The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-06-21
CEMETERY

fAIALulvulVN OlVuLul LA
An Interesting Article from Mr.. G.
A. Wood. a Former Leon Boy,
on Arlington Cemetery.
now occupied by the great national
possession of the United States, it is
necessary to go back few years into
the history of our country; and. while
be of interest to begin at the first and
to the ownership of the great Confeder-
ate general, Robt. E. Lee, from whom it
it was contiscated by the government
cause.
andria county, Virginia, originally form
ed a part of a grant of G,0OO acres made
in 1869 by Sir William Berkely, COVER
nor of Virginia, to Robert Howsen as a
reward for the latter's services in bring
ing number of settlers to the colony.
Howsen evidently thought little Of the
grant, for he traded the entire tract to
John Alexander for six hogsheads of
tobacco. The land remained in the
Alexander family until 177S when it
passed by purchase to John Parke Cur
| tis whose defendants held it until the
occupation by the government shortly
after the outbreak of the civil war.
-Four of the Curtis family in success
sion bore the name of John, the last of
which had son, Daniel Parke Curtis,
who gained fame by marrying Martha
cambridge, the future Lady Washington.
Daniel Parke died in 1857, leaving over
100000, a widow and two children, all
of which Col. George Washington mar
ried in January, 1859. Washington as
sumed guardianship of the two children
John Parke and Martha Parke,-who
were then aged six and three. In 1774,
John Parke, grown to manhood, married
Eleanor Calvert, a defendant of Lord
Baltimore, and, in course of time four
children We're born to them, the last one
being George Washington Parke Curtis.
John Parke Curtis died during the revo-
luton and his step-father Immediately
adopted his two youngest children
Eleanor and George-and they also
passed their youth at Mount Vernon.
Washington died on the 14th of De-
cember, ,1799,and his wife March q, 1902.
At the time of his grandmothers death
Gearge Washington Parke was just 81
and the richest man in Virginia. In
casting about for future home, he
naturally selected the estate at Airing
ton because Of it's admirable situation
and nearness to the city Of Washington,
which had two years before become the
seat of government. He at once began
the construction of Arlington House
(now called "The Mansion') and com
pleted it in 1903. 1t is built of brick,
plastered and painted white, and has
a frontage of 140 feet, including the
wings. The principal feature is the
grand portlco, 60 feet long and 25 feet
deep, supported by massive columns.
Here, as mistress, he installed Mary Lee
Fitzhugh. In his will Qs55) Mr.. Curtis
left Arlington to his only child, Mrs.
Robert E. Lee, during her lifetime.
Miss Mary Ann Randolph Curtis had,
in 1881, married Robert Edward Lee
son of Col. Henry Lee, the Light Horse
Harry" of revolutionary fame.
In 1861 Lee was make colonel of LIST
U. S. cavalry, ebut he never joined his
regiment. On April 18th Ft. Sumpte1
fell, on the 18th President Lincoln is.
sued his call for $4,000 men for three
months, and on the 18th Virginia Sc.
ceeded. Lee was then at Arlington
torn by conflicting emotions-one day
for the Union at any cost, the next with
his native state. But on the 10th he re.
signed and on the 22d proceeded tc
Richmond with his family and was there
made cammander-in in chief of the forces
of the state.
Early in the war the Federal authori
ties, recognizing the strategic import
tance of Arlington, took possession Of
the estate for military purposes, held it
until January, 1864, when it was solo
for taxes (s92.07 and was purchased by
the government for S26,S00. Mrs. Lee
the life tenant died in 1873 and foul
years later George w. G. Lee, her eldest
son, successfully contested the govern
ments title, but was barred by the su
preme court. Congress, however, rec
sgnized his equitable claim and appro
priated S150,000, for which sum Lee con
veyed all his rights.
Now we arrive at the history Of
Arlington as national cemetery. Fol
several weeks after the departure O.
the Lees their home was deserted, eX
cept for few servants. On the 24tl
the grounds were occupied by the
Federal troops, the mansion was giver
up to officers quarters, thousands O
tents were erected, and fortifcation.
thrown up, the remains of the latter are
still visible. AS the conflict progressed
the deaths ran up into the thousands
so that the question of proper buria
became very serious one. By the
spring of 1864 the available space at the
Soldiers Home Cemetery in Washington
was nearly exhausted. In May, 1864
General Meigs, quartermaster genera
of the army, visited Arlington in com
pany with President Lincoln. Will.
there he saw squad of soldiers carry
ing number of their dead comrades
on stretchers to the lower part of tht
grounds, there to await removal to tn,
Soldiers Home. Meiggs stopped then
and turning to an officer ordered tina
all bodies then at Arlington to be buriet
on the grounds at once. In this way HI
/ IIc1 20 sol L.