A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 24

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 806

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W ILLIAM H. BEARD, the humorist among American painters, was born at Painesville, Ohio, in 1821. His father, James H. Beard, was also a painter of na- tional reputation. William H. Beard be- gan his career as a traveling portrait painter. He pursued his studies in New York, and later removed to Buffalo, where he achieved reputation. He then went to

Italy and after a short stay returned to New York and opened a studio. One of his earliest paintings was a small picture called "Cat and Kittens," which was placed in the National Academy on exhibition. Among his best productions are "Raining Cats and Dogs," "The Dance of Silenus," "Bears on a Bender," "Bulls and Bears," " Whoo!" " Grimalkin's Dream," "Little Red Riding Hood," "The Guardian of the Flag." His animal pictures convey the most ludicrous and satirical ideas, and the intelligent, human expression in their faces is most comical. Some artists and critics have re- fused to give Mr. Beard a place among the first circles in art, solely on account of the class of subjects he has chosen.

W W. CORCORAN, the noted philan- throphist, was born at Georgetown, District of Columbia, December 27, 1798. At the age of twenty-five he entered the banking business in Washington, and in time became very wealthy. He

was noted for his magnificent donations to char- ity. Oak Hill cemetery was donated to Georgetown in 1847, and ten years later the Corcoran Art Gallery, Temple of Art, was presented to the city of Washington. The uncompleted building was utilized by the government as quartermaster's headquar- ters during the war. The building was completed after the war at a cost of a mil- lion and a half dollars, all the gift of Mr. Corcoran. The Louise Home for Women is another noble charity to his credit. Its object is the care of women of gentle breed- ing who in declining years are without means of support. In addition to this he gave liberally to many worthy institutions of learning and charity. He died at Wash- ington February 24, 1888.

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A1 LBERT BIERSTADT, the noted paint- er of American landscape, was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1829, and was brought to America by his parents at the age of two years. He received his early . education here, but returned to Dusseldorf to study painting, and also went to Rome. On his return to America he accompanied Lander's expedition across the continent, in 1858, and soon after produced his most popular work, "The Rocky Mountains- Lander's Peak." Its boldness and grandeur were so unusual that it made him famous. The picture sold for twenty-five thousand dollars. In 1867 Mr. Bierstadt went to Europe, with a government commission, and gathered materials for his great historic- al work, "Discovery of the North River by Hendrik Hudson." Others of his great works were "Storm in the Rocky Mount- ains," "Valley of the Yosemite," "North Fork of the Platte," "Diamond Pool," " Mount Hood," "Mount Rosalie," and "The Sierra Nevada Mountains." His "Estes Park" sold for fifteen thousand dollars, and "Mount Rosalie" brought thirty-five thousand dollars. His smaller Rocky mountain scenes, however, are vast- ly superior to his larger works in execution and coloring.

A DDISON CAMMACK, a famous mill- ionaire Wall street speculator, was born in Kentucky. When sixteen years old he ran away from home and went to New Orleans, where he went to work in a ship- ping house. He outlived and outworked all the partners, and became the head of the firm before the opening of the war. At that time he fitted out small vessels and en- gaged in running the blockade of southern ports and carrying ammunition, merchan- dise, etc., to the southern people. This

made him a fortune. At the close of the war he quit business and went to New York. For two years he did not enter any active business, but seemed to be simply an on-looker in the great speculative center of America. He was observing keenly the methods and financial machinery, however, and when, in 1867, he formed a partnership with the popular Charles J. Osborne, the firm began to prosper. He never had an office on the street, but wandered into the various brokers' offices and placed his orders as he saw fit. In 1873 he dissolved his partnership with Osborne and operated alone. He joined a band of speculative conspirators known as the "Twenty-third party," and was the ruling spirit in that or- ganization for the control of the stock mar- ket. He was always on the "bear " side and the only serious obstacle he ever encoun- tered was the persistent boom in industrial stocks, particularly sugar, engineered by James R. Keane. Mr. Cammack fought Keane for two years, and during the time is said to have lost no less than two million dollars before he abandoned the fight.

W TALT. WHITMAN .- Foremost among the lesser poets of the latter part of the nineteenth century, the gentleman whose name adorns the head of this article takes a conspicuous place.

