The National tribune., 1901-06-20
Personal.

William Giles. an ex-slave, who cooked
for Gen. u. 5. Grant during the civil war.
died at Chicago, June 13. For 20 years
Giles has been a resident OF that city.
Prior to taking up his residence there the
old ex-slave had spent many years in
Washington, where Gen. Grant, when
President, employed him about the
White House in q confidential capacity.
William Giles was born in Orange Coun-
ty, Va, June "a, 1927. He was born a
slave, but early gained his freedom. He
came into possession of considerable
wealth, but. according to his friends state
ments, he spent it all in aiding slaves to
escape to the North.
Rochester, n. Y, has the youngest pen
sion attorney in the United States. Size
is Miss Bertha A. Wilbur. and she is the
daughter of Capt. Almerick w. Wilbur,
whose sudden death surprised his Grand
Army comrades and many other friends
who knew him as a hale and hearty vet
eran and man of business. Capt. Viii
bur's death proved a great shock to his
family. He had conducted large pen
sion business and his. death left matters
in 4 complicated condition for the numer-
Gus clients for whom he was pressing
cases at the time. His daughter, a bright
young woman, who was finishing up her
school education, had helped her father in
his work and understood much of the in
tricaC;eS of the business. In the emergency
she resolved to step into the breach
caused by the death of her father and look
after such of his business as applicants
would choose to leave in her hands, and
has been recognized by the Pension Bu-
reau at Washington.
Maj Thos. II. Mckee, of Washington,
and late First Lieutenant, 1st w. Va, de
livered a very able Memorial Day address
at Cumberland, Md, which is being much
praised.
Prof. J. Fraise Richard. who had
most creditable record in the 111th Ohio,
and is u teacher of long and valuable ex-
perience, has now returned to his first love
and is conducting Il Summer normal
school at Fayette, o., and the comrades
will erywhere wish him much success.
Lieut. George G. Peavey, veteran of
the 1st n. Y. Uincoln), Cav, and prom
inent member of the g. A. r., of Brook
lyn, died June II. Peavey's record was
fine one. In an engagement in the
Shenandoah Valley he was shot in the
right hand in an attempt to saber the
famous guerrilla, Col. Mosby.
The comrades in New York City, under
the able leading of Col. Joseph A.
Goulden, had an unusually fine celebra-
ton of Memorial Day, with over 1000
comrades and their wives present. The
grafton, which was most eloquent one,
was delivered by the Hon. Chas. Il. Skin
ner, ex-member of Congress, and for six
years an able Superintendent of the Pub
lie instruction of the State of New York.
As Gen. Brooke put it in his introduction.
He commands an army of million and
quarter school children, the future citi-
zens of the Empire State"
Comrade E. G.. irish, who served as
Sergeant of Co. II, 111th Pa, was killed
on the railroad near Conneaut, Ohio, June
l. The 111th Pa. was famous regiment,
and this comrade served over four years
in it. His home was at Beaver Center,
Pa, where his remains were taken for
interment, the G. A. K. attending the
funeral in body. Comrade Irish IS sur
vived by his mother and one daughter.
Ex-Gov. II. S. Pingree, of Michigan,
was prostrated last week by severe at
tack of dysentery, in London, and still lies
in a very critical condition. His disease is
traceable to his confinement IN
AndersOnyille.
Gen. Chas. G. Bartlett, Librarian of
the Criminal Court Building, New York
City, lost his life in the ferry collision,
June IA. Gen. Bartlett went out in 1861
as q Sergeant in the 18th n. Y; then be-
came a Captain in the 9th n. Y, and re-
ceived a commission as Captain i'll the
18th q. S. In 1862 he became Lieuten-
nt-CoIonel of the 150th n. Y, and upon
its muster-Out became Colonel of the 10th
u. s. G. L. He was brevetted Major for
gallantry at Resaca, and Brigadier-Gen-
eral for gallant service during the war.
He rose in the Regular Army to be
Colonel of the 9th U. S. He was retired
in 1896.
One of the most distinguished of In
diana yeterans-Gen. Frederick Knefer-
passed away at Indianapolis June 10,
after an illness of several years. ten.
Knefier was born in Hungary, but had
been a resident of Indiana for years when
the rebellion broke out. He became
First Lieutenant in the 18th Ind, for
three years, and upon the reorganization
Of the regiment a Captain. He afterward
entered the Adjutant-Generals Depart
ment and rose to be Major. but resigned
to take the Colonelcy of the 18th Ind,
which he commanded with great ability.
He was brevetted Brigadier-General for
gallant and meritOrious services during
the war. He had been prominent IN In
diana politics and the G.. A. K. ever since
the war.
Gen Max Weber, widely known and
in the Army of the Potomac,
died at his home in Brooklyn. June 10,
aged 76. He was born in Baden Baden,
and graduated from the military school
at Karlsruhe. He was one of the enthu-
siastic young Germans who took part in
the so-called Revolution of 1S4S,' and
had to fly to this country. When the 10Th
n. Y. was organized he was elected its
Colonel. In April, 1862, he was promoted
to Brigader- General, and lost nls right
arm at Antietam. He successfully de
tended Harper's Ferry against Early, and
was mustered out in 1865. He was for
10 years Assistant Collector of Internal
Revenue for New York City, and Presi-
dent Arthur appointed him Consul at
Nantes, France.