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ANDREW JOHNSON PAGE 93

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
OF
LA CROSSE, MONROE
AND
JUNEAU COUNTIES,
WISCONSIN.

Containing Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States, with accompanying
Biographies of each; Engravings of Prominent Citizens of the Counties,
with Personal Histories of many of the Early Settlers
and Leading Families

"Biography is the only true history."--Emerson

CHICAGO:
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1892.

ii

iii

CONTENTS

George Washington ........................... 9

John Adams .................................. 14

Thomas Jefferson ............................ 20

James Madison ............................... 26

James Monroe ................................ 32

John Quincy Adams ........................... 38

Andrew Jackson ............................. 47

Martin Van Buren ............................ 52

William Henry Harrison ...................... 56

John Tyler .................................. 60

James K. Polk................................ 64

Zachary Taylor .............................. 68

Millard Fillmore ............................ 72

Franklin Pierce ............................. 76

James Buchanan .............................. 80

Abraham Lincoln ............................. 84

Andrew Johnson .............................. 93

Ulysses S. Grant ............................ 96

R. B. Hayes ................................. 102

J. A . Garfield ............................. 109

Chester A. Arthur ........................... 113

Grover Cleveland ............................ 117

Benjamin Harrison ........................... 120

iv CONTENTS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

A

Abbott, Edgar ................. 880
Adams, C. A ................... 764
Adams, D. J ................... 765
Adolph, Chris ................. 131
Alden, Chas. J ................ 271
Alger, L. W ................... 264
Allen, George H ............... 502
Anders, Theron ................ 469
Alverson, W. N ................ 789
Anderson, John ................ 318
Anderson, Mons ................ 221
Anderson, W. A ................ 275
Andreas, Henry ... ........... 487
Andrews, Chester .............. 537
Andrews, E. H ................. 132
Asselin, John .. ... ........ 419
Atchinson, H. H . ............ 636
Atkinson, C. N . .......... 522
Atkinson, George .............. 315
Atwater, W. B ................. 428
Austin, David .. ..... ........ 156
Austin, W. J ................. 631
Aylesworth, A ................. 814

B

Bacon, G ......................930
Bailey, Frank ..... ......... 146
Bailey, G. A ................. 622
Banker, John ............. .... 477
Bans, Wm ..................... 926
Barber Bros ......... ........ 529
Barber, W. A ............. 647
Barclay, D. N ................. 535
Barclay, Thomas .............. 479
Barnes, L. S .................. 776
Barnes, Seth .................. 905
Barney, T. J .................. 450
Bartz, Chas. A ........... ... 223
Beadle, R. J .................. 519
Beardsley, H. S ......... ..... 771
Beck, John M ........... ...... 485
Beckel, Jacob ................. 389
Beckel, L. P ......... ........ 390
Beckler, I. P ................. 907
Beebe, D. W . C ............... 706
Beers, Calvin ................. 744
Belcher, C. H ................. 610
Belky, Peter .................. 907
Bellerue, A ................... 277
Benjamin. A. D ................ 779
Bentley, E. E ... ............ 233
Benton, C. S ........ ......... 452
Berg, Emil .................... 217
Bergh, Martin .. ........... 436
Beyer, K. G ... .............. 163
Beyer, Wm ..................... 854
Bierbauer, H .................. 913

Bigelow, A. A ................. 723
Bigelow, O. W ................. 709
Black, A. O .......... . ..... 415
Black, Ole 0 ................. 404
Blanchard, D. R ............... 457
Bleekman, A. E ................ 153
Blinston, J. H ................ 898
Bliss, H . I ......... .. ... 397
Blyton, Wm. H ................. 669
Boley, A. E ................... 337
Bongers, J. B ... .......... 787
Boorman, L. J., & Co .......... 691
Boring, L .... ............... 847
Borreson, C. L ................ 223
Borreson, E. N ............... 204
Boschert, Jos ................. 212
Boss, Albert ........ ......... 867
Bosshard, Gottlieb ............ 532
Bostwick, E. L ................ 737
Boucher, Jos .................. 475
Bowen, Le Roy ................. 380
Bowen, Oscar .................. 438
Boyd, Andrew .................. 344
Boyington, G. A ............... 756
Boynton, E. G ................. 145
Boynton, F. E ...... . ........ 870
Boynton, M. H ................. 685
Brackett, Myron ............ .. 720
Bradfield, J. A. L ............ 200
Bradley, Jno .................. 447
Braitzman, Ferd ............... 508
Branch, Rollo ................. 371
Brandt, Carl .................. 358
Brice, G. W .................. 269
Briggs, G. E ................. 486
Briggs, Suel .................. 488
Broezel, B. F ................. 762
Brown, David .................. 319
Brown, Frank .................. 161
Brown, S. W .................. 242
Brownell, R ................... 761
Bruha, A. J ..... ............. 590
Bryant, B. F .................. 229
Bunn, Leroy ................... 357
Buol, Christian ............... 494
Burke, M . T .................. 464
Burnett, J .................... 328
Burns, J. C .... .............. 253
Burns, Timothy ................ 489
Bush, W . E .................. 823
Butler, J. F .................. 598

C

Cady, J. D .................... 678
Calahan, H. B ................. 362
Calkins, Seth ...... .......... 737
Callihan, Michael ............. 364
Cameron, Angus ................ 268
Canfield, F. A ............... 839

Canfield, T. M .................774
Capper, Jno ................... 592
Carl, Gustave .. .............. 136
Carlyle, W.J .................. 509
Carter, Andrew ................ 876
Carter, F. P .................. 810
Casberg, Carl C ............... 471
Case, Jere .................... 780
Cash, W. H. H ................. 868
Chamberlain, C. V ............. 613
Chamberlain, E. W ............. 578
Chamberlain, Leroy ............ 612
Chapman, Jesse .............. . 732
Cheney, D. D .................. 651
Child, H. H. L ................ 653
Child, Irving ................. 799
Childers, J. M ................ 268
Clark, Albion ................. 138
Clark. A . P .................. 291
Clark, Nathan ................. 595
Clark, Noah ................... 925
Clark, P. L .................. 460
Cole, Jno. J .................. 274
Cole, R. T. W ................. 835
Coman, J. B ................... 431
Conant, M .................... 273
Coney, Robert ................. 361
Cooper, I. W ................. 602
Copeland, F. A ................ 237
Cordell, L ................... 340
Corrigan, T. B ................ 739
Cowles, E. M ................. 709
Craine, George ................ 842
Crandall, H . L ............... 692
Crapp, Jno .................... 878
Cremer, H . H ................ 648
Cremer. Jno ................... 871
Cronk, W. H .................. 408
Cronk, Rhoda A ................ 526
Crook, Jno., Jr ............... 121
Crook, J. C .................. 402
Culver, C. M ................. 861
Cummings, J. A., & Son ........ 770
Cummings, T. W ................ 219
Curtis, C. D ................. 887
Curtis, Joseph ............... 915
Cuthbert, Wm .................. 521

D

Dahl, J. H .................... 378
Dana, J. C .................... 611
Daniels, J. J ................. 905
Darling, Chester .............. 454
Darms, Michael ................ 435
Davidson, W. J ................ 468
Davis, A. H ................... 332
Davis, Daniel ................. 520
Davis, H. S ................... 688
Davis, Isaac D ................ 462

CONTENTS. V

Davis, J. W ................... 172
Davis, R. T ................... 281
Davis, R. W ................... 377
Davis, Samuel ................. 463
Davis, W. E ................... 240
Davis, W. S ................... 657
Dawson, Jno ................... 483
Dayl, Burt .................... 400
Decker, D. H .................. 809
Decker, J. M .................. 704
DeForce, Byron ................ 312
Deininger, J. V ............... 377
Delle, Frank .................. 831
De Lorea F. X ................. 225
Demmon, C. W .................. 147
Dengel, Peter ................. 408
Dengler, Jno .................. 182
Dinger, George ................ 888
Dodsworth, Henry .............. 877
Donaghue, J. H ................ 799
Doten, Amaziah ................ 833
Douglas, D. H ................. 725
Drowatsky, Bernard ............ 687
Dudley, W. I .................. 183
Dudley, W. L .................. 186
Dunn, T. K .................... 806

E

Eagle, C. C ................... 827
Eaton, E ...................... 927
Easton, J. C .................. 381
Eddy, E. I .................... 616
Edwards, B. E ................. 227
Edwards, George ............... 213
Edwards, J. B ................. 755
Egan, M. C .................... 528
Elliott, J. A ................. 364
Elwell, C. C .................. 254
Ely, G. H ..................... 751
Emberson, I ................... 184
Emerson, 0. B ................. 327
Emmons, J. W .................. 617
Enckhausen, H ................. 734
English, Isaac ..... .......... 716
Erwin, C. K ................... 748
Esch, Henry ................... 605
Escb, J. J .................... 360
Esmiller, Henry ............... 241
Esperson, Henry ............... 181
Euler, George ................. 257
Evans, R. R ................... 596
Evensen, P. 0 ................. 157
Eveson, Ole ................... 593
Ewer, A. B ............... .... 286