Whitman was born at West Hills, Long Island, New York, May 13, 1809. In the schools of Brooklyn he laid the foundation of his education, and early in life learned the printer's trade. For a time he taught coun- try schools in his native state. In 1846-7 he was editor of the " Brooklyn Eagle, " but in 1848-9 was on the editorial staff of the "Crescent, " of New Orleans. He made an extended tour throughout the United States and Canada, and returned to

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Brooklyn, where, in 1850, he published the "Freeman. " For some years succeeding this he was engaged as carpenter and builder. During the Civil war, Whitman acted as a volunteer nurse in the hospitals at Washington and vicinity and from the close of hostilities until 1873 he was employed in various clerkships in the government offices in the nation's capital. In the latter year he was stricken with paralysis as a result of his labors in the hospital, it is said, and being partially disabled lived for many years at Camden, New Jersey.

The first edition of the work which was to bring him fame, "Leaves of Grass," was published in 1855 and was but a small volume of about ninety-four pages. Seven or eight editions of "Leaves of Grass" have been issued, each enlarged and enriched with new poems. "Drum Taps," at first a separate publication, has been incorporated with the others. This volume and one prose writing entitled " Specimen Days and Collect," constituted his whole work.

Walt. Whitman died at Camden, New Jersey, March 26, 1892.

H ENRY DUPONT, who became cele- brated as America's greatest manufact- urer of gunpowder, was a native of Dela- ware, born August 8, 1812. He received his education in its higher branches at the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated and entered the army as second lieutenant of artillery in 1833. In 1834 he resigned and became proprietor of the extensive gunpowder manufacturing plant that bears his name, near Wilmington, Delaware. His large business interests interfered with his tak- ing any active participation in political life, although for many years he served as adjutant-general of his native state a d

during the war as major-general command- ing the Home Guards. He died August 8, 1889. His son, Henry A. Dupont, also was a native of Delaware, and was born July 30, 1838. After graduating from West Point in 1861, he entered the army as second lieutenant of engineers. Shortly after he was transferred to the Fifth Artillery as first lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1864, serving in camp and garrison most of the time. He was in com- mand of a battery in the campaign of 1863-4. Aschief of artillery of the army of West Virginia, he figured until the close of the war, being in the battles of Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar . Creek, besides many minor engagements. He afterward acted as instructor in the artillery school at Fortress Monroe, and on special duty at West Point. He resigned from the army March 1, 1875.

W TILLIAM DEERING, one of the fa- mous manufacturers of America, and also a philanthropist and patron of educa- tion, was born in Maine in 1826. His an- cestors were English, having settled in New England in 1634. Early in life it was Will- iam's intention to become a physician, and after completing his common-school educa- tion, when about eighteen years of age, he began an apprenticeship with a physician. A short time later, however, at the request of his father, he took charge of his father's business interests, which included a woolen mill, retail store and grist mill, after which he became agent for a dry goods commission house in Portland, where he was married. Later he became partner in the firm, and removed to New York. The business pros- pered, and after a number of years, on ac- count of failing health, Mr. Deering sold his interest to his partner, a Mr. Milner. The

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business has since made Mr. Milner a mill- ionaire many times over. A few years later Mr. Deering located in Chicago. His beginning in the manufacture of reapers, which has since made his name famous, was somewhat of an accident. He had loaned money to a man in that business, and in 1878 was compelled to buy out the business to protect his interests. The busi- ness developed rapidly and grew to immense proportions. The factories now cover sixty- two acres of ground and employ many thou- sands of men.

JOHN MCALLISTER SCHOFIELD, an

American general, was born in Chautau- qua county, New York, September 29, 1831. Hegraduated at West Point in 1853, and was for five years assistant professor of nat- ural philosophy in that institution. In 1861 he entered the volunteer service as major of the First Missouri Volunteers, and was ap- pointed chief of staff by General Lyon, under whom he fought at the battle of Wilson's Creek. In November, 1861, he was ap- pointed brigadier general of volunteers, and was placed in command of the Missouri militia until November, 1862, and of the army of the frontier from that time until 1863. In 1862 he was made major-general of volunteers, and was placed in command of the Department of the Missouri, and in 1864 of the Department of the Ohio. During the campaign through Georgia General Scho- field was in command of the Twenty-third Army Corps, and was engaged in most of the fighting of that famous campaign. Novem- ber 30, 1864, he defeated Hood's army at Franklin, Tennessee, and then joined Gen- eral Thomas at Nashville. He took part in the battle of Nashville, where Hood's army was destroyed. In January, 1865, he led his corps into North Carolina, captured

Wilmington, fought the battle of Kingston, and joined General Sherman at Goldsboro March 22, 1865. He executed the details of the capitulation of General Johnston to Sherman, which practically closed the war.

