USA > Ohio > Knox County > The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography > Part 49
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Allen Scholes, the eldest son and second child was in his fifteenth year when he came to Knox county. He has attended the dis- trict schools of Ashland county and in the public schools of this locality he continued his education, while at the age of twenty years he began teaching. He followed that profession through twenty terms, during the winter months, while in the summer season he devoted his energies to agricultural pur- sttits. As an educator his services were very acceptable in the districts where he was em- ployed, for he had the ability not only to command discipline but also to impart clear- ly and correctly to others the knowledge he had acquired.
In 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Scholes and Miss Mary J. Nyhart, a native of Jefferson township and a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Smith) Nyhart, who were early settlers of Jefferson (township. Five children, three daughters and two sons, graced this marriage, namely: Lola May, the wife of Charles Anwiller, of Brown township; Charles F., a resident of Akron; John E., who is living at home; Lucy A., the wife of Arthur Richart; and 'Goldie B., who is still under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Scholes began their do-
24
378
A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
mestic life upon the farm where they yet re- side, and it has been their home continuously since. He is an enterprising agriculutrist and his land, a tract of eighty-three and one- half acres, is all under a high state of culti- vation, giving evidence of his careful super- vision. He follows general farming and stock-raising and his labors are attended with a gratifying degree of success. His political support is given the Democracy, and for fifteen years he served as township clerk, while in 1880 he was land appraiser and census enumerator. In 1901 he was a can- didate for county auditor. As a public officer he has enjoyed and merited the con- fidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen, for in the discharge of his public duties he has displayed marked fidelity and ability. Socially he is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry and his religious faith is indi- cated by his membership in the Methodist church, in which he has taken a very active part, filling many offices, including those of class-leader, trustee and steward. For seven years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school and in every department of Christian activity he is found as an able helper, doing all in his power to promote the cause of the church in the community in which he resides. His life is consistent with his principles, and his sterling qualities of manhood commend him to the esteem of a large circle of friends.
WILLIAM H. GREEN.
William H. Green, now deceased, was a leading and enterprising farmer of Monroe township and his many sterling qualities have gained for him the high respect of all
who knew him, so that his loss was deeply felt throughout the community. He was born October 15. 1845, in Delaware county, Ohio, a son of William and Mary A. (Cark- er) Green, in whose family were four chil- dren, two yet living-Charles, of Mount . Vernon, Ohio, and Mary J., the wife of William Horn, of Monroe township. The father was born in England, and when a young man came to the United States, locat- ing in New York, where he was married. Soon afterward he started with his wife for Knox county, Ohio, settling first on Schenck's creek. Soon, however, he went to Delaware county, where he had a brother living, and there remained for a short time, when he again came to this county, his home being in Monroe township up to the time of his death. In early life he engaged in the butchering business but later became a farm- er, and that pursuit occupied his attention throughout his remaining days. His politi- cal support was given the Republican party and in religious faith he was an Episco- palian.
William H. Green was reared upon the home farm and at twenty-one years of age he made arrangements to work for his father for wages, being thus employed until his marriage, which occurred in 1876, Miss Sarah J. Marsh becoming his wife. The lady is a daughter of Eber and Sophia (Jack- son) Marsh, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the former being born February 27, 1807, the latter on the 17th of June, 1808. They were married in the Green Mountain state and then removed to New York, settling in Franklin county, where they resided upon a farm for twelve years, during a portion of which time Mr. Marsh also worked at his trade of carpentering. In
379
OF KNOX COUNTY, OHIO.
1837 he came to Knox county, Ohio, and took up his abode in Mount Vernon, where he was identified with the building interests for two years. He then purchased a small tract of land in Monroe township, built thereon a residence and made it his home until his death, in February, 1876. His wife, surviving him for a number of years, passed away in September, 1892. They were active members of the Universalist church and peo- ple of the highest respectability, enjoying the warm regard of many friends in their Ohio home. Mr. Marsh gave his political support to the Republican party and kept well informed on the issues of the day, but has not sought office as a reward for party fealty.
For two years after his marriage Mr. Green and his bride resided upon his father's farm and then he purchased fifty acres of land, constituting the nucleus of the present home farm. As his financial resources in- creased he extended the boundaries of his property until he had one hundred and eighty-eight acres, constituting one of the
fine farms of the county. He placed the land under a high state of cultivation and added all the improvements and accessories known to the model farm. He was very thorough and systematic in his work and his well directed labors made him a prosperous farmer.
