Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-08-10
Knoxville Journal
KNOXVILLE, AUGUST 10, 1876.
Il Brief biography 81 tIse Pat.
riots who Egan the RISK
Of BEING Hang.
virg1aiA.
RICHARD HENRY LEE.

RICHARD HENRY LEE.
Richard Henry Lee was born in
the county Of Westmoreland, Va,
on the 10th day OF January, 1882,
within month OF time and within
. few miles space OF George Wash
ington. He was educated in Eng
land, but his mind was carly imbued
with republican sentiments gathered
from the annals OF ancient history.
His history in connection with the
Revolution II too familiar to need
repetition. lie was one OF the most
sterling Of patriots, and his name
will live as such 80 long as history
exists. On the 7th OF June, 1916, he
presented In Congress the following
resolution:
"IcesOtved, That these United Col
Onies are, and OF right ought to be,
free and independent States; that
they are absolved from all allegiance
to the British crown; and that oil
political connection between them
and the state OF Great Britain is, and
ought to be, totally dissolved
The consideration of the resolu-
ton WAS made the special order OF
the day for the first Monday in July,
and a committee, OF which Thomas
Jefferson was chairman, was APP
pointed to draw ups Declaration Of
Independence. This document was
presented TO Congress on the Ist day
OF July, and, after several amend
ments made I'm committee OF the
whole, II was adopted on tho 4th by
tho unanimous votes OF the thirteen
United Colonies.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
American history presents few
names TO its students more attractive
and distinguished than that Of
Thomas Jefferson, and rarely has
single individual, in civil station,
acquired such an ascendency over the
feelings and actions Of people a. was
possessed by the subject Of this brief
memoir. Itwould be out OF place to
attempt TO outline his history In this
brief space, for nothing could be
said that would not be familiar TO
every schoolboy.
He was elected q delegate TO rep
resent Virginia In the Continental
Congress OF 1875, and for several
years he was one OF the most efii-
cient members Of that body. He
soon became distinguished among the
men Of talent there, although COM
psratively young; and when, In the
succeeding year, committee was
appointed to draft Declaration of
Independence, he was chosen one OF
the members. Although the young
est member OF the committee, he
was appointed the chairman, and
was requested by the others to draw
up the instrument, which no did,
and his draft was adopted on the 4th
Of July, 1915. Theinstrument forms
an everlasting monumet to his mem
DRY, and gives, by far, wider range
To tho fame OF his talents and patri.
otism than eloquent panegyric or
sculptursd epitaph.
GEORGE wyTHE,
n Chancellor OF Virginia, and friend
OF his country, died juno 8, 1906,
aged eighty. He was born In the
county OF Elizabeth, In 1926, and
WAS sent to Congress I'm 1775, where
he signed the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence. After a short illness he
died. It was supposed that he was
poisoned.
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
Governor OF Virginia, died April,
1871. In l77l no became member
Ut Congress, and was one OF the
slgners OF the Declaration of indie.
pendence. In l777 he resigned his
seat. lie was afterward member
Of the convention for adopting the
Constitution of the United States.
THOMAS NELSON, JR.,
a Governor OF Virginia, died Jan. 4, |
1889, aged fifty, He was born at
York, and ut tho age OF fourteen was
sent to England TO be educated. He
returned In 1861, and was sent to
Congress In 1916. In the next year
he signed the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence. He WAS appointed Hriga-
dier General, and was at tho capture
OF Yorktown.
FRANCIS LI0HTF0oT LEE,
a Statesman OF Virginia, was born
Oct. II, l7al. In l775 he WAS elected
member Of Congress. In which body
he continued ill the spring 1879.
Ito was one of the signers OF the
Declaration OF Independence, but
seldom took part In the public dis
cussious.
CARTER BRAxToN,
q member OF Congress In l776, and
sigaer OF the Declaration of indie.
died Oct, 10, 1897, aged I
si4ty.One. II
North Caralina.
WILLIAM HOOPER,
\ signer of the Declaration OF indie
WAS aant In C0nuraas I'm |