In June, 1868, General Schofield suc- ceeded Edwin M. Stanton as secretary of war, but was the next year appointed major- general of the United States army, and order- ed to the Department of the Missouri. From 1870 to 1876 he was in command of the De- partment of the Pacific; from 1876 to 1881 superintendent of the West Point Military Academy; in 1883 he was in charge of the Department of the Missouri, and in 1886 of the division of the Atlantic. In 1888 he became general-in-chief of the United States army, and in February, 1895, was appoint- ed lieutenant-general by President Cleve- land, that rank having been revived by con- gress. In September, 1895, he was retired from active service.

L EWIS WALLACE, an American gen- eral and famous author, was born in Brookville, Indiana, April 10, 1827. He served in the Mexican war as first lieutenant of a company of Indiana Volunteers. After his return from Mexico he was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Covington and Crawfordsville, Indiana, until 1861. At the opening of the war he was appointed ad- jutant-general of Indiana, and soon after be- came colonel of the Eleventh Indiana Vol- unteers. He defeated a force of Confeder- ates at Romney, West Virginia, and was made brigadier-general in September, 1861. At the capture of Fort Donelson in 1862 he commanded a division, and was engaged in the second day's fight at Shiloh. In 1863 his defenses about Cincinnati saved that city from capture by Kirby Smith. At Monoc- acy in July, 1864, he was defeated, but

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his resistance delayed the advance of Gen- eral Early and thus saved Washington from capture.

General Wallace was a member of the court that tried the assassins of President Lincoln, and also of that before whom Cap- tain Henry Wirtz, who had charge of the Andersonville prison, was tried. In 1881 General Wallace was sent as minister to Turkey. When not in official service he devoted much of his time to literature. Among his better known works are his "Fair God," "Ben Hur," "Prince of India, " and a " Life of Benjamin Harrison."

THOMAS FRANCIS BAYARD, an. Ameri- can statesman and diplomat, was born at Wilmington, Delaware, October 29, 1828. He obtained his education at an Episcopal academy at Flushing, Long Island, and after a short service in a mercantile house in New York, he returned to Wilmington and entered his father's law office to prepare himself for the practice of that profession. He was admitted to the bar in 1851. He was appointed to the office of United States district attorney for the state of Delaware, serving one year. In 1869 he was elected to the United States senate, and continuously represented his state in that body until 1885, and in 1881, when Chester A. Arthur entered the presidential chair, Mr. Bayard was chosen president pro tempore of the senate. He had also served on the famous electoral commission that decided the Hayes-Tilden contest in 1876-7. In 1885 President Cleve- land appointed Mr. Bayard secretary of state. At the beginning of Cleveland's sec- ond term, in 1893, Mr. Bayard was selected for the post of ambassador at the court of St. James, London, and was the first to hold that rank in American diplomacy, serving until the beginning of the Mckinley admin-

istration. The questions for adjustment at that time between the two governments were the Behring Sea controversy and the Venezuelan boundary question. He was very popular in England because of his tariff views, and because of his criticism of the protective policy of the United States in his public speeches delivered in London, Edinburgh and other places, he received, in March, 1896, a vote of censure in the lower house of congress.

JOHN WORK GARRETT, for so many years at the head of the great Baltimore & Ohio railroad system, was born in Balti- more, Maryland, July 31, 1820. His father, Robert Garrett, an enterprising merchant, had amassed a large fortune from a small beginning. The son entered Lafayette Col- lege in 1834, but left the following year and entered his father's counting room, and in 1839 became a partner. John W. Gar- rett took a great interest in the develop- ment of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He was elected one of the directors in 1857, and was its president from 1858 until his death. When he took charge of the road it was in an embarrassed condition, but within a year, for the first time in its exist- ence, it paid a dividend, the increase in its net gains being $725,385. After the war, during which the road suffered much damage from the Confederates, numerous branches and connecting roads were built or acquired, until it reached colossal proportions. Mr. Garrett was also active in securing a regular line of steamers between Baltimore and Bremen, and between the same port and Liverpool. He was one of the most active trustees of Johns Hopkins University, and a liberal contributor to the Young Men's Christian Association of Baltimore. He died September 26, 1884.