Mr. Green voted with the Republican party and warmly endorsed its principles and policy but never aspired to office, pre- ferring to give his attention in undivided manner to his farm work. He was straight- forward in all his dealings, reliable and pro- gressive, and his many excellent traits of character won for him the admiration and friendship of many with whom he was asso- ciated. He passed away February 27, 1892, widely mourned throughout the community. Mrs. Green still resides upon the farm left her by her husband and gives to it her per- sonal supervision. She is a lady of excellent business qualities as well as womanly traits of character, and while the former insure her success the latter have gained for her true and warm-hearted regard.
PART II
-
COMPENDIUM OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY
INDEX
PART II
COMPENDIUM OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF NATIONAL CELEBRITIES.
PAGE
Abbott, Lyman 144
Adams, Charles Kendall. 143
Adams, Jobn . 25
Adams, John Quincy 61
Agassiz, Louis J. R. 137
Alger, Russell A ..
173
Allison, William B
131
Allston, Washington 190
Altgeld, John Peter 140
Andrews, Elisha B
184
Anthony, Susan B. 62
Armour, Philip D 62
Arnold, Benedict . .
84
Arthur, Chester Allen 168
Astor, John Jacob.
139
Audubon, John James 166
Bailey, James Montgomery 177 Bancroft, George ... 74
Barnard, Frederick A. P 179 Cameron, Simon. 141
Barnum, Phineas T 41
Barrett, Lawrence.
156
Barton, Clara.
209
Bayard, Thomas Francis. 200
Beard, William H .. 196 Beauregard, Pierre G. T 203
Beecher, Henry Ward .. 26
Bell, Alexander Graham 96 Bennett, James Gordon. 206
Benton, Thomas Hart 53
Bergh, Henry 160
Bierstadt, Albert. 197
Billings, Josh. 166
Blaine, James Gillespie.
22
Bland, Richard Parks.
106
PAGE
Boone, Daniel
36
Booth, Edwin . 51 Colfax, Schuyler, 139
Booth, Junius Brutus.
177
Conklin, Alfred.
32
Brice, Calvin S
181
Brooks, Phillips
130
Brown, John 51
Brown, Charles Farrar. 91 Cooper, Peter. 37
Brush, Charles Francis. 153
Bryan, William Jennings 158
Bryant, William Cullen 44
Buchanan, Franklin 105
Buchanan, James 128 Cramp, William. 189
Buckner, Simon Boliver 188
Burdette, Robert J. 103
Burr, Aaron
111
Butler, Benjamin Franklin
24
Calhoun, John Caldwell 23
Cameron, James Donald. 141
Cammack, Addison 197
Campbell, Alexander. 180
Carlisle, John G. 133
Carnegie, Andrew. 73
Carpenter, Matthew Hale. 178
Carson, Christopher (Kit). 86
Cass, Lewis. . . 110
Chase, Salmon Portland. 65
Childs, George W 83
Choate, Rufus.
207
Clay, Henry 21
Clemens, Samuel Langhorne ..
86
Cleveland, Grover ..
174
Clews, Henry.
153
PAGE.
Clinton, DeWitt.
110
Conklin, Roscoe. 32
Cooley, Thomas Mcintyre 140
Cooper, James Fenimore. 58
Copely, John Singleton 191
Corbin, Austin. . 205
Corcoran, W. W
196
Cornell, Ezra .. 161
Crockett, David. 76
Cullom, Shelby Moore
116
Curtis, George William
144
Cushman, Charlotte.
107
Custer, George A
95
Dana, Charles A.
88
"Danbury News Man
177
Davenport, Fanny. 106 Davis, Jefferson. 24
Debs, Eugene V
132
Decatur, Stephen 101
Deering, William. 198
Depew, Chauncey Mitchell 209 Dickinson, Anna. 103
Dickinson, Don M.
139
Dingley, Nelson, Jr 215
Chaflin, Horace Brigham. 107 Donnelly, Ignatius. 161
Douglas, Stephen Arnold. 53
Douglass, Frederick.
43
Dow, Neal.
108
Draper, John William.
184
TABLE OF CONTENTS-PART II
PAGE
Drexel, Anthony Joseph.
124
Dupont, Henry ..
198
Edison, Thomas Alva
55
Edmunds, George F
201
Ellsworth, Oliver
168
Emerson, Ralph Waldo
57
Ericsson, John ..
