. J. W 281
Fitzpatrick, J. J 426
Fitz Patrick, P. M. ctico
Fleck, G. W. 410
Forbes, E. P'
Forbes, J. M
Forbes, J. R. 137
Ford. I. W. :10
Pov, E. W. 372
M
- -- -
- -
-
----
-
-
Copeland, John
445
Cooper, F. P .301
413
Connell, Robert. 343
Coombs, Joseph 436
242
Johnson, J. F.
244
Kinsman, J. C.
.302
247
CONTENTS.
Marquart, August 409
Reece, T. B 986
Stroud, William .. 400
Suydam, C. H. .280
Swartzendruver
435
T.
Tallman, J. II
325
Taylor, S. M
.364
Terrill, T. M.
.369
Thomas, J. R.
402
Thomas, L. B .. 301
Thompson, C. W 438
Thompson, G. W 480
Thompson, L. S
.392
Thompson, W. A
276
Thornton, James. .
.369
Toliver, Isom.
220
Towers, James
344
Turrill, II. A .. 414
V.
Vader, I. N
.398
Vader, J. W. 283
Vance, T. W
446
Vest, W. H.
138
N.
Neal, A. M. 365
Neary, R. W. 267
Nelson, Swan.
309
Noyes, N. G.
346
Nugent, Jobn.
443
().
O'Connor, John. 415
Odell, G. M. 444
Olds, J. K.
.815
Olive, Richard.
289
Osborn, B. F.
454
Osborne, Jobn
270
Oxley, E. T. 425
P.
Park, C. B .. .379
Park, O. W .429
Park, W. R 403
Parker, James.
326
Parmenter, F. II.
Paul, W. S ..
255
Perkins, W. II.
Perkins, W. H 134
Peterson, Martin 236
Pettit, J. E.
388
Phelps, E. P. 419
Pierce, W. H ..
414
Potter, Harvey 241
Q.
Quayle, John. .
.455
Quirk, Rev. M. J
434
R.
Raver, A. F.
.240
Ray, J. W.
.392
.287
Reese, G. W. 349
Martin, T. W. .442
Remick, L. B .. .371
Mathews, J. R. 303
Matteson, 1. J. .335
Maynard, S. C .. .412
McAllister, W. A 309
MeCarthy, John.
245
McCrory, W. L. 439
McChry, G. B. 307
Rice, Columbus 368
Mer aald, William
357
Mccuffie, M. B. .265
Mckay, John .349
McNaught, W. A. J .355
Richardson, M. II
252
Mecum, C. B ... .367
Ridle, J. H .287
Riley, E. Il. 343
Rinehart, Ellanan 290
Meyer, Philip.
346
Miller, R. W. 319
Rittgers, H. C.
456
Millett, T. A. 260
Rittgers, S. R.
400
Mish, J. J. 397
Moore, R. C. 402
Morden, R. P 274
Roberts, Roland. 337
Roberts, Thomas. 404
Roberts, Rev. Willam 279
Robinson, George
259
Robinson, I. E.
447
Robinson, Jonathan.
304
Roby, W. G. 424
Rogers, II. D.
Root, D. P. . 420
Rosa, Francis 284
Rowles, J. A. .285
Russell, Caleb. 327
Russell, J. J
389
Russell, N. F
293
Rutter, S. S. 453
S.
Sanders, James. .427
Sayers, M. (' 270
Schermerhorn, W. S. .255
Seaman, R. G ..
.363
Seaman, W. P.
.378
Semmons, W. J
310
Shannon, A. F .278
Shaw, Joel .. . 820
Shearman, Willian 380
Sherman, J. M . 416
Shipman, Horace.
453
Shreve, James
291
Smith, Aaron 386
Smith, J. W 246
Smith, P. A. 429
Smittle, Anton 453
Smittle, J. A. 397
States, G. W
422
Steele, J. M. 269
Stevens, W. R. 317
Stevens, William. .301
Stewart, Mrs. L. J 360
Stillman, E. B. 393
Stilson, Rev. Lyman 381
Stockwell, Levi 341
Stream, P. C .. 414
Stream, W. C.