F

Fahey, Richard ................ 445
Fairbanks, A. F ............... 909
Farewell, M. M ................ 534
Farnam, E. J .................. 519
Farnam, George ................ 507
Fawcett, Fred ................. 853
Fay, Joseph ................... 492
Ferries, W. H ................. 634
Fetter, A. V .................. 218
Field, F. T ................... 650
Fiers, Peter .................. 399
Filkins, A .................... 367

Finn, Jno. M .................. 207
Fish, I. H .................... 682
Fisher, L. S .................. 619
Fisk, Nathan .................. 812
Fisk, Reuben .................. 813
Flasch, K. C .................. 325
Fletcher, C. W ................ 386
Flock, Henry .................. 640
Flock, Peter .................. 884
Forrest, Alex ................. 467
Fowler, Daniel ................ 640
Fowler, Jno. H ................ 683
Fox, Jno ...................... 168
Fox, W. D ..................... 176
Francis, P .................... 688
Frayn, James .................. 443
Fredrickson, Ole .............. 427
Freeman, W. B ................. 865
Freeman, W. S ................. 608
Freemore, S. J ................ 808
French, Charlott .............. 394
Frey, Nathaniel ............... 246
Frohmader, George ............. 836
Frye, Peter ................... 775
Fryer, Jno .................... 713
Fruit, J. J ................... 262
Fuhrman, F. W ................. 692
Fuller, W. L .................. 811
Fulmer, D. M .................. 880

G

Gage, M. R .................... 663
Galiger, J. P ................. 763
Galvin, Wm ................... 299
Gass, Anthony ................. 303
Gavin, Wm .................... 592
Gay, James .................... 434
Gear, T. P .................... 479
George, Franklin .............. 855
Getman, H ..................... 712
Gibbs, A. W ................... 676
Gile, Abner .......... ........ 169
Gilfillan, James, Sr .......... 490
Gilfillan, J. M .............. 439
Glover, C. A ................. 527
Goddard, Hiram ................ 576
Goddard, L. M ................ 574
Goodland, J. A ................ 344
Goodrich, A. D ................ 193
Goodwin, J. M ................. 627
Goodyear, D. A. & C. A ........ 677
Gordon, D. K .................. 448
Grams, Wenzel ................. 192
Grant, C. H ................... 835
Grant, J. N ................... 890
Grates, J. H .................. 240
Graves, W. H ........... ...... 596
Green, I. E ............ .... 459
Greenfield, A ................. 711
Greenlee, I. C ............... 807
Gregory, John ................. 843
Grigg, J. B ................... 373
Griggs, L. S .................. 705
Grinolds, M. J ................ 844
Gross, F. A ................... 311
Gruetzmacher, P ........... 696
Gudmundson, L ................. 376
Gullickson, Peter ............. 455
Gund, Henry ................... 173

Gund, John, Sr ................ 173
Gund, John, Jr ................ 174
Gunderson, H ............. .... 432

H

Hackner, Egid ................. 307
Hahn, Jacob ................... 305
Haldorson, Knud ............... 520
Hall, C. D .............. ..... 658
Hall, Daniel .................. 425
Hall, W. G .................... 618
Halverson John ................ 313
Hamilton, E. M ................ 814
Hamman, E. M .................. 818
Hanchett, C. E. ............... 659
Hanchett, G. E ................ 672
Hancock,J. W ............ ..... 902
Hancock, T. H ................. 718
Hansen, P. J .................. 879
Hansen, Thomas ................ 220
Hanson, A. C .................. 461
Harbo, E. P ................... 260
Harden, Mary .................. 440
Harrison, D. B ................ 282
Harrison, H. H ................ 500
Hart, Seth .................... 443
Hartley, Mary ................. 356
Haskell, H. C ............. ... 885
Hass, John ................... 508
Hatz, Christian ............... 411
Hatz, Jacob .............. ... 518
Hawkins, C. H ................. 472
Hawley, D. D ................. 864
Hayward, Fred ................. 832
Heath, H. C .................. 155
Hebron, John ................ 670
Heerey, Michael ............... 863
Heilman, G .................... 308
Heinken, F. T ................. 288
Heiss, Michael ................ 247
Heitman, G ............... .... 606
Helmke, Fred .................. 774
Helms, Daniel ................. 728
Hemker, Fred .................. 187
Hemstock, David ............... 388
Henry, James, Jr .............. 334
Heritage, E. B ................ 639
Herring, A. J ................. 707
Herrington, F. C .............. 185
Hewitt, G. B .................. 405
Hewitt, J. C ............ ..... 196
Heydon, E. W .................. 300
Hill, A. J .................... 130
Hill, Ira A ................... 615
Hill, Luther .................. 751
Hill, 0. M .................... 641
Hill, W. R .................... 897
Hillestad, N. G .......... .... 184
Hineman, John ................. 604
Hineman, M. L ................. 604
Hintgen, N .................... 413
Hirschheimer, J. J ........ ... 143
Hirschheimer, M ............... 263
Hitchcock, N. B ............... 569
Hoard, P. ..................... 936
Hobbs, John ................... 395
Hobson, Thomas ................ 626
Hoffmann, C. F ................ 359
Hofmeister, L ................. 883

vi CONTENTS.

Hogan, J. J ................... 360
Hogue, H. T ................... 638
Hollister, A. E . ............ 782
Holmes, Lafayette ............. 127
Holmes, W. S .................. 497
Holway, N. D .................. 253
Horne, H. E ................... 154
Horner, Ernest ................ 441
Hosmer, G. A .................. 480
Hossfeld, R .................. 419
Houck, Oscar . .............. 338
Hough, P. H ................... 128
Howard, A. E .................. 773
Howard, George ................ 597
Howard, H. H .................. 691
Howard, J. C .................. 859
Howie, Robert ................. 699
Hubbard, W. W ................. 683
Huckins, G. N ................. 803
Huff, C. D ............. ...... 801
Hughes, Robert ................ 510
Hunt, A. O .................... 298
Hunt, C. A .................... 178
Hunt, C. A .................... 791
Hutchinson, C. M .............. 788
Hutchinson, James ............. 848

I

Imhoff, William A ............. 216
Irons, Bruce .................. 703
Irwin, Wilbert ................ 575
Isham, A. H ................... 679

J

Jackson, M ................... 831
Jackson, W. H ................. 793
Jacobs, W. P .................. 498
Janes, Samuel ................. 680
Jarvis, Timothy ............... 582
Jenkins, Thomas ............... 733
Jenks, C. L ................... 301
Jenning-, Mrs. A. A .......... 716
Jenny, John ................... 795
Jewell, A. W .................. 720
Jewett, Z. K .................. 754
Joerres, A. J ................. 246
Johnson, Alexander ............ 215
Johnson, C. W ................. 745
Johnson, Eugene ............... 413
Johnson, J. A ................. 404
Johnson, J. J ................. 406
Johnson, J. K ................. 195
Johnson, John ................. 537
Johnson, J. W .......... ...... 473
Johnson, L .................... 924
Johnson, Thomas ............... 580
Johnston, James ............... 781
Jones, D. F ................... 826
Jones, E. G ................... 584
Jones, E. R ................... 658
Jones, Freeman ................ 642
Jones, John ................... 290
Jones, John B ................ 470
Jones, John N ................ 495
Jones, J. S ................... 411
Jones, T. N ................... 837
Jones, W. E ................... 208
Jordson, William .............. 532

K
Kahler, John .................. 304
Kaser, Henry .................. 828
Kaun, William ................. 638
Kavenaugh, J. J ............... 149
Kaylor, A. C .................. 432
Keaveny, Patrick .............. 267
Keaveny, Peter ................ 415
Keizer, J. E .................. 414
Keller, A. J .................. 732
Kelley, H. E .................. 632
Kelly, A. J ................... 305
Kennedy, J. F ................. 792
Kenrick, H. A ................. 454
Kenrick. John ................. 330
Keppel, J. G .................. 512
Kienahs, Theo ................. 309
Kienholz, Peter ............... 190
Kingman, R. S ................. 622
Kinne, E. G ................... 798
Kinnear, R. M. I .............. 250
Kircheis, J. E ................ 252
Klein, C. F ......... ......... 577
Klich, H. B ................... 129
Klick, J. W ................... 503
Kluver, L. & Co .............. 354
Knudson, Lewis ................ 426
Koenig, Christian ............. 346
Koller, John .................. 291
Koller, Michael ............... 292
Kowalke, E. E ................. 280
Kramer, August ................ 523
Kratchivil, M ................. 216
Krebaum, C. A ................. 279
Krueger, William .............. 450
Kuhlman & Gass ................ 303
Kupp, John .................... 530
Kyle, R. E .................... 696