127
Evarts, William Maxwell.
89
Farragut, David Glascoe
80
Field, Cyrus West.
173
Field, David Dudley.
126
Jackson, Thomas Jonathan
67
Field, Marshall ..
59
Jay, John. .
39
Field, Stephen Johnson
216
Fillmore, Millard ..
113
Foote, Andrew Hull 176
Foraker, Joseph B.
143
Forrest, Edwin ..
92
Franklin, Benjamin
18
Jones, James K
171
Fremont, John Charles ..
29
Jones, John Paul
97
Fuller, Melville Weston.
168
Fulton, Robert.
62
Gage, Lyman J.
71
Gallatin, Albert.
112
Garfield, James A. 163
Garrett, John Work. 200
Garrison, William Lloyd.
50
Gates, Horatio
70
Gatling, Richard Jordan 116
George, Henry.
203
Gibbons, Cardinal James.
209
Gilmore, Patrick Sarsfield. 77
Girard, Stephen
137
Gould, Jay.
52
Gordon, John B. 215
Grant, Ulysses S 155
Gray, Asa ..
88
Gray, Elisha.
149
Greeley, Adolphus W 142
Greeley, Horace. 20
Greene, Nathaniel.
69
Gresham, Walter Quintin
183
Hale, Edward Everett ..
79
Hamilton, Alexander. 31
Hamlin, Hannibal. 214
Hampton, Wade
192
Hancock, Winfield Scott ...
146
Hanna, Marcus Alonzo.
169
Harris, Isham G.
214
Harrison, William Henry 87
Harrison, Benjamin 182
Harvard, John ..
129
Havemeyer, John Craig
182
Moody, Dwight L.
207
Hawthorne, Nathaniel.
135
Moran, Thomas
98
Hayes, Rutherford Birchard. 157
Hendricks, Thomas Andrew. . 212
Henry, Joseph. 105
Henry, Patrick. 83
Hill, David Bennett
90
Hobart, Garrett A ..
213
Holmes, Oliver Wendell
206
Hooker, Joseph
52
Howe, Elias.
130
Howells, William Dean.
104
PAGE
PAGE
Olney, Richard.
133
Palmer, John M.
195
Parkhurst, Charles Henry.
160
" Partington, Mrs."
202
Peabody, George.
170
Peck, George W.
187
Peffer, William A. 164
Perkins, Eli ..
109
Perry, Oliver Hazard 97
Phillips, Wendell.
30
Pierce, Franklin.
122
Poe, Edgar Allen
69
Polk, James Knox.
102
Porter, David Dixon. 68
Porter, Noah.
93
Prentice, George Denison
119
Prescott, William Hickling
96
Pullman, George Mortimer. 121
Quad, M
193
Quay Matthew S.
171
Randolph, Edmund.
136
Read, Thomas Buchanan.
132
Reed, Thomas Brackett.
208
Lee, Robert Edward.
38
Reid, Whitelaw.
149
Lewis, Charles B.
193
Roach, John
190
Rockefeller, John Davison.
195
Root, George Frederick
218
Rothermel, Peter F.
113
Rutledge, John
57
Sage, Russell.
211
Schofield, John McAllister.
199
Schurz, Carl.
201
Scott, Thomas Alexander.
204
Scott, Winfield.
79
Seward, William Henry 44
Sharon, William.
165
Shaw, Henry W.
166
Sheridan, Phillip Henry
40
Shillaber, Benjamin Penhallow 202 Sherman, William Tecumseh .. 30 Smith, Edmund Kirby. 114
Sousa, John Philip.
60
Spreckels, Claus.
159
Stanford, Leland ..
101
Stanton, Edwin McMasters. 179
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady.
126
Stephens, Alexander Hamilton
32
Stephenson, Adlai Ewing ...
141
Stewart, Alexander T.
58
Stewart, William Morris 213
Morgan, John T.
216
Stowe,
Harriet
. Elizabeth
Morris, Robert ..
165
Morse, Samuel F. B.
124
Stuart, James E. B.
122
Morton, Levi P.
142
Sumner, Charles.
34
Morton, Oliver Perry.
215
Motley, John Lathrop
130
"Nye, Bill"
59
Nye, Edgar Wilson
59
Houston, Sam
120
O'Conor, Charles.
187
Hughes, Archbishop John.
157
Hughitt, Marvin
159
Hull, Isaac
169
Paine, Thomas.