.386
Stream, Wilson 388
Y
Yates, William.
.345
Young, F. W.
.456
Youngman, H. A.
449
.243
Wherry, J. P.
201
White, O. J
263
Whiteside, Samuel
266
Wiggins, S. W.
.349
Wight, Marion.
266
Wilkinson, John
.384
Will, Christian .. .385
Williams. J. D. 303
Williams, M. .345
Williamson, J. B. . 341
Williamson, J. J
421
Wilson, John. 348
Wilson, S. E. 374
Wilson, William 431
Winkelman, Benjamin. 375
Wood, Robert. 256
Woods, B. G. .337
Woods, C. A. 245
Wright, Ervin. .371
Wright, G. W .394
Wyant, G. W. 365
Walrad, Ilorace
321
Walton, Charles.
250
Ward, E. S.
.395
Warner, S. E ..
322
Watson, George.
.398
Way, C. W .. . .283
Weatherson, G. A. .366
Weatherson, J. II. 289
Wells, A. C ..
.369
Wessling, Daniel.
.336
West, B. F. 306
Morris, D. J
.449
Moss, J. E. . 390
Muir, Robert, Jr .399
Munn, G. W 308
Myers, H. R.
419
Reynolds, Patrick .420
Reynolds. Terrence. .859
Rhoads, J. M. 251
Rhoad, Samuel. 334
Rice, F. T. 422
Rice, John. 441
Richardson, Matthew. .351
Merrill, Mrs. E. II. 4.48
Metzger. C. C. 328
Ritchie, L. I. 307
Robbins, F. E.
239
Roberts, Eli .. 397
Martin, S. S. . .289
Reeder, J. M 418
Martin, T. B
Renner, William. 332
Renner, W. II ..
----
Westervelt, M. B
- -
-
--
CONTENTS.
Zellhoefer, W. F .920
Zimmerman, Stephen .. .. . . 370
GENERAL HISTORY.
Introductory. 459
Early Ilistory. 465
Official Register
474
Towns and V.llages.
511
RECORD OF CARROLL COUNTY, PERO
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
.1.
Adams, Edwin
.622
Amos, II. W. .612
Anderson, L. T .594
Annear, Joseph.
.597
Armstrong, Alexander
.537
Arts, William .613
B.
Babcock, C. W. .540
Bannister, William .561
Becker, W. L.
.629
Bedford, Alfred .5.12
Bedford, Charles.
.542
Beiter, Nicholas.
.578
Bell, Harvey 568
Bell, John. . 635
Berger, Peter. 535
Bingham, Samuel 555
Bohnenkamp, J. IF
.591
Bowman, Samuel. 578
Boyce, John ..
.559
Brand, Jacob .. .545
Brigham, L. P' 615
Bruning, Clemens. 609
Bruning. J. Il.
560
Byerly, J. H .594
C.
Carpenter, Henry 561
Charles. I .. ... 583
Chevalier, J. F. 586
Christmas, Daniel.
Colclo, C. C. .
549
C'onner, George 563
Cooley, II. J .632
Cooley, I. N
592
Cooney, John. 632
Coppock. J. J. .631
Couch, C. F. .556
Coulter, J. N.
533
Culver, M. M .571
Davis, Daniel.
.628
Deal, J. K.
515
Deshler, J. J 583
Diekey, J. II
.617
Diekson, Robert
530
Drees, J. M.
.564
Elliott, Asa
589
Elwood, Thomas
.558
Engleman, J. C.
.622
English, J. W.
.592
Erp, W. F.
.596
Everts, D. F. ,579
F.
Fendrich, Rev. John .597
Ferguson, George.
.611
Florencourt, F. F.
.619
Fobes, E.
.541
Frisbee, II. M
.608
Fuerth, J. J.
.552
Funk, E. M
.. 549
G.
Gabel, 11. . J .552
Gardner, J. W. 552
Gates, II. H ... 595
Geiselhart, Conrad. ,558
George, Ilenry.
