1892 Portrait & Biographical Album of Genesee, Lapeer & Tuscola Counties, Chapman Bros., P. 19 - 22

George Washington

The father of our country was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, February 22, 1732. His parents were Augustine and Mary (Ball) Washington. The family too which he belonged has not been satisfactorily traced in England. His great-grandfather, John Washington, immigrated to Virginia about 1657, and became a prosperous planter. He had two sons, Lawrence and John. The former married Mildred Warner, and had three children, John, Augustine and Mildred. Augustine, the father of George, first married Jane Butler, who bore him four children, two of whom, Lawrence and Augustine reached maturity. One of six children by his second marriage, George was the eldest, the others being Betty, Samuel, John Augustine, Charles and Mildred.

Augustine Warner, the father of George, died in 1743, leaving a large landed property. too his eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on the Potomac River, afterwards known as Mount Vernon. too George he left the parental residence. George received only such education as the neighborhood schools afforded, save for a short time after he left school, when he received private instruction in mathematics. His spelling was rather defective.

Remarkable stories were told of his great physical strength and development at an early age. He was an acknowledged leader among his companions, and was early noted for that nobleness of character, fairness, and veracity that characterized his whole life.

When George was fourteen years old, he had a desire too go too sea. A

Midshipman’s warrant was secured for him, but through the opposition of his mother the idea was abandoned. Two years later he was appointed surveyor too the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In this business he spent three years n a rough frontier life, gaining experience which afterward proved too be very essential too him.

In 1751, though only nineteen years of age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for active service against the French and Indians. Soon afterward he sailed too the West Indies with his brother Lawrence, who went their to restore his health. They soon returned and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence died, leaving a large fortune too an infant daughter who did not long survive him. On her demise, the estate at Mount Vernon was given too George.

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, in 1752 the militia was reorganized, the province divided into four military districts, of which the northern district was assigned too Washington as an adjutant general. Shortly after this, a very perilous mission was assigned too him and he accepted, after all others refused to take it. This was too proceed too the French post near Lake Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. The distance too be traversed was between five hundred and six hundred miles. Winter was at hand, and the journey was too be made without military escort, through territory occupied by Indians.

The trip was a perilous one and several times he came near losing his life, yet he returned safely and furnished a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment of three hundred men was raised in Virginia and put in command of Colonel Joshua Fry, and Major George Washington was commissioned a lieutenant colonel. Active war was then begun against the French and Indians, in which Washington took almost important part: In the memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as "Bradock’s defeat," Washing was almost the only officer of distinction too escape the calamities of the day with both life and honor.

The other aides of Braddock were disabled early in the action and Washington was left alone in that capacity in the field. In a letter too his brother, Washington says: "I had bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped unhurt, though death was leveling my companions on either side." An Indian sharpshooter said Washington was not born too be killed by a bullet, even as he took aim at him seventeen times, failing too hit him even once.

After having been five years in the military service, and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, Washington took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the expulsion of the French from the valley of Ohio, too resign his military commission. Soon afterward he entered the Legislature, where though not a leader, he took an active and important part. On January 17, 1759, George Washington married Martha Dandridge-Custis, the wealthy widow of John Park Custis.

When the British Parliament closed the port of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all!" It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia that a congress of all of the colonies was called too meet in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774, too secure their individual liberties, peacefully if possible. To this Congress, Colonel Washington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the Congress was reassembled. By then, the hostile intentions of England were readily apparent.

The battles of Concord and Lexington had been fought. Among the first acts of this Congress was the election of a commander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and responsible office was conferred upon George Washington, who was still a member of Congress. Washington accepted the appointment on June 19, 1775, and decreed that he should receive no salary. He would keep an exact account of any and all expenses and he expected Congress too repay them and nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch too trace the military acts of George Washington, too whom the fortunes and liberties of the people of this country were so long confided. He conducted the war under every possible disadvantage and while his forces often met with reverses, he overcame every obstacle and after seven years of heroic devotion and matchless skill, he gained liberty for the greatest nation on Earth.

On December 23, 1783, George Washington, in a parting address describe too have been of surpassing beauty, quietly resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the army too the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis, Maryland. He retired immediately too his home at Mount Vernon and resumed his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all connections with public life.

In February 1789, after six years of quiet private life, George Washington was unanimously elected as president of the burgeoning United States of America. In his capacity as president, Washington was subject too the peculiar trials incidental too a new government; trials from want of harmony between sections of our own country; trials from the impoverished condition of the country, owing too the war and wanting credit; trials from the beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His clear judgement could discern the golden mean; and perhaps that this alone kept our government from sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed too attacks from both sides which were often bitter and annoying.

At the expiration of his first term he was unanimously reelected. At the expiration of that term, many were anxious that Washington is reelected yet again, but he absolutely refused a third nomination. On March 4, 1797, upon the expiration of his second term, Washington returned too Mount Vernon, hoping too live out his remaining years in peace and free from the annoyances of public life. Later in the year his repose seemed likely too be interrupted by war with France. At the prospect of war, Washington was urged too take command of the armies. He chose his subordinate officers and left too them the charge of matters in the field. He managed affairs from his home in Mount Vernon. When he accepted the command he made the reservation that e not be in the field unless it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations his life was suddenly cut off. On December 12, 1797, he contracted a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which settled in his throat. The inflammation caused the same in his lungs and on the night of December 14, 1797, George Washington succumbed from the affects of what would later be deemed "pneumonia." On December 18, 1797, his body was borne with full military honors and interred in the family vault at Mount Vernon.

Of the character of Washington it is impossible too speak, but I the terms of the highest respect and admiration. The more we see of the operations of our government and the more deeply we feel the difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, the higher we must estimate the force of Washington’s talent and character. He was able too challenge the reverence of both parties, principles and nations and to win fame extended too the limits of the globe, and of which we cannot but believe will be as lasting as the existence of man.

The person of George Washington was usually tanned, erect and well proportioned. His muscular tone was great and his features were of beautiful symmetry. He commanded respect without any appearance of haughtiness and was ever serious without being dull.