Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-02-26
WASHINGTON.
iJ92--iJ99--i8o9.
"First in War, First in Peace, and
- : First in the hearts of his
Countrymen."

One hundred and thirty-seven years
ago. on the twenty second day of Febru-
ary. was born in Westmoreland county,
Virginia, GEORGE WASHINGTON. His his
tory from that time to his death is better
known to the people, young and old, than
that of any other public man since the
foundation of our Government. What
child has not heard the story of his ad-
venture with the Ratchet; or the boy who
never told lie? Great attention was
paid to his education, especially in the
studies of mathematics and engineering.
His first public service was in 1853, when
he was employed by Governor Dinwiddie
; to demonstrate with the French command
er on the Ohio for the infraction of the
treaty between the two nations. "-The
service to which he was thus called" says
the historian, "was both difficult and
dangerous as half of his route Of four
hundred miles lay through a trackless
wilderness, inhabited by Indian tribes,
whose feelings were hostile to the English.
Departing on the 3lst of October from
Williamsburg, then the seat of Govern
mcnt Of the province, on the 4th of De-
cember he reached French fort at the
mouth of French creek, from which he
was conducted to another fort higher up
the stream, where he found the French
commander, M. De st. Pierre, who enter
tanned him with great politeness, and gave
him a written answer to Gov. Dinwiddie's
letter. He retired from the service with
the rank of Colonel, and while engaged in
the peaceful pursuits of his home at Mount
Vernon was elected Senator in the national
council for Frederick county, and after
ward for Fairfax.
At the commencement of the Revolution
he was selected to take the chief command
of the provincial troops; and from the
moment of entering upon the important
office he directed his whole energies to one
object-the independence of his country.
The record of his services is the history
of the whole war. When the treaty oil
peace was signed, he resigned his office
and retired to private life, followed by the
unbounded applause of his country"
Elected first President in 1889, he prov
ed in the discharge Of the functions OF
that high office, that he was great states
man as we'll as gallant, patriotic, and
brave general. In the autumn of 1892 he
was reelected. Previous to the expiration
Of his second term (sprlng of '97,) he
made known his intention to retire from
public life. His farewell address, on that
occasion, abounds with maxims of the
highest political Importance, and senti-
ments of the warmest affection for his
country. He died at his home at Mount
Vernon on the l4th day of December,
1850, in the sixty-eighth year of his age
We have before us fac-simile copy of
the Ulster County Gazette, published at
Kingston, Ulster county, New York, dated
Saturday, January 4, 1900, from which
we copy the following in regard to the
funeral of Washington, in setting which
we " follow COPY" as nearly as possible:
WASHINGTON ENTOMBED.
George 7opn, Dec. 20.
On Wednesday Taft, the mortal part of
WASHINGTON the Great the Father
of his Country and Friend of man, was
confined to the tomb, with solemn honors
and funeral pomp.
A multitude of persons attended, from
many miles round, at Mount Vernon, the
choice abode and laft residence of the IL
luftrious chief. There were the groves
the spacious avenues, the beautiful and
sublime scenes, the noble manfion-but,
alas the auguft inhabitant aoas noo no
more. The great soul was gone. His
mortal part was there indeed but ah how
affecting how awful the spectacle of such
worth and greatness, thus, to mortal eyes,
fallen Yes fallen fallen
In the long and lofty Portico, where oft
the Hero walked in all his glory, noo Law
the fhrouded corpse. The countenance
fill composed and serene, seemed to de-
press the dignity of the spirit, which lately
dwelt in that lifeless form There those
who paid the Taft sad honours to the hene-
factor of his country, took an impressive
a farewell view.
On the ornament at the head of the cot.
fin, was inscribed SURGE AID JUDIcIUM-
about the middle of the coffin, GLORIA
DEo-and on the tilver plate,
GENERAL
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
Departed this life, on the I4th December,
1899, at. 6s.
Between three and four o'clock, the
sound of artillery from veffel in the river
firing minute guns, awoke afrefh our sol
emn sorrow-the corpse was removed
band of mufic with mournful melody melt
ing the soul into all the tenderness of woe.
The procession was formed & moved on
in the following order:
s 5ss ss's: With arm. reversed.
Music,
Clergy,
The Generals horse with his saddle,
holfters, and piftols.
Coils. s. q : e esI,;