,562
Gilley, Wil 573
Gnam, J. Il. .628
Graham, J. B. 623
Graves, J. J .625
Griffith, I. N 557
Griffith, J. E
Grote, Henry. .609
Guthrie, P. MI
11.
Harris, Arista
565
Harris, Isaac. 56-1
Hatfield, A. R. 618
llavens, J. ( ...
,591
Hayner, Robert. 604
le Helfinger, U. S. 536
Ilemesath, Rev. II. J
Henry, S. D. 609
Hess, J. P.
Hesslingh, George
565
Hesslingh, Herman 634
IIilan, David.
582
Hinkley, J. D. .618
Hobbs, J. W 560
Hoff, W. 555
Iloffman, Rev. J. P. 546
Hood, J. A .. 595
Horton, Oliver
,590
Howard, J. R. .587
lloyt, M. A.
.620
llungerford, J. B.
628
I.
Ingledue, O. C.
580
J.
Jeffries, George
562
Jerome, Orin. .614
Jobnson, I'. J.
621
Jones, U. C ..
576
K.
Kay, J. W.
Kloke, Ilenry. 613
Kniest, Lambert. 630
Kotas, John
587
Krause, F. W
586
Kuhn, Jacob. 539
L.
Lamont, Peter
577
Lawrence, C. S. 624
Leibfreid, F. M. 585
louthan, .I. II
599
Lynch, William
614
Lyons, L. M. .611
MI.
Maclean, P. M 599
Med'lue, T. B .. 608
MeCormack, G. W. .565
McKenna, T. S.
590
McQuaid, I. L.
.601
Politieal Ilistory 477
The Civil War. 484
The Press .. 489
Professional .
492
Miscellaneous.
496
Jefferson.
503
Zellhoefer, Rev. George.
Zavitz, W. D
280
Zeitler, Hillburu 271
Zeller, .1.
Zeller, James.
298
- ---
..
CONTENTS.
Meis, Conrad .. ,697
Miller, Michael . 615
Moershell, Ferdinand. .546
Mohler, Isaac.
.550
Moore, O.M.
538
Morlan, J. W.
.548
Morris, C. E.
626
Morrow, W. J. 603
N.
Nestle, John .568
Neu, Charles. .539
0.
O'Connor, Rev. P. J. . .. .... .607
P.
Paine, G. W. 589
Park, Andrew. .542
Parker, Cephas. 634
Parker, John .. .602
Parker, T. L.
581
Steigerwalt, W. F 600
Stevens, J. W. 619
Stevens, Robert 607
Stokes, George. 551
Stoll, L. S. 579
Stouffer, P. B 594
Strunk, H. J. 626
T.
Talbott, A. A
.569
Thorn, M. S. 624
Toune, E. B .. 580
Tregloan, W. G 553
Trowbridge, William
543
Tuel, Alexander.
.634
Turechek, Frank ..
.581
W.
Wagner, Theodore $19
Waldron, W. F. 567
Wegmann, Rev. Theo. 623 Weiland, G. A. 602
Weiland, J. J. 617
Westbrook, C. H. .575
Wetter, George. 535
Whitman, C. S .616
Whitney, J. R .. 623
Wiedemeier, Joseph. 567
Williams, R. R. 596
Wilson, Samuel. ,598
Wine, E. S. . .
.588
Winnett, G. M
.548
GENERAL HISTORY.
Introductory. 639
Early and Civil History .643
Political and Official .. .661
The Civil War.
The Press ..
Professional 674
Miscellaneous .678
Carroll ..
685
Towns and Villages.
.694
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Adams, John .. 15
Adams, John Quincy 39
Armstrong, T. J. 296
Arthur, Chester A. . 119
Briggs, Ansel 178
Buchanan, James. 81
Carpenter, Cyrus C. 206
Chambers, John. 170
Clarke, James. 170
Cleveland, Grover 116
Fillmore, Millard.