L

La Fleur, Henry ............... 444
La Fleur, R. R ................ 573
Laflin, H. B ...... .......... 210
Lamb, James I ................. 168
Lambert, Stephen .............. 539
Lamberton, H. J ............... 697
Langdon. John ................. 342
Lange, Diego .................. 504
Langstadt, G .................. 338
Lanphere, H. P ................ 332
Larsen, 0. P .................. 570
Larson, Christian ............. 438
Larson, Edward ................ 517
Larson, L ..................... 396
Laurer, J ..................... 822
Law, David .................... 155
Lawrence, N. T ................ 822
Leak, G. A .................... 703
Lebber, Henry ................. 255
Leete, William W .............. 256
Leicht, C. A .................. 876
Lemon, T. J ............ ...... 208
Lester, W. A .................. 372
Lever, M ...................... 920
Leverich, J. W ................ 929
Lewis, T. A ................... 499
Lewis, William H .............. 141

Lightbody, J. H ............... 302
Link, W. W .................... 695
Linse, Charles ................ 236
Lockerby, W. E ................ 369
Lohmiller, William ............ 184
Looney, M. M .................. 148
Loring, N. T .................. 347
Losh, D. W .................... 900
Losey, J. W ................... 125
Lovejoy, Herbert .............. 467
Lovejoy, Hiram ................ 516
Lower, John ................... 856
Luce, Charles ................. 514
Luce, W. S .................... 504
Luening, William .............. 228
Lueth, Henry .................. 456

Mabbott, G. H ................. 883
Mader, D ...................... 126
Madson, G ..................... 455
Magill, H. P .................. 324
Magill, H. T ............... .. 323
Mallow, J. M .................. 873
Mannstedt, Theo ............... 140
Mansergh, G. W ................ 478
Marcher, W. H ................. 731
Markle, E ..................... 258
Marquardt, C. H ............... 178
Marsden, T. B ................. 857
Marshall, John W .............. 800
Martin, T. L .................. 840
Martindale, S ................. 175
Martindale, S., Jr ............ 263
Masters, C. M ................. 729
Matheson, S ................... 188
Mathewson, W. T ............... 594
Matteson, T. E ................ 830
Matthews, A. C ................ 649
McArthur, D. S ................ 323
McArthur, P. S ................ 322
McCaul, Thomas ................ 796
M'Comber, 0. L ................ 805
McConnell, P .................. 215
McCurdy, J. M ................. 675
McDermott, J. H ............... 295
McGary, Selium ................ 746
McHugh, Hall .................. 476
Mcintosh, D ................... 480
McIntyre, J ................... 931
McKinley, James ............... 251
McKenzie, C. W ................ 188
McKenzie, Margaret ............ 453
McKown, C. S .................. 250
McLean, Wm .................... 674
McMillan, Alex ................ 161
McMillan, A. P ................ 585
McMillan, D. D ................ 151
McMillan, Geo ................. 843
McMullen, R. H ................ 741
McMullen, Wm .................. 724
McMullen, W. J ................ 761
Mead, Cephas .................. 767
Meason, L. E .................. 260
Medary, J. S .................. 491
Mercereau, B. B ............... 383
Merkley, M. H ................. 753
Messinger, J .................. 851

CONTENTS vii

Meyer, Felix .................. 583
Mickschl, P . ................. 524
Mierow, Henry ................. 750
Millegan, G. W ................ 645
Miller, C. A .................. 858
Miller, C. H .................. 458
Miller, Conrad ................ 519
Miller, Conrad ................ 894
Miller, H. G .................. 271
Miller, H. P .................. 747
Miller, Jno. A ................ 243
Miller, J. J .................. 908
Miller & Kaser ................ 828
Miller, Peter ................. 828
Miner, E. S ................... 759
Miner, J. T ................... 701
Miner, R. G ................... 249
Moore, Jno. G ................. 390
Moran, Jos .................... 241
Morton, W. P .................. 287
Morris, Jno ................... 765
Morrison, J. M ................ 603
Morse, L. C ................... 646
Morse, M. V. B ................ 727
Moseley, A .................... 910
Moseley, J. H ................. 916
Moseley, W. H ................. 660
Mosher, J. A .................. 417
Moss, P. H .................... 893
Mould, F. W ................... 269
Mueller, E. T ................. 308
Murphy, Ambrose ............... 126
Murray, J. B .................. 160
Myhre, Ole L .................. 503
Myrick, N ..................... 541

N.

Neadfelt, Wm .................. 177
Nechuta, Chas ................. 697
Needham, D .................... 581
Nelson, L. N .................. 220
Nelson, N. R .................. 180
Neuman, H. E .................. 918
Neumeister, Wm ................ 426
Newsome, Jos .................. 738
Newton, A. B .................. 531
Nichols, C. H ................. 333
Nichols, F. E ................. 316
Nichols, G. S ................. 310
Nicol, Alex ................... 654
Nieschulz, F .................. 898
Niles, Wm. D., Jr ............. 841
Nissen, H. K. E ............... 261
North, W. N ................... 536
Northcott, Robt ............... 933
Norton, H. B .................. 919
Nuttall, Jos .................. 815
Nutting, C. W ................. 416
Nyhus, Ole .................... 577
Nyhus, Ole .................... 430

0.

Oakley, H. J .................. 757
O'Connor, James ............... 637
O'Leary, Daniel ............... 739
Olsen, Gustav ................. 886
Osborne, R. E ................. 244

Oswald, J. H .................. 668
Ott, B ........................ 152
Ott, Jno. J ................... 419
Otten, Henry .................. 570
Oyen, 0. J .................... 311

P.

Palmer, H ..................... 628
Palmer, Zerah ................. 611
Pammel, G. J .................. 278
Parker, E. H .................. 911
Parker, Jno ................... 923
Parker, M. S .................. 911
Patterson, S. B ............... 288
Payne, W. C ................... 620
Payson, J. M .................. 423
Peck, C. E .................... 862
Peck, H. J .................... 265
Pederson, C ................... 367
Perry, G. W ................... 893
Peterson, J. A ................ 712
Pettibone, A. W ............... 139
Pettingill, J ................. 572
Pettingill, J. L .............. 210
Pfaff, Jacob .................. 481
Pfaff, Levetta ................ 686
Pfaff, L. 0 ................... 850
Phelps, F. I .................. 348
Phillips, C. E ................ 613
Phillips, J. L ................ 817
Phillips, S. E ................ 548
Phoenix, Alva ................. 824
Pierson, Thos ................. 819
Pinkerton, Jno ................ 506
Pinkerton, Jos ................ 505
Piske, Carl ................... 388
Pitkin, M. J .................. 132
Pittenger, N. 0 ............... 393
Plunket, Wm ................... 778
Poehling, Jos ................. 239
Pollard, E. J ................. 135
Polleys, W. E ................. 266
Pond, F. H .................... 701
Poole, P ...................... 643
Pooler, Frank ................. 398
Powell, D. F .................. 587
Prentiss, G. C ................ 370
Price, Bros ................... 852
Price, Jno. Sr ............... 852
Printz, Wm .................... 820
Prucha, J. E .................. 202
Pugh, H. M .................... 584
Putnam, A ..................... 420
Putnam, C. H .................. 281

Q

Quall, 0. P ................... 407
Quigg, C. E ................... 632
Quinn, Thomas ................. 935

R

Radtke, William J.............. 495
Raetzmann, H. W................ 226
Ramsey, J. F .................. 866
Rand, J. B .................... 493
Randall, Esther M.............. 412

Randall, John ................. 714
Ranney, J. W .................. 198
Rapp, John M .................. 491
Rathbun, J. F ................. 804
Rau, John ..................... 292
Rawlingson, James, Sr ......... 515
Rawlingson, James, Jr.,........ 515
Reed, C. L .................... 423
Reichert,M .................... 466
Reidy, John ................... 829
Reim, C. G .................... 422
Remick, F. A .................. 429
Renggly, J. A ................. 185
Renner, Jacob ................. 524
Renner, Mrs. L ................ 314
Rice, J. P .................... 656
Rice, N. S .................... 177
Rice, W. B .................... 914
Richards, J. E ................ 717
Richards, R. A ................ 768
Richards, Thomas .............. 794
Richardson, J ................. 474
Richardson, J. N .............. 899
Richardson & Foster ........... 662
Richmond, Joseph .............. 482
Rick, William C ............... 513
Riese, Joseph ................. 295
Ring, Frederick ............... 571
Ritter, F. X ................. 376
Ritz, J. W .................... 129
Roberts, E. R ................. 378
Roberts, Ethan ................ 486
Roberts, F. P ................. 583
Roberts, H. S ................. 589
Robertson, M .................. 758
Robinson, 0. B ................ 435
Roddle, J. C .................. 451
Roddle, W. C .................. 410
Rodell, F., &Co ............... 710
Roden, Thomas ................. 526
Rodolf, Theo .................. 296
Rogers, R. H .................. 653
Roosevelt. W. A ............... 145
Root, I. J .................... 721
Roth, Joseph .................. 171
Rowles, J. A .................. 439
Ruedy, John ................... 470
Runckel, Louis ................ 293
Rynning, E. B ................. 400

S

Sacia, Frank .................. 572
Sacia, Harmon ................. 538
Safford, H. M ................. 341
Sagen, A. K ................... 329
Salzer, J. A .................. 158
Samuels, F. J ................. 385
Sanborn, F. L ................. 629
Sandman, D .................... 525
Sargent, J. M ................. 934
Sarles, W. T .................. 667
Sawyer, A. E .................. 384
Sawyer, W. E .................. 385
Schaefer, C. M ................ 320
Schaitel, M ................... 671
Schaller, Charles ............. 418
Scharpf, C. F ................. 289
Scheufler, E .................. 294

viii CONTENTS.

