The National tribune., 1897-12-02
., .lEfIISTORIC lIOnES OF
'sa 80. 81. WASHINGTON
SEE ssikE Esssas~aE Noted Men ond Women Who Have
rs ge I ih 81 assz4%sSgsafI = . Inhabited Them
80 tEsssss & "a Is -ss5s1fss 80 "~ -
=@s@-..ssxsssss s-ssHzssssN Br FtART kWooD
Br rERT S. LOCKWOOD.

his sides" \ few years later, the flags
are al halfmast on the public buildings
who is dead?" is asked. Jacob Thomp
son. OK Secretary of the Interior Depa7
ment, under James Buchanan
! The house has since been the residence
| of Capt. Henry \. Wise n distinguished
officer of the United States Navy, who mar
rcd daughter of Edward Everett. He
was born in Brooklyn, n. Y, i'm 1919. In
! 1862 he became Commander in the Navy
| and Assistant Chief OF the Bureau Of Ord
nance and photography. He died in
| Naples, Italy, in 1869. His wife survived
him until 1881 She was noted for her be
| nevolence. The poor OF Washington lost
| in her a benefactor and friend.
The house was aftcrward rented to the
| Medical Department OF the Navy Tor a
naval dispensary. Surg. Gen, Philip ,.
| Wales took special pride in this. it was
| established under his administration of
the bureau of Medicine and Surgery in
this Department.
\ few rods To the east of the home of
Edward Everett. between i1th and 18Th
streets on the south side. stands the old
mansion once owned and occupied by Hon
William Writ Here this eminent jurist
lived the - years that he was Attorney
General. Il position which lie held during
The Administrations Of James Monroe and
John Quincy Adams,
This house is rich in incident and stories
into The possession OF Mr.. Writ. The first
authentic record that we have Of it, is
that il was formerly owned by Tobias Lear.
Col. Leaf was I; distinguished officer in
the Revolutionary War. and. al one time,
was the private secretary Of Washington,
by whom he was ALWAYS treated with the
greatest cons ideTation and regard For many
years lac attended la the details Of Wash
ingt0n' s private affairs and was literally
remembered by him in his will. He was
;ittcrRard appointed Consul General Ia San
Domingo, and then VA, SEM Ia AIgers, as
Commissioned, To- conclude peace with
Iripoii.
This was accomplished i'm IS05 in n man
ncr not pleasing to Gen. Eaton. wIto, with
Iiamct CaranelIi, The dep"Ncd Bcy, had
gained important advantages over the
rcigning Bey.
Ar. Lcar's conduct WAS approved by the
Government, though highly censurcd by
many Oi the people. one morning in the
Fall uf 1861 while residing in The mansion
he Wa, found - thc summer house "f the
grounds. IN the Trs.T Of the house.. - it'll his
brains blown out and II pistol i'm his grasp.
In 1917, this property was purchased by
William Writ from Ben anin Lear, The son
OF Tobias Lear.
MI Lear WAS The owner oi the old gray
store warehouse on the Potomac. at the
western extremity of G. street, close to the
river. This warehouse Was built about 1885
built in ,he city. When the Government
was moved in SEQ all The official furniture
and archives we've landed 1T this wharf
and stored in this building.
At tlIat time only the Navy and War De
partmcntS were completed; all the boxes,
etc, hat belonged to those particular De
partments were carried there. and every
thing belonging tu the other Departments
was transferred to hired houses opposite
the six Buildings, on Pennsylvania ave
nue. between 2st and 22d streets
Al that time there were 50 few wagons i'll
The city that it was difficult to procure q
sufficient number Ia move the public prop
eTty. Mrs. Adams speaks 81 the same in
convenience in getting fire wood 10 X ecp
the White House warm.
Mr. Writ was born i'm BladenSbure Md.
in 1172, Of Swiss and German parcntage
lie was educated in Montgomery County,
Maryland; read law, and commenced prac
Using in 1892. in Culpeper Court House
la i795, he married Miss Lucy Gilmore, Of
Virginia, and settled near Charlottesville.
Ills wife l;gcd but five wears
In l799, he was chosen Clerk Of The House
Of Delegates ard was afterwards appointed
Chancellor Of the Eastern Shore 81 Virginia
the year 1902 found him practcing law ia
Norfolk and engaged in literary work. Dur
ing This time he published in the Virginia
Argus, his Letter 10 a British spy" Later
there appeared in the Richmond Enquirer
= eeries of papers from his pen, under the
tile Of Rainbow
lie was retained to assist in the prosecu-
ton oil aaron Burr Tor treason. He was
Attorney General Of the United States
from 1917 to 1929. II was during these years
that he lived i'm the G. street mansion.
When this house was purchased il was
three stories high. with attic and back
buildings. The grounds extended from the