Garfield, James A .. 108
Gear, John H. 214
Gilley, William. 572
Grant, Ulysses S. 97
Grimes, James W. .186
Gulick, .I. P. 330
Gulick, Mrs .. 330
Harrison, William Henry. 57
Ilayes, Rutherford B. 103
Hempstead, Stephen. 182
Iowa State House. 192
Jackson, Andrew 46
Jefferson, Thomas. 21
.Johnson, Andrew. 92
Kirkwood, Samuel J 194
Larrabee, William 299
Lincoln, Abraham. 85
Lowe, Ralph P 190
Lucas, Robert. 170
Madison, James.
Merrill, Samuel. 202
Monroe, James.
Newbold, Joshua G. 210
Pierce, Franklin.
Polk, James K. . 65
Sherman, Buren R. 218
Stevens, Robert .. 60G
Stone, William M 198
Taylor, Zachary 69
Tyler, John .. 61
Van Buren, Martin.
Washington, George.
White, O. J
969
Q.
Quint, S. C.
.. 589
R
Radeleff, II. D 593
Reever, E. II. 604
Reid, T. C ... .629
Rhoades, Cyrus.
625
Ribble, Crockett .616
Richman, E. F .556
Ricke, J. II. .557
Ricke, Richard. 697
Roberts, Moses .. 563
Roderick, Thomas
566
Roush, Valentine.
566
S.
Salinger, B. I. 584
Schelle, F. J .610
Schmich, Michael 554
Schulze, D. & Son. .574
Shirk, D.
538
Smith, M. S. 624
Smith, Seth.
575
Soat, HI. F
.556
Soper, O.J.
570
Staak, August. .551
Stearns, L. A. 603
Parsons, E. M. 540
Patton, U. L. . 559
Platner, W. II. 621
Powell, Henry
569
Preston, Sylvester 633
19
11:1/号/ウノラ////元/有//電
IHajhunter
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 Ball. Of six children by his second mar- riage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John, Au- gustinc, 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 devef- 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 cs- 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- tinned 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
25
-
. ...
-
-
.
-
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
self-government, which, after ten years, cul- minated by act of Parliament of the port of Boston. It was at the instance of Virginia that a congress of all the colonies was called to meet at Philadelphia September 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties-if possible by peaceful means. To this Congress Colonel Washington was sent as a dele- gate. On dissolving in October, it recom- mended the colonies to send deputies to another Congress the following spring. In the meantime several of the colonies felt impelled to raise local forces to repel in- sults and aggressions on the part of British troops, so that on the assembling of the next Congress, May 10, 1775, the war prepara- tions of the mother country were unmis- takable. The battles of Concord and Lex- ington had been fought. Among the earliest acts, therefore, of the Congress was the selection of a commander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This office was unani- mously conferred upon Washington, still a member of the Congress. He accepted it on June 19, but on the express condition he should receive no salary.
He immediately repaired to the vicinity of Boston, against which point the British ministry had concentrated their forces. As early as April General Gage had 3,000 troops in and around this proscribed city. During the fall and winter the British policy clearly indicated a purpose to divide pub- lic sentiment and to build up a British party in the colonies. Those who sided with the ministry were stigmatized by the patriots as " Tories," while the patriots took to them- selves the name of " Whigs."
As early as 1776 the leading men had come to the conclusion that there was no hope except in separation and indepen- dence. In May of that year Washington wrote from the head of the army in New York: " A reconciliation with Great Brit- ain is impossible. .When I took command of the army, I abhorred the idea
of independence ; but I am now fully satis- fied that nothing else will save us."
It is not the object of this sketch to trace the military acts of the patriot hero, to whose hands the fortunes and liberties of the United States were confided during the seven years' bloody struggle that ensued until the treaty of 1783, in which England acknowledged the independence of each of the thirteen States, and negotiated with them, jointly, as separate sovereignties. The merits of Washington as a military chief- tain have been considerably discussed, espe- cially by writers in his own country. Dur- ing the war he was most bitterly assailed for incompetency, and great efforts were made to displace him ; but he never for a moment lost the confidence of either the Congress or the people. December 4, 1783, the great commander took leave of his offi- cers in most affectionate and patriotic terms, and went to Annapolis, Maryland, where the Congress of the States was in session, and to that body, when peace and order prevailed everywhere, resigned his com- mission and retired to Mount Vernon.
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
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.