Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-10
WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON A
FATHER:
The History of a Reputed Som of the
Father of His Country.

The History of a Reputed Som of the
Father of His Country.
indianapolis Cor. Cincinnati Commercial.l
The curious visitor to indianapolis, the
capital city of the state of Indiana. who
desires to view the public buildings and
other notable objects of interest to be
seen, we will supposed to have arrived at
the state-house, entering the passage way
to bis right hand, and on the eastern side
of the building he sees an entrance to
the first of suit of rooms occupied by
the state executive as the public Offices
assigned for the transaction of business
connected with his department of the
state government. Entering, you will
be cordially greeted by the governor him.
sell, or his private secretary, either of
whom will make you feel perfectly at
home, and will take pleasure in pointing
out and explaining TO you the various OBJ.
jects of interest contained in the apart
ments. Among these are the portraits
in oil of all those who have been govern
ors of the commonwealth down to the
present incumbent. They have been
painted and hung around these walls in
accordance with a resolution of the Gen.
eral Assembly, adopted several years ago,
and now embrace complete list of all
the governors, though in some cases an
authentic likeness from which the artist
employed might make perfect copy,
was obtained only after patient search
and considerable expense. The visitor
will hardly fail to notice a portrait hang
ing just over the door that he first enters.
1t is the face of
A BEARDLEss YOUTH,
certainly not over eighteen or nineteen
years of age, and it is an exceedingly
handsome face to look upon. The hair,
which is dark, almost black, is cut sqnare
across the forehead in straight line
drawn from the upper edge of one tenn.
pie to the other, the side and back hair
flowing down behind the ears almost to
the shoulders. There is the full, ruff1ed
shirt bosom, and the vest aud coat cut
short, stiff collar, la milita;re, of the
fashion of previous generation. The
round, peachy check, small chin, full.
ripe lips and large eyes, aud the tout en-
sensble, suggesting to your mind the idea
of gravity, almost melancholy in the face,
will cause you to look again with deep
er interest upon the fair young counte-
nance. Your inquiry will be answered
by the information that it is the portrait
of Col. Posey, the first territorial govern
or of Indiana, and that the portrait was
painted from a miniature likeness done
on ivory when he was quite young, and
which was the only likeness of him ex-
tant. There your information would
probably cease, and you would leave the
building without conceiving the idea that
you had gazed upon the " counterfeit re
semblance" of veritable
SON OF THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY ;"
Yet the story of bis birth and paternity
is often canvassed among the older and
more prominent citizens of the state, and
perhaps outside of it; and none who are
acquainted with the evidence upon which
it rests doubts the assertion that Colonel
Posey was son of George Washington.
The history of the matter succinctIv
stated runs about in this wise: The
Posey family, consisting of husband and
wife, were tenants on the Mount Vernon
estate. The then Col. George Washing
ton was married to Mrs. Curtis in 1853
About 1854, Mrs. Posey was left wild
ow by the death of her husband. WASH
ington, then a young man, frequently
hunted and fished on the estate, and
sometimes, when belated, accepted or
sought the Inequalities of Mrs. Posey's
house, who is represented as lady of
very considerable personal attractions
At what time or how it came about that
the personal relations between these two
assumed a more intimate character than
hostess and guest is, of course, unknown,
but it is certain that two years after the
death OF her husband-she in the inter
i'm having remained femme Sole-a son
was born to her who grew up to be the
same youth whose portrait adorns the
wall Of the governors room at Indian
apoIis.
1t is also certain that Washington
(greatly to his credit as just and equit-
able man, if our theory be correct) al
ways to the day of his death, manifested
WARM AND FRIENDLY INTEREST
in the fortunes of this young man. He
charged himself with bis maintenance,
and education, and when be arrived at
proper age, he was for time member
of the military family of the General in
the field, and subsequently,, by his inffu-
ence, was made governor of the territory
of Indiana, These circumstances of them.
selves make a strong case in support OF
our assertion, but there are other items
of evidence of even greater weight of
authority than these. The family of
Of Col. Posey were in possession of four
or FIVE likenesses of Washington, taken
at different periods oe his life, given to
him as souvenirs Of intimate regard
Washington kept up a correspondence
with him Of the most confidential char
acter, sometimes addressing him as
any DEAR soN.p
These letters are. or were very recently,
in existence, and in the possession of a
gentleman of this state.
The Posey family are now extinct -
Gov. Posey married, and left surviving