147
Huntington, Collis Potter.
94
Ingalls, John James.
114
Ingersoll, Robert G.
85
Irving, Washington.
33
Jackson, Andrew.
71
Jackson, " Stonewall "
67
Johnson, Andrew .
145
Johnson, Eastman
202
Johnston, Joseph Eccleston .. 85
Kane, Elisha Kent.
125
Kearney, Philip
210
Kenton, Simon
188
Knox, John Jay
134
Lamar, Lucius Q. C.
201
Landon, Melville D.
109
Lincoln, Abraham.
135
Livermore, Mary Ashton.
131
Locke, David Ross.
172
Logan, John A.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth 37
Longstreet, James ..
56
Lowell, James Russell.
104
Mackay, John William
148
Madison, James.
42
Marshall, John.
156
Mather, Cotton.
164
Mather, Increase
163
Maxim, Hiram S.
194
McClellan, George Brinton.
47
Sherman, Charles R.
87
Hall, Charles Francis.
167
McCormick, Cyrus Hall.
172
Sherman, John. .
86
McDonough, Com. Thomas .. 167
McKinley, William.
217
Meade, George Gordon. 75
Medill, Joseph.
159
Miles, Nelson A ..
176
Miller, Cincinnatus Heine.
218
Miller, Joaquin ..
218
Mills, Roger Quarles
211
Monroe, James.
54
Morgan, John Pierpont
208
Beecher.
66
Talmage, Thomas De Witt.
60
Taney, Roger Brooke
129
Taylor, Zachary.
108
Teller, Henry M ..
127
----
Jefferson, Joseph
47
Pingree, Hazen S.
212
Jefferson, Thomas
34
Plant, Henry B.
192
Jones, Samuel Porter.
115
Gough, John B.
131
26
TABLE OF CONTENTS-PART I
PAGE
Tesla, Nikola.
193
Thomas, George H.
73
Thomas, Theodore. 172
Thurman, Allen G .. 90
Thurston, John M.
166
Tilden, Samuel J .. 48
Tillman, Benjamin Ryan. 119
Toombs, Robert. 205
"Twain, Mark" 86
Tyler, John 93
Van Buren, Martin ..
78
Vanderbilt, Cornelius 35
Vail, Alfred ... 154
Vest, George Graham
214
PAGE
PAGE
Vilas, William Freeman 140 Webster, Noah. 49
Voorhees, Daniel Wolsey. 95
Weed, Thurlow 91
West, Benjamin. 115
Waite, Morrison Remich 125
Wallace, Lewis
199
Wallack, Lester.
12I
Wallack, John Lester. 121
Wanamaker, John
89
Ward, "Artemus " 91
Washburne, Elihu Benjainin. 189
Washington, George
17
Willard, Frances E.
133
Wilson, William L.
180
Winchell, Alexander.
175
Weaver, James B.
123
Windom, William.
138
PORTRAITS OF NATIONAL CELEBRITIES.
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Alger, Russell A 16
Allison, William B. 99
Franklin, Benjamin. 63 Lowell, James Russell. 27
Anthony, Susan B.
63
Fremont, Gen. John C. 16
McKinley, William. 45
Armour, Philip D. 151
Arthur, Chester A. 81
Garfield, James A. 45
Phillips, Wendell. 27
Barnum, Phineas T ..
117
Garrison, William Lloyd. 63
Porter, Com. D. D .. 185
Beecher, Henry Ward. 27
George, Henry 117
Gould, Jay. 99 Quay, M. S .. 99
Booth, Edwin.
63
Grant, Gen. U. S. 185
Reed, Thomas B. 151
Bryan, Wm. J.
63
Greeley, Horace. 81
Sage, Russell. 117
Bryant, William Cullen. 185
Hampton, Wade .. 16 Scott, Gen. Winfield. 185
Buchanan, James.
81
Hancock, Gen. Winfield S. 185
Seward, William H. 45
Buckner, Simon B.
