The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-16

THE NE " COMMISSIONER OFPA TENTS.
General Mortimer D. Leggett, who was re-
Gently appointed by the President Commissioner
of Patents, and cohfirmed by the Senate on Fri
day last. is native of the State of New York; he
is now forty nine years of age, and is of Quaker
parentage. He removed with his parents to the
's'Western Reserve" in Ohio, about 1888. He
received good education, and at early age
commenced the study of the law with the late
eminent Judge Peter Hitchcock, and was ad-
mitted to the bar at the age of Twenty-Five
Becoming interested in the cause of education,
General Leggett spent several years, after his
admission to the bar, in efforts to secure sys-
tenn of free schools in Ohio, and was one of the
principal originators of the present school sys-
tenn of that state, travelling through the State
and addressing public meetings in its behalf.
AT the. age. of twenty-eight he commenced
the practice of law at Warren Ohio, and soon
established himself in fine business. Here he
became partner OF the Hon. j. D. Cox, late
Secretary OF the Interior, under the firm name
of Leggett g. Cox. He was Professor of Plead
ings and Equity jurisprudence in the Ohio Law
College until 1851 when he removed to Zanes-
vile, Ohio, to take charge of the public schools
OF that city. Under his superintendency they
soon took rank with the most efficient schools
of the State. In 1861 he joined the army and
went into the service as Colonel of the 18th
Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and was first under
fire at Fort Donelson. After the surrender, the
admirable discipline in which he had his new
regiment attracted the attention of the COM
manding general, and he was at once appointed
by General Grant provost marshal of the post
By his fine executive ability he soon brought
'order out of chaos" and won for himself the
commendation and personal friendship of his
chief. He was with Grant at Shiloh, Corintb,
jackson, and Vicksburg, and was under Sher-
man in the Atlanta compaign and his "March
to the Sea-" He was promoted to be a full
major general, always had the confidence of
his superior officers, and was a brave and
efficient soldier, and left the army at the close
of the war with If not the most brilliant, yet
with as clear q record as any officer of his
rank. President Grant Is credited with saying.
-"Leggett is too modest to be brilliant but he
is always at his post, and makes no mistakes"
At the close of the war he became the super
intendent and business manager of the exten-
sive engine works of H. & +. Blandy, at Zaues-
vile and Newark, Ohio, and has for the last five
years managed their immense business to their
entire satisfaction. He was in the days of
Douglas a moderate Democrat, but since the
breaking out of the Rebellion has given the
Republican party his fullest support, and while
he is not partisan, yet it is believed that he is
In full sympathy with the present administra-
ton. His private life is without blemish, and
his moral character above suspicion. He will
make an honest, faithful, and competent officer,
and will render the country good service in the
Office to which, without his seeking, he has been
appointed, and which with much reluctance he
has accepted.