Schick, Hugo .................. 179
Schildmann, F ................. 219
Schintjen, Peter .............. 139
Schnell Bros .................. 186
Schuenemaun, H ................ 832
Schultz, John, Sr ............. 605
Schultz, W. H ................. 719
Schmelling, W. F .............. 633
Schmulzer, A .................. 854
Schnell Bros .................. 186
Scholler, P ................... 769
Schwalbe, Joseph & Frank ...... 224
Schwartz, F ................... 288
Schwebach, James .............. 245
Scott, G. W ................... 473
Scott, W. J ................... 501
Searles, J. D ................. 607
Seymour, D. C ................. 891
Shane, Daniel ................. 331
Shankland, John ............... 387
Shaw, F. D .................... 50J
Shepard, D. R. A .............. 533
Sherman, C. H ................. 895
Sherman, W . H ................ 690
Sherwood, H. H ................ 803
Shipley, E. S ................. 845
Sholts, J. A .................. 735
Short, A. M ................... 134
Siebrecht, A .................. 533
Siegler, R .................... 206
Sill, W. R .................... 150
Simenson, Ole ................. 445
Sinks,William ................. 621
Sisson, F. M .................. 363
Sizer, Samuel, Sr ............. 826
Sizer, Samuel, Jr., ........... 753
Skinner, J. W ................. 285
Sliger, George ................ 463
Sloane, E. A .................. 226
Slye, H. H .................... 586
Smith, A. W ................... 655
Smith, Daniel ................. 825
Smith, D. P ................... 484
Smith, F. B ................... 199
Smith, G. M ................... 649
Smith, H. B ................... 167
Smith, J. E ................... 764
Smith, J. J ................... 284
Smith, J. J ................... 892
Smith, J. T ................... 932
Smith, 0. L ................... 174
Smith, R ...................... 722
Smith, Richard ................ 922
Smith, Sarah H ................ 424
Smith, S. W ................... 928
Smith, William ................ 531
Smith, W. T ................... 522
Smutz, D. C ................... 778
Sobotka, A. F ................. 309
Sorenson, Ori ................. 283
Sorerson, Peter ............... 518
Sowle, C. J ................... 742
Sparling, W. R ................ 202
Spaulding, H. C ............... 838
Spence, T. H .................. 306
Spenceley, T. H ............... 534
Spettle Bros .................. 297
Spooner, D. H ................. 708
Sprague, J. F., & Son ......... 726

Stanek, J. J .................. 280
Stangl, Geo ................... 143
Squier, L. B .................. 792
Squire, N. D .................. 910
Starr, A. A ................... 740
Steensen, Stephen ............. 442
Steinlein, A .................. 171
Stephens, Jas ................. 520
Stephenson, J ................. 247
Stevens, Ephraim .............. 321
Stevens, G. P ................. 724
Stevens, 0. B ................. 719
Stewart, I. H ................. 776
Stivers, E. T ................. 769
Stogdill, Robt ................ 313
Stoltze, Gustav ............... 179
Storandt, F ................... 355
Storey, J. 0 .................. 368
Strand, H. E .................. 417
Strom, 0. P ................... 391
Sturdevant, C. W .............. 843
Sturdevant, Lyman ............. 625
Sullivan, Hall ................ 433
Summerfield, W. J ............. 601
Swartzlow, J. C ............... 630
Sweet, L ...................... 698
Sweet, L. N ................... 752
Sykes, Jas .................... 317

T.

Talbot, R.A ................... 756
Techner, H. C ................. 303
Telfer, Alex .................. 901
Thayer, M. A .................. 60I
Thomas, W. D .................. 153
Thomas, W. S .................. 336
Thompson, B. B ................ 889
Thompson, C. G ................ 889
Thompson, L. G ................ 706
Thompson, Peter S ............. 477
Thornbury, J. E ............... 569
Thorp, C. R ................... 329
Thurston, K. W ................ 766
Tiedemann, E. J ............... 180
Titus, L. M ................... 838
Tollefson, T. 0 ............... 192
Tolock, Jno ................... 680
Tonn, J. A .................... 834
Toombs, R ..................... 700
Torgerson, Jno ................ 496
Tourtellotte, Mills ........... 465
Tormey, Jas ................... 924
Towson, Abram ................. 379
Trane, J. A ................... 277
Tritton, E .................... 374
Trumbower, J. A ............... 458
Tucker, Joshua ................ 821
Tucker, Nelson ................ 635
Tyler, T. B ................... 600

U.

Usher, E. B ................... 411

V.

Vandervoort,I ................. 715
Van Kirk, J ................... 626
Van Kuren, W. H ............... 904
Van Loon, A ................... 409
Vannetten, P. H ............... 889

Van Steenwyk, G ............... 349
Van Zandt, Wm ................. 345
Vaughan, J. J ................. 396
Vincent, G. R ................. 807
Vincent, Jas .................. 197
Vogel, H. W ................... 614

W.

Wacker, Jno ................... 203
Wallace, J. L.................. 591
Wannebo, M. ................... 272
Warren, F. G .................. 829
Warren, Geo ................... 664
Warren, G. H .................. 673
Warsaw, A. A .................. 594
Washburn, C. C ................ 365
Washburn, W. H ................ 681
Weaver, H. R .................. 730
Weed, L. H .................... 881
Weingarten, C ................. 209
Wells, Jas . .................. 667
Wensole, Lewis ................ 133
Wenzel, G ..................... 580
West, H. E .................... 211
Weston, Thos .................. 743
Wetherby, A. S ................ 723
Wheeler, J. E ................. 191
Wheelihan, W. P ............... 866
Wheldon, Jno .................. 461
Whicher, Daniel ............... 797
White, Jno .................... 874
White, Wm .................... 320
Widvey, T. r .................. 540
Wiedman, J. B ................. 131
Wiele, Wm ..................... 222
Wier, Neal .................... 849
Wilcox, L. C .................. 644
Willey, G. L .................. 374
Williams, J. B ................ 285
Williams, J. E ................ 437
Williams, W. G ................ 693
Wilson, Amasa ................. 862
Wilson, Chas .................. 645
Wilson, Jas ................... 401
Winter, C. J .................. 810
Winters, Jno .................. 689
Withee, Levi .................. 189
Withee, N. H .................. 205
Withers, Mrs. C. M ............ 738
Wolf, Florian .............. .. 278
Wood, L. W .................... 194
Wood, M. P .................... 624
Woodard, Chas ................. 702
Woodward, G. M ................ 265
Work, R. M .................... 790
Wright, G. D .................. 389
Wyatt, L. D ................... 699

Y.

Yarrington, G. H .............. 243
Yonker, D. H .................. 335
Young, Chas. A ................ 430
Young, J. L ................... 392
Young, Samuel ................. 327

Z.

Ziebell, J .................... 912

GEORGE WASHINGTON. 9

George Washington,
the "Father of
his Country" and its first President,
1789-97, was born February
22, 1732, in Washington 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, the others being Betty,
Samuel, John, Augustine,
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 childhood,
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 developed
a noble character. He had a vigorous
constitution, a fine form, and great bodily
strength. His education was somewhat defective,

being confined to the elementary
branches taught him by his mother and at
a neighboring school. He developed, however,
a fondness for mathematics, and enjoyed
in that branch the instructions of a
private teacher. On leaving school he resided
for some time at Mount Vernon with
his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as
his guardian, and who had married a daughter
of his neighbor at Belvoir on the Potomac,
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 distinction
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, however,
opened another career for the young
man, who, at the age of sixteen, was appointed
surveyor to the immense estates of
the eccentric Lord Fairfax, who was then
on a visit at Belvoir, and who shortly afterward
established his baronial residence at
Greenway Court, in the Shenandoah Valley.