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Robert Garrett, the son of John W. Garrett, was born in Baltimore April 9, 1847, and graduated from Princeton in 1867. He received a business education in the banking house of his father, and in 1871 became president of the Valley Railroad of Virginia. He was made third vice-presi- dent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in IS79, and first vice-president in 1881. He succeeded his father as president in 1884. Robert Garrett died July 29, 1896.

C ARL SCHURZ, a noted German-Ameri- canstatesman, was born in Liblar, Prus- sia, March 2, 1829. He studied at the Uni- versity of Bonn, and in 1849 was engaged in an attempt to excite an insurrection at that place. After the surrender of Rastadt by the revolutionists, in the defense of which Schurz took part, he decided to emigrate to America. He resided in Philadelphia three years, and then settled in Watertown, Wis- consin, and in 1859 removed to Milwaukee, where he practiced law. On the organiza- tion of the Republican party he became a leader of the German element and entered the campaign for Lincoln in 1860. He was appointed minister to Spain in 1861, but re- signed in December of that year to enter the army. He was appointed brigadier- general in 1862, and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, and also at Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg he had temporary command of the Eleventh Army Corps, and also took part in the battle of Chattanooga.

After the war he located at St. Louis, and in 1869 was elected United States sena- tor from Missouri. He supported Horace Greeley for the presidency in 1872, and in the campaign of 1876, having removed to New York, he supported Hayes and the Re- publican ticket, and was appointed secre-

tary of the interior in 1877. In ISSI he became editor of the "New York Evening Post," and in 1884 was prominent in his opposition to James G. Blaine, and became a leader of the "Mugwumps," thus assist- ing in the election of Cleveland. In the presidential campaign of 1896 his forcible speeches in the interest of sound money wielded an immense influence. Mr. Schurz wrote a "Life of Henry Clay," said to- be the best biography ever published of that eminent statesman.

G EORGE F. EDMUNDS, an American statesman of national reputation, was born in Richmond, Vermont, February 1, 1828. His education was obtained in the public schools and from the instructions of a private tutor. He was admitted to the bar, practiced law, and served in the state legislature from 1854 to 1859, during three years of that time being speaker of the lower house. He was elected to the state senate and acted as president pro tempore of that body in 1861 and 1862. He became promi- nent for his activity in the impeachment proceedings against President Johnson, and was appointed to the United States senate to fill out the unexpired term of Solomon Foot, entering that body in 1866. He was re-elected to the senate four times, and served on the electoral commission in 1877. He became president pro tempore of the senate after the death of President Garfield, and was the author of the bill which put an end to the practice of polygamy in the ter- ritory of Utah. In November, 1891, owing to impaired health, he retired from the sen- ate and again resumed the practice of law.

L UCIUS Q. C. LAMAR, a prominent political leader, statesman and jurist, was born in Putnam county, Georgia, Sep-

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tember 17, 1825. He graduated from Emory College in 1845, studied law at Macon under Hon. A. H. Chappell, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. He moved to Oxford, Mississippi, in 1849, and was elected to a professorship in the State University. He resigned the next year and returned to Cov- ington, Georgia, and resumed the practice of law. In 1853 he was elected to the Georgia Legislature, and in 1854 he removed to his plantation in Lafayette county, Mis- sissippi, and was elected to represent his district in the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth congresses. He resigned in 1860, and was sent as a delegate to the secession conven- tion of the state. He entered the Confed- erate service in 1861 as lieutenant-colonel of the Nineteenth Regiment, and was soon after made colonel. In 1863 President Davis appointed him to an important diplo- matic mission to Russia. In 1866 he was elected professor of political economy and social science in the State University, and was soon afterward transferred to the pro- fessorship of the law department. He rep- resented his district in the forty-third and forty-fourth congresses, and was elected United States senator from Mississippi in 1877, and re-elected in 1882. In 1885, be- fore the expiration of his term, he was appointed by President Cleveland as secre- tary of the interior, which position he held until his appointment as associate justice of the United States supreme court, in 1888, in which capacity he served until his death, January 23. 1894.