16
Hanna, Mark A 117
Sherman, John. 99
Butler Benjamin F
151
Harrison, Benjamin. 81
Sherman, Gen. W. T. 151
Stanton, Elizabeth Cady 27
Stowe, Harriet Beecher. 27
Clay, Henry. 81
Hooker, Gen. Joseph. 16
Talmage, T. De Witt. 63
Teller, Henry M. 99
Cooper, Peter. 99
Irving, Washington 27
Thurman, Allen G .. 81
Dana, Charles A. 151
Jackson, Andrew. 45 Tilden, Samuel J. 117
Jefferson, Thomas. 45 Van Buren, Martin. 81
Douglass, Fred. 63
Johnston, Gen. J. E. 16 Vanderbilt, Commodore 99
Emerson, Ralph Waldo 27
Lee, Gen. Robert E 185
Webster, Daniel 27
Evarts, William M. 99
Lincoln, Abraham. 81
Whittier, John G. 22
Farragut, Com. D. G. 185
Logan, Gen. John A. 16
Washington, George .. 45
Field, Cyrus W. 63
Longfellow, Henry W 185
Watterson, Henry .. 63
Carlisle, John G 151
Hayes, R. B ... 45
Chase, Salmon P 16
Hendricks, Thomas A 81
Childs, George W 99
Holmes, Oliver W. 151
Sumner, Charles. 45
Cleveland, Grover. 45
Ingersoll, Robert G. 117
Pullman, George M. 117
Blaine, James G. 151
Whitney, Eli .. 120
Whitney, William Collins. 92
Whittier, John Greenleaf .. 67
Watson, Thomas E.
178
Watterson, Henry
76
Webster, Daniel .. 19
Whipple, Henry Benjamin. 161
White, Stephen V. 162
Whitefield, George. 150
Whitman, Walt. . 197
Depew, Chauncey M. 117
Field, Marshall.
117
Longstreet, Gen. James.
16
Gage, Lyman J .. 151 Morse, S. F. B .. 185
JE.JOHNSTON
JAS LONGSTREET
JOSEPH HOOKER
SALMON PCHASE
WADE HAMPTON
TOH\ A. LOGAN
JOHN C FREMONT
RA.ALGER
SIMON & BUCKNER
e
e
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY . . OF .. CELEBRATED AMERICANS
G EORGE WASHINGTON, the first president of the Unit- ed States, called the "Father of his Country," was one of the most celebrated characters in history. He was born Feb- ruary 22, 1732, in Washing- ton Parish, Westmoreland county, Virginia. His father, Augustine Washington, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, and March 6, 1730, he married Mary Ball. Of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest.
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 childhood, and that his father there- upon moved to another farm, inherited from his paternal ancestors, situated in Stafford county, on the north bank of the Rappahan- nock, and died there in 1743. From earliest childhood George developed a noble charac- ter. His education was somewhat defective, being confined to the elementary branches taught him by his mother and at a neighbor- ing school. On leaving school he resided some time at Mount Vernon with his half
brother, Lawrence, who acted as his guar. dian. George's inclinations were for a sea- faring career, and a midshipman's warrant was procured for him; but through the oppo- sition of his mother the project was aban- doned, and at the age of sixteen he was appointed surveyor to the immense estates of the eccentric Lord Fairfax. Three years were passed by Washington in a rough fron- tier life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very essential 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 1752 Lawrence Washington died, leaving his large property to an infant daughter. In his will George was named one of the executors and as an eventual heir to Mount Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece, soon succeeded to that estate. In 1753 George was commis- sioned adjutant-general of the Virginia militia, and performed important work at the outbreak of the French and Indian war, was rapidly promoted, and at the close of that war we find him commander-in-chief of
Sopyright 1897, by Geo. A. Ogle & Co.
18
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
all the forces raised in Virginia. A cessation of Indian hostilities on the frontier having followed the expulsion of the French from the Ohio, he resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, and then proceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in the Virginia Assembly, of which he had been elected a member.
January 17. 1759, Washington married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Curtis, a young and beautiful widow of great wealth, and devoted himself for the ensuing hfteen years to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- rupted only by the annual attendance in winter upon the colonial legislature at Williamsburg, until summoned by his coun- try to enter upon that other arena in which his fame was to become world-wide. The war for independence called Washington into service again, and he was made com- mander-in-chief of the colonial forces, and was the most gallant and conspicuous figure in that bloody struggle, serving until Eng- land acknowledged the independence of each of the thirteen States, and negotiated with them jointly, as separate sovereignties. December 4, 1783, the great commander took leave of his officers in most affection- ate and patriotic terms, and went to An- napolis, Maryland, where the congress of the States was in session, and to that body, when peace and order prevailed everywhere, resigned his commission and retired to Mount Vernon.