10 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Three years were passed by young Washington
in a rough frontier life, gaining experience
which afterward 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 September
of that year the failing health of
Lawrence Washington rendered it necessary
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, leaving
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 province
divided into four districts. Washington
was commissioned by Dinwiddie Adjutant-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 extensive
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 Boeuf 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 Washington
declined to be a candidate for that post,
the command of this regiment was given to
Colonel Joshua Fry, and Major Washington,
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 begun,
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 continued
seven years. On the death of Colonel
Fry, Washington succeeded to the command 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 resigned
his commission as Commander-in-Chief of the
Virginia forces. He then proceeded 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
devoted himself for the ensuing fifteen years
to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, interrupted
only by his annual attendance in
winter upon the Colonial Legislature at
Williamsburg, until summoned by his
country to enter upon that other arena in
which his fame was to become world wide.

It is unnecessary here to trace the details
of the struggle upon the question of local

GEORGE WASHINGTON. 11

self-government, which, after ten years, culminated
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 delegate.
On dissolving in October, it recommended
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 insults
and aggressions on the part of British
troops, so that on the assembling of the next
Congress, May 10, 1775, the war preparations
of the mother country were unmistakable.
The battles of Concord and Lexington
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 unanimously
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 public
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 themselves
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 independence.
In May of that year Washington
wrote from the head of the army in New
York: "A reconciliation with Great Britain
is impossible. . . . . When I took
command of the army, I abhorred the idea

of independence; but I am now fully satisfied
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 chieftain
have been considerably discussed, especially
by writers in his own country. During
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 officers
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 commission
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 impossible.
Everywhere on his way he was met
with thronging crowds, eager to see the
man whom they regarded as the chief defender
of their liberties, and everywhere

GEORGE WASHINGTON. 11

12 PRESIDENTS OP THE UNITED STATES.

he was hailed with those public manifestations
of joy, regard and love which spring
spontaneously from the hearts of an affectionate
and grateful people. His reception
in New York was marked by a grandeur
and an enthusiasm never before witnessed
in that metropolis. The inauguration took
place April 30, in the presence of an immense
multitude which had assembled to witness
the new and imposing ceremony. The oath
of office was administered by Robert R.
Livingston, Chancellor of the State. When
this sacred pledge was given, he retired
with the other officials into the Senate
chamber, where he delivered his inaugural
address to both houses of the newly constituted
Congress in joint assembly.

In the manifold details of his civil administration,
Washington proved himself equal to the
requirements of his position.
The greater portion of the first session of
the first Congress was occupied in passing
the necessary statutes for putting the new
organization into complete operation. In
the discussions brought up in the course of
this legislation the nature and character of
the new system came under general review.
On no one of them did any decided antagonism
of opinion arise. All held it to be a
limited government, clothed only with specific
powers conferred by delegation from
the States. There was no change in the
name of the legislative department; it still
remained "the Congress of the United
States of America." There was no change
in the original flag of the country, and none
in the seal, which still remains with the
Grecian escutcheon borne by the eagle,
with other emblems, under the great and
expressive motto, " E Pluribus Unum."

The first division of parties arose upon
the manner of construing the powers delegated,
and they were first styled "strict
constructionists" and "latitudinarian
constructionists." The former were for confining
the action of the Government strictly

within its specific and limited sphere, while
the others were for enlarging its powers by
inference and implication. Hamilton and
Jefferson, both members of the first cabinet
were regarded as the chief leaders, respectively,
of these rising antagonistic parties
which have existed, under different names
from that day to this. Washington was regarded
as holding a neutral position between
them, though, by mature deliberation, he
vetoed the first apportionment bill, in 1790,
passed by the party headed by Hamilton,
which was based upon a principle constructively
leading to centralization or consolidation.
This was the first exercise of the
veto power under the present Constitution.
It created considerable excitement at the
time. Another bill was soon passed in pursuance
of Mr. Jefferson's views, which has
been adhered to in principle in every
apportionment act passed since.

At the second session of the new Congress,
Washington announced the gratifying
fact of " the accession of North Carolina"
to the Constitution of 1787, and June
1 of the same year he announced by special
message the like " accession of the State of
Rhode Island," with his congratulations on
the happy event which " united under the
general Government" all the States which
were originally confederated.

In 1792, at the second Presidential election,
Washington was desirous to retire;
but he yielded to the general wish of the
country, and was again chosen President
by the unanimous vote of every electoral
college. At the third election, 1796, he was
again most urgently entreated to consent to
remain in the executive chair. This he
positively refused. In September, before
the election, he gave to his countrymen his
memorable Farewell Address, which in language,
sentiment and patriotism was a fit
and crowning glory of his illustrious life.
After March 4, 1797, he again retired to
Mount Vernon for peace, quiet and repose.

12 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

GEORGE WASHINGTON. 13

His administration for the two terms had
been successful beyond the expectation and
hopes of even the most sanguine of his
friends. The finances of the country were
no longer in an embarrassed condition, the
public credit was fully restored, life was
given to every department of industry, the
workings of the new system in allowing
Congress to raise revenue from duties on
imports proved to be not only harmonious
in its federal action, but astonishing in its
results upon the commerce and trade of all
the States. The exports from the Union
increased from $19,000,000 to over $56,000,000
per annum, while the imports increased
in about the same proportion. Three new
members had been added to the Union. The
progress of the States in their new career
under their new organization thus far was
exceedingly encouraging, not only to the
friends of liberty within their own limits,
but to their sympathizing allies in all climes
and countries.

Of the call again made on this illustrious

chief to quit his repose at Mount Vernon
and take command of all the United States
forces, with the rank of Lieutenant-General,
when war was threatened with France in
1798, nothing need here be stated, except 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 patriotically accepted
this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop
to all action under it. He again retired to
Mount Vernon, where, after a short and
severe illness, he died December 14, 1799,
in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The
whole country was filled with gloom by this
sad intelligence. Men of all parties in politics
and creeds in religion, in every State
in the Union, united with Congress in " paying
honor to the man, first in war, first in
peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

His remains were deposited in a family
vault on the banks of the Potomac at Mount
Vernon, where they still lie entombed.

14 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

JOHN ADAMS, the second President of the United
States, 1797 to 1801, was born in the present town
of Quincy, then a portion of Braintree, Massachusetts,
October 30, 1735. His father was a farmer of moderate
means, a worthy and industrious man. He was
a deacon in the church, and was very desirous
of giving his son a collegiate education, hoping that he would
become a minister of the gospel. But, as up to this
time, the age of fourteen, he had been only
a play-boy in the fields and forests, he had
no taste for books, he chose farming. On
being set to work, however, by his father
out in the field, the very first day converted
the boy into a lover of books.

Accordingly, at the age of sixteen he
entered Harvard College, and graduated in
1755, at the age of twenty, highly esteemed
for integrity, energy and ability. Thus,
having no capital but his education, he
started out into the stormy world at a time
of great political excitement, as France and
England were then engaged in their great
seven-years struggle for the mastery over
the New World. The fire of patriotism

seized young Adams, and for a time he
studied over the question whether he
should take to the law, to politics or the
army. He wrote a remarkable letter to a
friend, making prophecies concerning the
future greatness of this country which have
since been more than fulfilled. For two
years he taught school and studied law,
wasting no odd moments, and at the early
age of twenty-two years he opened a law
office in his native town. His inherited
powers of mind and untiring devotion to
his profession caused him to rise rapidly
in public esteem.

In October, 1764, Mr. Adams married
Miss Abigail Smith, daughter of a clergyman
at Weymouth and a lady of rare personal
and intellectual endowments, who
afterward contributed much to her husband's
celebrity.

Soon the oppression of the British in
America reached its climax. The Boston
merchants employed an attorney by the
name of James Otis to argue the legality of
oppressive tax law before the Superior
Court. Adams heard the argument, and
afterward wrote to a friend concerning the
ability displayed, as follows: "Otis was a
flame of fire. With a promptitude of
classical allusion, a depth of research, a
rapid summary of historical events and
dates, a profusion of legal authorities and a

JOHN ADAMS. 17

prophetic glance into futurity, he hurried
away all before him. American independence
was then and there born. Every man of an
immensely crowded audience appeared to
me to go away, as I did, ready to take up
arms."

Soon Mr. Adams wrote an essay to be
read before the literary club of his town,
upon the state of affairs, which was so able
as to attract public attention. It was published
in American journals, republished
in England, and was pronounced by the
friends of the colonists there as "one of the
very best productions ever seen from North
America."

The memorable Stamp Act was now
issued, and Adams entered with all the
ardor of his soul into political life in order
to resist it. He drew up a series of resolutions
remonstrating against the act, which
were adopted at a public meeting of the
citizens of Braintree, and which were subsequently
adopted, word for word, by more
than forty towns in the State. Popular
commotion prevented the landing of the
Stamp Act papers, and the English authorities
then closed the courts. The town of
Boston therefore appointed Jeremy Gridley,
James Otis and John Adams to argue a
petition before the Governor and council
for the re-opening of the courts; and while
the two first mentioned attorneys based
their argument upon the distress caused to
the people by the measure, Adams boldly
claimed that the Stamp Act was a violation
both of the English Constitution and the
charter of the Provinces. It is said that
this was the first direct denial of the unlimited
right of Parliament over the colonies.
Soon after this the Stamp Act was
repealed.