B ENJAMIN PENHALLOW SHILLA- BER won fame in the world of humorists under the name of "Mrs. Parting- ton." He was born in 1841 at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and started out in life as a printer. Mr. Shillaber went to Dover,

where he secured employment in a printing office, and from there he went to Demerara, Guiana, where he was employed as a com- positor in 1835-37. In 1840 he became connected with the "Boston Post," and acquired quite a reputation as a humorist by his "Sayings of Mrs. Partington." He remained as editor of the paper until 1850, when he printed and edited a paper of his. own called the "Pathfinder," which he con- tinued until 1852. Mr. Shillaber be- came editor and proprietor of the "Carpet Bag," which he conducted during 1850-52, and then returned to the "Boston Post," with which he was connected until 1856. During the same time he was one of the editors of the "Saturday Evening Gazette," and continued in this line after he severed his connection with the "Post," for ten years. After 1866 Mr. Shillaber wrote for various newspapers and periodicals, and during his life published the following books: "Rhymes with Reason and Without, " "Poems," "Life and Sayings of Mrs. Part- ington," "Knitting Work," and others. His death occurred at Chelsea, Massachu- setts, November 25, 1890.

FASTMAN JOHNSON stands first among painters of American country life. He was born in Lovell, Maine, in 1824, and be- gan his work in drawing at the age of eight- een years. His first works were portraits, and, as he took up his residence in Wash- ington, the most famous men of the nation were his subjects. In 1846 he went to Bos- ton, and there made crayon portraits of Longfellow, Emerson, Sumner, Hawthorne and other noted men. In 1849 he went to Europe. He studied at Dusseldorf, Ger- many; spent a year at the Royal Academy, and thence to The Hague, where he spent four years, producing there his first pictures

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of consequence, "The Card-Players " and " The Savoyard." He then went to Paris, but was called home, after an absence from America of six years. He lived some time in Washington, and then spent two years among the Indians of Lake Superior. In 1858 he produced his famous picture, "The Old Kentucky Home." He took up his permanent residence at New York at that time. His "Sunday Morning in Virginia " is a work of equal merit. He was espe- cially successful in coloring, a master of drawing, and the expression conveys with precision the thought of the artist. His portrayal of family life and child life is un- equalled. Among his other great works are "The Confab," "Crossing a Stream,' " Chimney Sweep," "Old Stage Coach," " The New Bonnet," " The Drummer Boy," "Childhood of Lincoln," and a great vari- ety of equally familiar subjects.

P IERCE GUSTAVE TOUTANT BEAU- REGARD, one of the most distin- guished generals in the Confederate army, was born near New Orleans, Louisiana, May 28, 1818. He graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1838, and was made second lieutenant of engineers. He was with General Scott in Mexico, and dis- tinguished himself at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, and the battles near the City of Mexico, for which he was twice brevetted. After the Mexican war closed he was placed in charge of defenses about New Orleans, and in 1860 was appointed superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He held this position but a few months, when he resigned February 20, 1861, and accepted a commission of briga- dier-general in the Confederate army. He directed the attack on Fort Sumter, the first engagement of the Civil war. He was 12

in command of the Confederates at the first battle of Bull Run, and for this victory was made general. In 1862 he was placed in command of the Army of the Mississippi, and planned the attack upon General Grant at Shiloh, and upon the death of General Johnston he took command of the army and was only defeated by the timely arrival of General Buell with reinforcements. He commanded at Charleston and successfully defended that city against the combined at- tack by land and sea in 1863. In 1864 he was in command in Virginia, defeating Gen- eral Butler, and resisting Grant's attack upon Petersburg until reinforced from Rich- mond. During the long siege which fol- lowed he was sent to check General Sher- man's march to the sea, and was with Gen- eral Joseph E. Johnston when that general surrendered in 1865. After the close of the war he was largely interested in railroad management. In 1866 he was offered chief command of the Army of Roumania, and in 1869, that of the Army of Egypt. He de- clined these offers. His death occurred February 20, 1893.

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A Biographical history of Darke County, Ohio : compendium of national biography, Part 24

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 806

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 806