The National tribune., 1906-09-20


War, was born in Thurso, the most
northerly town in Scotland, March 23
1731, and died in Westmoreiand Coun-
ty. Pa. Aug. 81. 1918.
After attending school at the Univer-
sity of Edinburg. for short time. he
went to London and was indentured to
study medicine under the celebrated Dr.
William Hunter. Finding this not agree
able to his tastes. he obtained 7 COM
mission in the Goth, or Royal Ameri-
can" Regiment OF, Fopt. bearing date
May I3, .17E7. fGf;I r. .-. --z..-.
In 175s he arriYedi: in this country
under Gen. Amherst, and in 1853 was
promoted t. !ieutepapt and assigned to
the command of fien. Wolfe and was
present at the fall of. Quebec. After
the siege was raised st. Clair obtained
furlough and visited Boston. being
intrusted with dispatches to Gen. Gage,
the British commandment in that city,
and relative of the young officer.
While in Rostent ST Clair became ac-
quGinte: with Miss Phebe Bayard. ant,
this resulted in their marriage in Trim
ity Chapel. Bost %, May. 1860. The
wife received a Legacy, Of $4,000 pounds
from grandfat her, James Bowdoin,
and this, added to his own savings,
made st. Clair a man Of wealth for that
time, and in !, April, 1852. he resigned
from the Army, ,,-.,,,, AZ, "a ..a..,..-.., i,
IN l1b4 lheS removed 10 lfed1ord. Pa.
where st. Clair became surveyor and
agent for the Penns, was appointed
Justice Of the Court tby special COM
missiom. and on March II, 1771. he
was appointed Prothonatory, Register
and Recorder for Bedford County, and
| in 1873 was appointed to the same office
for Westmoreland County.
He had taken an active part in the
French and Indian War. and Gen. Cage
! had ula hin, OF
| Ligonier. For his services he received
a grant of several thousand acres in the
beautiful valley OF Ligonirr.
When the mutterings of the Revolu-
| tion began to. disturb the country St
Clair quickly identified himself with the
cause Of the Colonists and was one Of
| the enthusiastic advocates Of liberty :,t
| the famous Hannastown meeting. May
| 16. 1115. and he drew the deciaratory
| resolutions which We're then unaai-
mOusly adopted. He was commissioned
| Colonel under the Council of Safety
1775. and Colonel in the Continental
service. 1176; Prigadier-Gencrai. Aug
8. 1875. and Najor-General Feb. 10.
| 1177. after the battle of Prince ton.
| During his service he was intrusted
with many important and delicate .du-
! ties, not the least of which was as n
! member of the military commission
which tried and convicted Maj Andre
Gen. st. Clair spent his money freely
! in raising and equipping volunteers. and
more than once came 10 the relief of
| Washington with funds to provide FOR
the wants of his starving army. He was
a true and uniiinching patriot. and nev-
| er wavered in his devotion to his adopt-
ed country during its darkest davs
! When Gen St. Clair returned home
| he found that he was financially ruined
He lost 10000 pounds on one piece OF
| property alone.
! In 1888 he was elected Il member of
the Council Of Censor.s. a folrd proviG-
! ed for in the Constitution Of 1875 with
| headquarters in Philadelphia. For sew
eral years prior 10 this his fimily re-
sided in POttsgroye (now Pottstown>.
| where he had purchased a home, as i.
was not safe for them to remain :t
Ligonier during the war
ON Feb. "a, 1884. he was appointed
Fendue Master in Philadelphia. and re-
| moved his family to that city, where
some of his children attended school.
| In November, 11S5. he was elected a
I member of Congress. and on Feb. >
! 1887. was elected President OF that body
and was thus virtually President Of the
United States. for Washington had not
then been choseni This was high
honor and recognition of his ability
and patriotism 5nl
The Northwestern ,r4rritory fcmbrac-
! ing the present STATES of Ohio, Indiana,
| Illinois. Michigan and wisconsin, was
organized by the passsige of the Ortli-
nance of 1897. and on Oct. of thrt
year st. Clair was chosen Governor BY
! Congress. He had not solicited the Of
! fee. but accepted It in the hope of re-
pairing his shattered fortunes.
| He entered on ili!; neH field of labor
in July, 1888, with Ills accustomed vigor
and in 1890 was joined b. his son, Ar
thur, and three daughters Mrs St
Clair remaining afa PJttstown with her
youngest daugater,E Whb was there mar
| ried in 1896. ,f9tI
| In 1890 Gen. st. Iyiafr WAS induced to
stand az candidate TOR Governor of
Pennsylvania against ThOs. Miffiin. but
az he already held the Governorship of
a large territory, and was necessarily
out of the State most of the time, he
was defeated by MifIiin.
/ The Indians of the Northwest We're
uneasy and hostile. and while st. Clair
they remained dissatisfied and threat
ened war. After exhausting all other
means st. Clair proposed to Washington
| to invade their country, and he was ap-
pointed Commanier-in- Chief March L.
| 1891, and ordered to proceed.
| He marched into the Indian country,
but on the morning Of Nov. 4, 1871, he
was attacked by large force and sus-
| tanned a crushing defeat and complete
rout with great loss He soon after re-
! signed his commission rs Commander
in-chief Of the United States Army and
1 devoted his whole attention to the busi-
ness of the Territory until he was re-
moved in 1902 by President Jefferson.