Directly Mr. Adams was employed to
defend Ansell Nickerson, who had killed an
Englishman in the act of impressing him
(Nickerson) into the King's service, and his
client was acquitted, the court thus establishing

the principle that the infamous
royal prerogative of impressment could
have no existence in the colonial code.
But in 1770 Messrs. Adams and Josiah
Quincy defended a party of British soldiers
who had been arrested for murder when
they had been only obeying Governmental
orders; and when reproached for thus apparently
deserting the cause of popular
liberty, Mr. Adams replied that he would a
thousandfold rather live under the domination
of the worst of England's kings than
under that of a lawless mob. Next, after
serving a term as a member of the Colonial
Legislature from Boston, Mr. Adams, finding
his health affected by too great labor,
retired to his native home at Braintree.

The year 1774 soon arrived, with its famous
Boston "Tea Party," the first open
act of rebellion. Adams was sent to the
Congress at Philadelphia; and when the
Attorney-General announced that Great
Britain had "determined on her system,
and that her power to execute it was irresistible,"
Adams replied: "I know that
Great Britain has determined on her system,
and that very determination determines
me on mine. You know that I have
been constant in my opposition to her
measures. The die is now cast. I have
passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, live or
die, with my country, is my unalterable
determination." The rumor beginning to
prevail at Philadelphia that the Congress
had independence in view, Adams foresaw
that it was too soon to declare it openly.
He advised every one to remain quiet in
that respect; and as soon as it became apparent
that he himself was for independence,
he was advised to hide himself, which
he did.

The next year the great Revolutionary
war opened in earnest, and Mrs. Adams,
residing near Boston, kept her husband advised
by letter of all the events transpiring
in her vicinity. The battle of Bunker Hill

18 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

came on. Congress had to do something
immediately. The first thing was to
choose a commander-in-chief for the-we
can't say " army "-the fighting men of the
colonies. The New England delegation
was almost unanimous in favor of appointing
General Ward, then at the head of the
Massachusetts forces, but Mr. Adams urged
the appointment of George Washington,
then almost unknown outside of his own
State. He was appointed without opposition.
Mr. Adams offered the resolution,
which was adopted, annulling all the royal
authority in the colonies. Having thus
prepared the way, a few weeks later, viz.,
June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia,
who a few months before had declared
that the British Government would abandon
its oppressive measures, now offered
the memorable resolution, seconded by
Adams, " that these United States are, and
of right ought to be, free and independent."
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and
Livingston were then appointed a committee
to draught a declaration of independence.
Mr. Jefferson desired Mr. Adams
to draw up the bold document, but the
latter persuaded Mr. Jefferson to perform
that responsible task. The Declaration
drawn up, Mr. Adams became its foremost
defender on the floor of Congress. It was
signed by all the fifty-five members present,
and the next day Mr. Adams wrote to his
wife how great a deed was done, and how
proud he was of it. Mr. Adams continued
to be the leading man of Congress, and
the leading advocate of American independence.
Above all other Americans,
he was considered by every one the principal
shining mark for British vengeance.
Thus circumstanced, he was appointed to
the most dangerous task of crossing the
ocean in winter, exposed to capture by the
British, who knew of his mission, which
was to visit Paris and solicit the co-operation
of the French. Besides, to take himself

away from the country of which he
was the most prominent defender, at that
critical time, was an act of the greatest
self-sacrifice. Sure enough, while crossing the
sea, he had two very narrow escapes from
capture; and the transit was otherwise a
stormy and eventful one. During the
summer of 1779 he returned home, but was
immediately dispatched back to France, to
be in readiness there to negotiate terms of
peace and commerce with Great Britain as
soon as the latter power was ready for such
business. But as Dr. Franklin was more
popular than he at the court of France, Mr.
Adams repaired to Holland, where he was
far more successful as a diplomatist.

The treaty of peace between the United
States and England was finally signed at
Paris, January 21, 1783; and the re-action
from so great excitement as Mr. Adams had
so long been experiencing threw him into
a dangerous fever. Before he fully recovered
he was in London, whence he was
dispatched again to Amsterdam to negotiate
another loan. Compliance with this
order undermined his physical constitution
for life.

In 1785 Mr. Adams was appointed envoy
to the court of St. James, to meet face to
face the very king who had regarded him
as an arch traitor! Accordingly he repaired
thither, where he did actually meet
and converse with George III.! After a
residence there for about three years, he
obtained permission to return to America.
While in London he wrote and published
an able work, in three volumes, entitled:
"A Defense of the American Constitution."

The Articles of Confederation proving
inefficient, as Adams had prophesied, a
carefully draughted Constitution was
adopted in 1789, when George Washington
was elected President of the new nation,
and Adams Vice-President. Congress met
for a time in New York, but was removed
to Philadelphia for ten years, until suitable

JOHN ADAMS. 19

buildings should be erected at the new
capital in the District of Columbia. Mr.
Adams then moved his family to Philadelphia.
Toward the close of his term of
office the French Revolution culminated,
when Adams and Washington rather
sympathized with England, and Jefferson
with France. The Presidential election of
1796 resulted in giving Mr. Adams the first
place by a small majority, and Mr. Jefferson
the second place.

Mr. Adams's administration was conscientious,
patriotic and able. The period
was a turbulent one, and even an archangel
could not have reconciled the hostile parties.
Partisanism with reference to England
and France was bitter, and for four
years Mr. Adams struggled through almost
a constant tempest of assaults. In fact, he
was not truly a popular man, and his chagrin
at not receiving a re-election was so
great that he did not even remain at Philadelphia
to witness the inauguration of Mr.
Jefferson, his successor. The friendly
intimacy between these two men was
interrupted for about thirteen years of their
life. Adams finally made the first advances
toward a restoration of their mutual friendship,
which were gratefully accepted by
Jefferson.

Mr. Adams was glad of his opportunity
to retire to private life, where he could rest
his mind and enjoy the comforts of home.
By a thousand bitter experiences he found
the path of public duty a thorny one. For
twenty-six years his service of the public
was as arduous, self-sacrificing and devoted
as ever fell to the lot of man. In one important
sense he was as much the " Father
of his Country" as was Washington in
another sense. During these long years of
anxiety and toil, in which he was laying,
broad and deep, the foundations of the

greatest nation the sun ever shone upon, he
received from his impoverished country a
meager support. The only privilege he
carried with him into his retirement was
that of franking his letters.

Although taking no active part in public
affairs, both himself and his son, John
Quincy, nobly supported the policy of Mr.
Jefferson in resisting the encroachments of
England, who persisted in searching
American ships on the high seas and
dragging from them any sailors that might
be designated by any pert lieutenant as
British subjects. Even for this noble support
Mr. Adams was maligned by thousands
of bitter enemies! On this occasion,
for the first time since his retirement, he
broke silence and drew up a very able
paper, exposing the atrocity of the British
pretensions.

Mr. Adams outlived nearly all his family.
Though his physical frame began to give
way many years before his death, his mental
powers retained their strength and vigor to
the last. In his ninetieth year He was
gladdened by the popular elevation of his
son to the Presidential office, the highest in
the gift of the people. A few months more
passed away and the 4th of July, 1826,
arrived. The people, unaware of the near
approach of the end of two great lives-
that of Adams and Jefferson-were making
unusual preparations for a national holiday.
Mr. Adams lay upon his couch, listening to
the ringing of bells, the waftures of martial
music and the roar of cannon, with silent
emotion. Only four days before, he had
given for a public toast, " Independence
forever." About two o'clock in the afternoon
he said, "And Jefferson still survives."
But he was mistaken by an hour or so;
and in a few minutes he had breathed his
last.

20 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

Thomas Jefferson, the third President
of the United States, 1801-'9, was
born April 2, 1743, the eldest child of
his parents, Peter and Jane (Randolph) Jefferson,
near Charlottesville, Albemarle County,
Virginia, upon the slopes of the Blue Ridge. When
He was fourteen years of age, his father died, leaving
a widow and eight children. She was a beautiful
and accomplished lady, a good letter-writer, with a fund of
humor, and an admirable housekeeper. His
parents belonged to the Church of England,
and are said to be of Welch origin. But
little is known of them, however.

Thomas was naturally of a serious turn
of mind, apt to learn, and a favorite at
school, his choice studies being mathematics
and the classics. At the age of seventeen
he entered William and Mary College,
in an advanced class, and lived in rather an
expensive style, consequently being much
caressed by gay society. That he was not
ruined, is proof of his stamina of character.
But during his second year he discarded

society, his horses and even his favorite
violin, and devoted thenceforward fifteen
hours a day to hard study, becoming extraordinarily
proficient in Latin and Greek
authors.