It was in 1789 that Washington was called to the chief magistracy of the na- tion. The inauguration took place April 30, in the presence of an immense multi- tude which had assembled to witness the new and imposing ceremony. In the manifold de- tails of his civil administration Washington proved himself fully equal to the requirements of his position. In 1792, at the second presi-
dential election, Washington was desirous to retire; but he yielded to the general wish of the country, and was again chosen presi- dent. At the third election, in 1796, he was again most urgently entreated to con- sent to remain in the executive chair. This he positively refused, and after March 4, 1797, he again retired to Mount Vernon for peace, quiet, and repose.
Of the call again made on this illustrious chief to quit his repose at Mount Ver- non and take command of all the United States forces, with rank of lieutenant-gen- eral, when war was threatened with France in 1798, nothing need here be stated, ex- cept to note the fact as an unmistakable testimonial of the high regard in which he was still held by his countrymen of all shades of political opinion. He patriotic- ally accepted this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop to all action under it. He again retired to Mount Vernon, where he died December 14, 1799, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His remains were depos- ited in a family vault on the banks of the Potomac, at Mount Vernon, where they still lie entombed.
B BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, an eminent American statesman and scientist, was born of poor parentage, January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was appren- ticed to his brother James to learn the print- er's trade to prevent his running away and going to sea, and also because of the numer- ous family his parents had to support (there
being seventeen children, Benjamin being the fifteenth). He was a great reader, and soon developed a taste for writing, and pre- pared a number of articles and had them published in the paper without his brother's knowledge, and when the authorship be- came known it resulted in difficulty for the
19
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
young apprentice, although his articles had been received with favor by the public. James was afterwards thrown into prison for political reasons, and young Benjamin con- ducted the paper alone during the time. In 1823, however, he determined to endure his bonds no longer, and ran away, going to Philadelphia, where he arrived with only three pence as his store of wealth. With these he purchased three rolls, and ate them as he walked along the streets. He soon found employment as a journeyman printer. Two years later he was sent to England by the governor of Pennsylvania, and was promised the public printing, but did not get it. On his return to Philadelphia he estab- lished the "Pennsylvania Gazette," and soon found himself a person of great popu- larity in the province, his ability as a writer, philosopher, and politician having reached the neighboring colonies. He rapidly grew in prominence, founded the Philadelphia Li- brary in 1842, and two years later the American Philosophical Society and the University of Pennsylvania. He was made Fellow of the Royal Society in London in 1775. His world-famous investigations in electricity and lightning began in 1746. He became postmaster-general of the colonies in 1753, having devised an inter-colonial postal system. He advocated the rights of the colonies at all times, and procured the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766. He was elected to the Continental congress of 1775, and in 1776 was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, being one of the commit- tee appointed to draft that paper. He rep- resented the new nation in the courts of Europe, especially at Paris, where his simple dignity and homely wisdom won him the admiration of the court and the favor of the people. He was governor of Pennsylvania four years; was also a member of the con-
vention in 1787 that drafted the constitution of the United States.
His writings upon political topics, anti- slavery, finance, and economics, stamp him as one of the greatest statesmen of his time, while his "Autobiography " and "Poor Richard's Almanac " give him precedence in the literary field. In early life he was an avowed skeptic in religious matters, but later in life his utterances on this subject were less extreme, though he never ex- pressed approval of any sect or creed. He died in Philadelphia April 17, 1790.
D ANIEL WEBSTER .- Of world wide reputation for statesmanship, diplo- macy, and oratory, there is perhaps no more prominent figure in the history of our coun- try in the interval between 1815 and 1861, than Daniel Webster. He was born at Salisbury (now Franklin), New Hampshire, January 18, 1782, and was the second son of Ebenezer and Abigail (Eastman) Webster. He enjoyed but limited educational advan- tages in childhood, but spent a few months in 1797, at Phillip Exeter Academy. He completed his preparation for college in the family of Rev. Samuel Wood, at Boscawen, and entered Dartmouth College in the fall of 1797. He supported himself most of the time during these years by teaching school and graduated in 1801, having the credit of being the foremost scholar of his class. He entered the law office of Hon. Thomas W. Thompson, at Salisbury. In 1802 he con- tinued his legal studies at Fryeburg, Maine, where he was principal of the academy and copyist in the office of the register of deeds. In the office of Christopher Gore, at Boston, he completed his studies in 1804-5, and was admitted to the bar in the latter year, and at Boscawen and at Ports- mouth soon rose to eminence in his profes-
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