The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-07-17
ABODE OF TRAITOR
BENEDICT ARNoLD's MANSION IN
PHILADELPHIA.
House 10 One Of the Few Specimens
Of Colonial Architecture Left In
the Country-Now belongs
to the City.

Mount Pheasant, In the East Park,
near Columbia avenue entrance. which
is almost equally we'll known to park
visitors as Arnold's mansion, is to be
the headquarters Of La Moriganta
Klambo, the newly formed organixa-
ton of fashionable women motorists,
says the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Few buildings In the park equal
4dount Pleasant in interest, and none
is older 1t is one of the few we'll pre-
served country mansions built In this
country in Colonial times. AS speci-
men of architecture modelled upon the
style made popular by Sir Christopher
| Wren, it is one of the half dozen
or less which remain in this country.
The house, which John Adams
who dined there in 1774--declared was
| the most elegant in Pennsylvania, was
| built for Capt. John Mcpherson In
1862. In 1879 MACPHERSON grew tired
of the plaie and sold 1T to Gen. Bene-
dict Arnok, who had married Peggy
Shipper. In its time the mansion has
borne three names. MACPHERSON
called 1t The Hills and also Clunie,
and subsequently it was known as
Mount Pleasant.
| Capt. Macpherson was one OF the
most original men in the province. II
he had not been immensely wealthy
he probably would not have been toll.
Grated; but as privateersman In
England's wars with France and
Spain before the revolution he was
lucky and came home with a genuine
gold galleon. He had two sons. One
was an officer in the British army.
but resigned his commission on the
breaking out of the revolution and be.
came major in the Continental army,
The other son was with the colonists
from the beginning Of the struggle
and was killed at the attempt to take
Quebec, being the first Philadelphia
Of Importance to give up his life for
the cause. tt
Old Capt Macpherson made himself
tiresome to congress, begging for com
mand of ship, but did not gain his
,desire. He published the first direc'
tory of Philadelphia In 17S5. This book
is really one of the curiosities Of liter
ature, for the captain canvassed the
city himself and printed the replies
he received at each door In answer
to his request for names. He died In
1892 and lies in ST. Paul's churehyard
When Arnold married Peggy Ship
pen. daughter of Edward Shipper, sub
sequently chief justice of Pennsylva
mia, he bought Mount Pleasant ant
settled 1t on himself for life, will
the remainder of his wife and chill
dren. At the time Arnold was mill
tary governor of Philadelphia, ant
Judge Peters, who occupied Belmont
the seat across the Schuylkill from
Mount Pleasant, accused the genera
of having converted $4,000 to his owl
use and of having used this towart
, the purchase of Mount Pleasant.
Arnold did not long remain a
Mount Pleasant. After his treason HI
of course had to leave the country
and the state of Pennsylvania confis
Gated his life interest in the beautiful
estate. Baron de Steuben became thu
next tenant Of the place and Arnold
life interest was sold to Colonel Rich
ard Hampton for $3.50.
In the Shipper correspondence, pub
lished few years ago, there are sew
eral references to Mount Pleasant. Il
1855 in a letter from Mrs. Arnold t
her father 1t appears that Arnold ha,
an idea of privately getting title to tn
property for his family. He change
his mind, however. and suggested tina
the place be sold at public sale for a
much as 1t would bring. In 179
Mount Pleasant was sold, but TO
barely enough to satisfy the NOR
cages upon it.
Gen. Jonathan Williams, revolt
tionary patriot and commercial agen
of the United States In France fror
1777 to 1885, bought the country sea
and lived there for years. TIL
property remained in his family 70
many years and was purchased
the park commission by virtue of tn
act of 1867. which permitted the a,
QUESTION Of what are now park prof.
critics.