On leaving college, before he was twenty-one,
he commenced the study of law, and
pursued it diligently until he was well
qualified for practice, upon which he
entered in 1767. By this time he was also
versed in French, Spanish, Italian and Anglo-Saxon,
and in the criticism of the fine
arts. Being very polite and polished in his
manners, he won the friendship of all whom
he met. Though able with his pen, he was
not fluent in public speech.

In 1769 he was chosen a member of the
Virginia Legislature, and was the largest
slave-holding member of that body. He
introduced a bill empowering slave-holders
to manumit their slaves, but it was rejected
by an overwhelming vote.

In 1770 Mr. Jefferson met with a great
loss; his house at Shadwell was burned,
and his valuable library of 2,000 volumes
was consumed. But he was wealthy
enough to replace the most of it, as from
his 5,000 acres tilled by slaves and his
practice at the bar his income amounted to
about $5,000 a year.

In 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton,
a beautiful, wealthy and accomplished

20

THOMAS JEFFERSON. 23

young widow, who owned 40,000 acres of
land and 130 slaves; yet he labored assiduously
for the abolition of slavery. For his
new home he selected a majestic rise of
land upon his large estate at Shadwell,
called Monticello, whereon he erected a
mansion of modest yet elegant architecture.
Here he lived in luxury, indulging his taste
in magnificent, high-blooded horses.

At this period the British Government
gradually became more insolent and oppressive
toward the American colonies,
and Mr. Jefferson was ever one of the most
foremost to resist its encroachments. From
time to time he drew up resolutions of remonstrance,
which were finally adopted,
thus proving his ability as a statesman and
as a leader. By the year 1774 he became
quite busy, both with voice and pen, in defending
the right of the colonies to defend
themselves. His pamphlet entitled: "A
Summary View of the Rights of British
America," attracted much attention in England.
The following year he, in company
with George Washington, served as an executive
committee in measures to defend
by arms the State of Virginia. As a Member
of the Congress, he was not a speechmaker,
yet in conversation and upon
committees he was so frank and decisive
that he always made a favorable impression.
But as late as the autumn of 1775 he remained
in hopes of reconciliation with the
parent country.

At length, however, the hour arrived for
draughting the " Declaration of Independence,"
and this responsible task was devolved
upon Jefferson. Franklin, and
Adams suggested a few verbal corrections
before it was submitted to Congress, which
was June 28, 1776, only six days before it
was adopted. During the three days of
the fiery ordeal of criticism through which
it passed in Congress, Mr. Jefferson opened
not his lips. John Adams was the main
champion of the Declaration on the floor

of Congress. The signing of this document
was one of the most solemn and momentous
occasions ever attended to by man. Prayer
and silence reigned throughout the hall,
and each signer realized that if American
independence was not finally sustained by
arms he was doomed to the scaffold.

After the colonies became independent
States, Jefferson resigned for a time his seat
in Congress in order to aid in organizing
the government of Virginia, of which State
he was chosen Governor in 1779, when he
was thirty-six years of age. At this time
the British had possession of Georgia and
were invading South Carolina, and at one
time a British officer, Tarleton, sent a
secret expedition to Monticello to capture
the Governor. Five minutes after Mr.
Jefferson escaped with his family, his mansion
was in possession of the enemy! The
British troops also destroyed his valuable
plantation on the James River. "Had they
carried off the slaves," said Jefferson, with
characteristic magnanimity, "to give them
freedom, they would have done right."

The year 1781 was a gloomy one for the
Virginia Governor. While confined to his
secluded home in the forest by a sick and
dying wife, a party arose against him
throughout the State, severely criticising
his course as Governor. Being very sensitive
to reproach, this touched him to the
quick, and the heap of troubles then surrounding
him nearly crushed him. He resolved,
in despair, to retire from public life
for the rest of his days. For weeks Mr.
Jefferson sat lovingly, but with a crushed
heart, at the bedside of his sick wife, during
which time unfeeling letters were sent to
him, accusing him of weakness and unfaithfulness
to duty. All this, after he had lost
so much property and at the same time
done so much for his country! After her
death he actually fainted away, and remained
so long insensible that it was feared
he never would recover! Several weeks

THOMAS JEFFERSON. 23

24 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

passed before he could fully recover his
equilibrium. He was never married a
second time.

In the spring of 1782 the people of England
compelled their king to make to the
Americans overtures of peace, and in November
following, Mr. Jefferson was reappointed
by Congress, unanimously and
without a single adverse remark, minister
plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty.

In March, 1784, Mr. Jefferson was appointed
on a committee to draught a plan
for the government of the Northwestern
Territory. His slavery-prohibition clause
in that plan was stricken out by the proslavery
majority of the committee; but amid
all the controversies and wrangles of politicians,
he made it a rule never to contradict
anybody or engage in any discussion
as a debater.

In company with Mr. Adams and Dr.
Franklin, Mr. Jefferson was appointed in
May, 1784, to act as minister plenipotentiary
in the negotiation of treaties of commerce
with foreign nations. Accordingly, he went
to Paris and satisfactorily accomplished his
mission. The suavity and high bearing of
his manner made all the French his friends;
and even Mrs. Adams at one time wrote
to her sister that he was " the chosen
of the earth." But all the honors that
he received, both at home and abroad,
seemed to make no change in the simplicity
of his republican tastes. On his return to
America, he found two parties respecting
the foreign commercial policy, Mr. Adams
sympathizing with that in favor of England
and himself favoring France.

On the inauguration of General Washington
as President, Mr. Jefferson was
chosen by him for the office of Secretary of
State. At this time the rising storm of the
French Revolution became visible, and
Washington watched it with great anxiety.
His cabinet was divided in their views of
constitutional government as well as regarding

the issues in France. General
Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, was
the leader of the so-called Federal party,
while Mr. Jefferson was the leader of the
Republican party. At the same time there
was a strong monarchical party in this
country, with which Mr. Adams sympathized.
Some important financial measures,
which were proposed by Hamilton and
finally adopted by the cabinet and approved
by Washington, were opposed by Mr.
Jefferson; and his enemies then began to
reproach him with holding office under an
administration whose views he opposed.
The President poured oil on the troubled
waters. On his re-election to the Presidency
he desired Mr. Jefferson to remain
in the cabinet, but the latter sent in his
resignation at two different times, probably
because he was dissatisfied with some of
the measures of the Government. His
final one was not received until January 1,
1794, when General Washington parted
from him with great regret.

Jefferson then retired to his quiet home
at Monticello, to enjoy a good rest, not even
reading the newspapers lest the political
gossip should disquiet him. On the President's
again calling him back to the office
of Secretary of State, he replied that no
circumstances would ever again tempt him
to engage in anything public! But, while
all Europe was ablaze with war, and France
in the throes of a bloody revolution and the
principal theater of the conflict, a new
Presidential election in this country came
on. John Adams was the Federal candidate
and Mr. Jefferson became the Republican
candidate. The result of the election
was the promotion of the latter to the Vice-Presidency,
while the former was chosen
President. In this contest Mr. Jefferson
really did not desire to have either office,
he was "so weary" of party strife. He
loved the retirement of home more than
any other place on the earth.

PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 24

THOMAS JEFFERSON. 25

But for four long years his Vice-Presidency
passed joylessly away, while the
partisan strife between Federalist and Republican
was ever growing hotter. The
former party split and the result of the
fourth general election was the elevation of
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency! with
Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men
being at the head of a growing party, their
election was hailed everywhere with joy.
On the other hand, many of the Federalists
turned pale, as they believed what a portion
of the pulpit and the press had been preaching
-that Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist,"
a "Jacobin," the "incarnation of all evil,"
"breathing threatening and slaughter! "

Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address contained
nothing but the noblest sentiments,
expressed in fine language, and his personal
behavior afterward exhibited the extreme
of American, democratic simplicity. His
disgust of European court etiquette grew
upon him with age. He believed that
General Washington was somewhat distrustful
of the ultimate success of a popular
Government, and that, imbued with a little
admiration of the forms of a monarchical
Government, he had instituted levees, birthdays,
pompous meetings with Congress,
etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to
slaves everywhere he met them, and carried
in his countenance the indications of an accommodating
disposition.

The political principles of the Jeffersonian
party now swept the country, and Mr.
Jefferson himself swayed an influence which
was never exceeded even by Washington.
Under his administration, in 1803, the Louisiana
purchase was made, for $15,000,000,
the " Louisiana Territory " purchased comprising
all the land west of the Mississippi
to the Pacific Ocean.

The year 1804 witnessed another severe
loss in his family. His highly accomplished
and most beloved daughter Maria sickened
and died, causing as great grief in the

stricken parent as it was possible for him to
survive with any degree of sanity.

