The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-01-27
GENERAL PETER FORCE.

such a man as Peter Force Is an inheritance to
mankind. II is fraught with lessons that can
never grow dim; neither can these lessons fade
from the memory Of man. The noble deeds and
good works of such man as Mr. Force 20 into
history, and must in their very nature serve to
quicken the pulses Of true life in others to the
remotest generations. They cannot, therefore,
be stated too frequently, nor can they be dwelt
upon with too much particularly. The good
which men accomplish lives forever; II is there
fore the duty of those who can to garner up these
noble and heroic deeds that all who struggle for
the possible and the right in life's great battle
may gain inspiration and courage for the per
petual conflict:
Lives Of great men all remind us
we can make our life sublime;
Footprint, gu the sands OF time
Footprints that perhaps another,
some fOfSrS and md sh iG's%a RaP brother
Seeing, may take heart again. -
Peter Force was born near Patterson, New
Jersey, November %, 1870, and the house wherein
he first saw the light was situated upon the very
brink of the Passaic Falls; SO that 1t may be
said, literally, that the failing waters" were
his lullaby. He was of French extraction, and
lineal descendant of the Marquis De La Force,
which name signifies " OF the Force" and right
manfully did the subject of this notice illustrate
BY long and useful life the generic qualification
Of the name. In the American Encyclppdia,
published BY the Appletons, we find some &C.
count OF the life and career of our departed
neighbor. His early days were spent In print
ing office In New York. He may therefore be
said to have been one of that brilliant galaxy OF
great men who have graduated from the print
ing Office. In 1915 he removed to Washington,
d. c., and in 1870 he commenced the publication
Of the National Calendar, an annual volume Of
national statistics, which he continued till 1886
From November IL, 1923, to February 2, 1880,
he published the National Journal, a political
newspaper, which was the Official journal during
the administration of John Quincy Adams.
From 1886 to 1870 he was Mayor of Washington,
and was afterward President of the National In.
stitute for the Promotion of Science.
In 1889 he made a contract with the United
states Government for the preparation and pub
LEGATION Of documentary history OF the Ameri-
can Colonies, Of which nine folio volumes have
since appeared, under the title OF American
Archives" This work occupied MT Force for
thirty years, and In its prosecution he gathered
collection Of books, N snIscripts, maps, and pa
pers relating to American history, which, in
completeness and value, is not equalled by
any other collection In the world on the
same SUBJECT Mr.. Force also published four
volumes OF historical tracts, relating chiefly to
the origin and settlement of the American colo
MES
In collecting rare and useful books, pamphlets
anu newspapers ne spent long anu lhporlout
life, The patience and care which he brought
into requisition in this undertaking has not sc
Ear as we can learn, been equalled By any othel
American. and II lie safe to say, that In this pc
culiar work Of his life he Is without a peer II
his great library Mr. Force had copy of every
newspaper that was ever issued In the District
of Columbia.
All of our readers know that this great and
unique library, which he was so many years In
atnna snlh 60 haI .oy
eminent for the sum OF sloo, ooo and all of these
curious and valuable volumes, tracts, pamphlets
and newspapers may now be found in the al
coves OF the Congressional library, We oh
served the other day at the library a catalogu
Of these publications, an their different title
amounting to the round number of 565 900,
The place where he gnrnered up his literary
historical and scientific treasures we now occup
as our printing office, editorial and reportorir
rooms; and we indite this article in the yer
place where his footsteps often sounded, and, q
his custom was where he received his friend
and bestowed n kind and cordial welcome upo
all who came to and to be informed. But
has gone. Does his freed spirit hover abou
these halls, and visit these active scenes Of on
daily life, as the theory OF some is, BE that q
It may one thing is certain: his example is b.
fore us. May 1t lead US and all who knew hin
each in his vocation, to holicr purposes, hight
aims, and to glorious ends.
From 1885 to 1910, General Force was may
Of this city, and the capacity integrity al
adelIty which he exhibited In the administr
ton OF public affairs ms the chief magistrate
Warrington, led the city Councils in both Boar
to adopt spontaneously and unanimously the fc
lowing prea mblc and resolutions;
Whereas the administration of the municip
affairs of this city by Peter Force, esq, duriI
his mayoralty, has been such as greatly TO a,
20 the character of the corporation and TO q
welfare and prosperity OF the city In winch
was chosen to act as Its chief executive OF
ceTS Anu hv his ossiduitv and devotion to h
official DATES. and his kind, obiiging, and II
partial manner OF trnnsactins the business
the corporation, he has succeeded n restoriiI
lis credit, producing harmony In its hnanei
operations, and begetting confidence in Its cap
Sity to discharge all its obligations with promp
iu Whepess he is about to retire from the otici
station he has oiled SO h9norsoly to himself al
ouse:uiy to ths Si.y GT t Board of A
men and he Board Of Comm9n Cougsn q ne G.
Of Washiagion, That while me TWO boards aeep
nfSce they cannot bot express their cordial q
probation, and tender to him their sincere tn "a
Tor the very efficient and nsest IKE arars
the corporation, and the very satlsiaetory &c
dition in which he has left It's financial eohee,
boards be q committee to present this resoiuti
40 the Mayor. J.CARBERRY,
President Board of Common Council
CHAs, W, GoLDsBoRouOH
President Board OF Alderme
May ~, lsio.
Mr., Force ksves family Of Ave children-fo
.,ns-,ad one daughter Two OF his sons resi-
IN Alabama; VIM. q. Force, esq, isa resident
this city, and Is a msnbsr Of the corps Of save
~ the Smithsonian Institution General NJ
Force, citizen Of Ohio, did good service In Il
,,ts war. and WAS with General sherman In "
march TO the sea-" He now occupies ns psi
of one OF the courts Of that state ms aAss"
Mrs. Jones, resides at FORT Wsyne, IS, =,
pelieve she did not arrive In "e'' A"''
he death of hnr. father.
A good man has left us in the fuiins's '''