The same year he was re-elected to the
Presidency, with George Clinton as Vice-President.
During his second term our
relations with England became more complicated,
and on June 22, 1807, near Hampton
Roads, the United States frigate
Chesapeake was fired upon by the British
man-of-war Leopard, and was made
to surrender. Three men were killed and
ten wounded. Jefferson demanded reparation.
England grew insolent. It became
evident that war was determined upon by
the latter power. More than 1,200 Americans
were forced into the British service
upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory
solution was reached, Mr. Jefferson's
Presidential term closed. Amid all these
public excitements he thought constantly
of the welfare of his family, and longed
for the time when he could return home
to remain. There, at Monticello, his subsequent
life was very similar to that of
Washington at Mt. Vernon. His hospitality
toward his numerous friends, indulgence
of his slaves, and misfortunes to his
property, etc., finally involved him in debt.
For years his home resembled a fashionable
watering-place. During the summer,
thirty-seven house servants were required!
It was presided over by his daughter, Mrs.
Randolph.

Mr. Jefferson did much for the establishment
of the University at Charlottesville,
making it unsectarian, in keeping with the
spirit of American institutions, but poverty
and the feebleness of old age prevented
him from doing what he would. He even
went so far as to petition the Legislature
for permission to dispose of some of his
possessions by lottery, in order to raise the
necessary funds for home expenses. It was
granted; but before the plan was carried
out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, at
12:50 P. M.

THOMAS JEFFERSON. 25

26 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

JAMES MADISON, the
fourth President of the
United States, 1809-'17,
was born at Port Conway, Prince George
County, Virginia, March
16, 1751. His father,
Colonel James Madison, was
a wealthy planter, residing
upon a very fine estate
called " Montpelier," only
twenty-five miles from the
home of Thomas Jefferson
at Monticello. The closest
personal and political attachment
existed between
these illustrious men from their early youth
until death.

James was the eldest of a family of seven
children, four sons and three daughters, all
of whom attained maturity. His early education
was conducted mostly at home,
under a private tutor. Being naturally intellectual
in his tastes, lie consecrated himself
with unusual vigor to study. At a very
early age he made considerable proficiency
in the Greek, Latin, French and Spanish
languages. In 1769 he entered Princeton
College, New Jersey, of which the illustrious
Dr. Weatherspoon was then President.
He graduated in 1771, with a character

of the utmost purity, and a mind
highly disciplined and stored with all the
learning which embellished and gave efficiency
to his subsequent career. After
graduating he pursued a course of reading
for several months, under the guidance of
President Weatherspoon, and in 1772 returned
to Virginia, where he continued in
incessant study for two years, nominally
directed to the law, but really including
extended researches in theology, philosophy
and general literature.

The Church of England was the established
church in Virginia, invested with all
the prerogatives and immunities which it
enjoyed in the fatherland, and other denominations
labored under serious disabilities,
the enforcement of which was rightly
or wrongly characterized by them as persecution.
Madison took a prominent stand
in behalf of the removal of all disabilities,
repeatedly appeared in the court of his own
county to defend the Baptist nonconformists,
and was elected from Orange County to
the Virginia Convention in the spring of
1766, when he signalized the beginning of
his public career by procuring the passage
of an amendment to the Declaration of
Rights as prepared by George Mason, substituting
for " toleration" a more emphatic
assertion of religious liberty.

JAMES MADISON. 29

In 1776 he was elected a member of the
Virginia Convention to frame the Constitution
of the State. Like Jefferson, he took
but little part in the public debates. His
main strength lay in his conversational influence
and in his pen. In November, 1777,
he was chosen a member of the Council of
State, and in March, 1780, took his seat in
the Continental Congress, where he first
gained prominence through his energetic
opposition to the issue of paper money by
the States. He continued in Congress three
years, one of its most active and influential
members.

In 1784 Mr. Madison was elected a member
of the Virginia Legislature. He rendered
important service by promoting and
participating in that revision of the statutes
which effectually abolished the remnants of
the feudal system subsistent up to that
time in the form of entails, primogeniture,
and State support given the Anglican
Church; and his " Memorial and Remonstrance"
against a general assessment for
the support of religion is one of the ablest
papers which emanated from his pen. It
settled the question of the entire separation
of church and State in Virginia.

Mr. Jefferson says of him, in allusion to
the study and experience through which he
had already passed:

"Trained in these successive schools, he
acquired a habit of self-possession which
placed at ready command the rich resources
of his luminous and discriminating mind and
of his extensive information, and rendered
him the first of every assembly of which he
afterward became a member. Never wandering
from his subject into vain declamation,
but pursuing it closely in language
pure, classical and copious, soothing always
the feelings of his adversaries by civilities
and softness of expression, he rose to the
eminent station which he held in the great
National Convention of 1787; and in that of
Virginia, which followed, he sustained the

new Constitution in all its parts, bearing off
the palm against the logic of George Mason
and the fervid declamation of Patrick
Henry. With these consummate powers
were united a pure and spotless virtue
which no calumny has ever attempted to
sully. Of the power and polish of his pen,
and of the wisdom of his administration in
the highest office of the nation, I need say
nothing. They have spoken, and will for.
ever speak, for themselves."

In January, 1786, Mr. Madison took the
initiative in proposing a meeting of State
Commissioners to devise measures for more
satisfactory commercial relations between
the States. A meeting was held at Annapolis
to discuss this subject, and but five
States were represented. The convention
issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madison,
urging all the States to send their delegates
to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to
draught a Constitution for the United
States. The delegates met at the time appointed,
every State except Rhode Island
being represented. George Washington
was chosen president of the convention,
and the present Constitution of the United
States was then and there formed. There
was no mind and no pen more active in
framing this immortal document than the
mind and pen of James Madison. He was,
perhaps, its ablest advocate in the pages of
the Federalist.

Mr. Madison was a member of the first
four Congresses, 1789-'97, in which he maintained
a moderate opposition to Hamilton's
financial policy. He declined the mission
to France and the Secretaryship of State,
and, gradually identifying himself with the
Republican party, became from 1792 its
avowed leader. In 1796 he was its choice
for the Presidency as successor to Washington.
Mr. Jefferson wrote: "There is
not another person in the United States
with whom, being placed at the helm of our
affairs, my mind would be so completely at

30 PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

rest for the fortune of our political bark."
But Mr. Madison declined to be a candidate.
His term in Congress had expired,
and he returned from New York to his
beautiful retreat at Montpelier.

In 1794 Mr. Madison married a young
widow of remarkable powers of fascination
-Mrs. Todd. Her maiden name was Dorothy
Paine. She was born in 1767, in Virginia,
of Quaker parents, and had been
educated in the strictest rules of that sect.
When but eighteen years of age she married
a young lawyer and moved to Philadelphia,
where she was introduced to brilliant scenes
of fashionable life. She speedily laid aside
the dress and address of the Quakeress, and
became one of the most fascinating ladies
of the republican court. In New York,
after the death of her husband, she was the
belle of the season and was surrounded with
admirers. Mr. Madison won the prize.
She proved an invaluable helpmate. In
Washington she was the life of society.
If there was any diffident, timid young
girl just making her appearance, she
found in Mrs. Madison an encouraging
friend.

During the stormy administration of John
Adams Madison remained in private life,
but was the author of the celebrated " Resolutions
of 1798," adopted by the Virginia
Legislature, in condemnation of the Alien
and Sedition laws, as well as of the " report"
in which he defended those resolutions,
which is, by many, considered his ablest
State paper.

The storm passed away; the Alien and
Sedition laws were repealed, John Adams
lost his re-election, and in 1801 Thomas Jefferson
was chosen President. The great reaction
in public sentiment which seated
Jefferson in the presidential chair was largely
owing to the writings of Madison, who
was consequently well entitled to the post
of Secretary of State. With great ability
he discharged the duties of this responsible

office during the eight years of Mr. Jefferson's
administration.

As Mr. Jefferson was a widower, and
neither of his daughters could be often with
him, Mrs. Madison usually presided over
the festivities of the White House; and as
her husband succeeded Mr. Jefferson, holding
his office for two terms, this remarkable
woman was the mistress of the presidential
mansion for sixteen years.

Mr. Madison being entirely engrossed by
the cares of his office, all the duties of social
life devolved upon his accomplished
wife. Never were such responsibilities
more ably discharged. The most bitter
foes of her husband and of the administration
were received with the frankly proffered
hand and the cordial smile of welcome;
and the influence of this gentle
woman in allaying the bitterness of party
rancor became a great and salutary power
in the nation.

As the term of Mr. Jefferson's Presidency
drew near its close, party strife was roused
to the utmost to elect his successor. It was
a death-grapple between the two great
parties, the Federal and Republican. Mr.
Madison was chosen President by an electoral
vote of 122 to 53, and was inaugurated
March 4, 1809, at a critical period, when
the relations of the United States with Great
Britain were becoming embittered, and his
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels,
aggravated by the act of non-intercourse of
May, 1810, and finally resulting in a declaration
of war.

On the 18th of June, 1812, President
Madison gave his approval to an act of
Congress declaring war against Great Britain.
Notwithstanding the bitter hostility
of the Federal party to the war, the country
in general a