Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26
0LDEN TIME CLERKS
Men Who Worked for Govern
ment in Earlier Days.
VETERANS IN THE SERVICE
Many Positions We're Filled by Rev
dictionary Heroes
FIRST LO0TER OF TREASURY
Only Successful Attempt to Rob Ma
tioual Strong Box-Charles Temp
kins Got Over $50, 1000.
FIRST Lo0TER OF TREASURY

When. over a hundred years ago. the
Treasury Department moved with the
government offices from Philadelphia TO
| this city, It took up its abode In one Of the
two executive Office buildings erected by
the government.
| This was the two-story and basement
structure which stood on the site OF the
present Treasury on 18th street south OF
| the line of F street. and was destroyed
| by fire in 1893.
Oliver Wolcott Of Connecticut came here
as Secretary, with Joseph Nourse. reg
lister: John Steele. controller: Richard
Harrison, auditor. and Samuel Meredith.
treasurer. with the clerks in 1900.
In few months Secretary Wolcott re-
| signed, as did Controller Steele and Treas
urer Meredith. Mr.. Wolcott was not sat
| isfied with the conditions he found here,
as appears by a letter describing the city:
He was succeeded by Samuel Dexter OF
Massachusetts, who served q year Aioert
Gallatin Of Pennsylvania followed IN inc
in the controllership by Gabriel DuvaM OF
Maryland for ten years and Mr.. Mereoitn,
the treasurer, by Thomas Tudor tucker
till 1928
The heads Of bureaus and the clerks
mostly served long terms, and number
were survivors Of the army Of the revolu-
ton. AS will be seen from those carry
days the line from the patriots OF OLD has
been we'll preserved in the department,
and not few have proved their lineage
tenders.
There is record evidence. too that when
in 1901, fire took place In the ouiiolng
the clerks performed yeoman service as
firemen. and, with others. confined the
flames to one or two rooms. At the de-
struction of the building. in 1888. they
were also active. but without success.
other than in saving the books and papers
In the secretary's Office.
The personnel of the secretary's office
in 1901 included Edward Jones of George
town. for many years chief clerk, whose
service was twenty years or more; as was
that Of Capt John Coyle Of Capitol Hill
here and in the first auditors Office John
Banks. Boyd Wood. r. J. Heath and
Joshua ]. Moore were also here, with
three or four others,
Samuel NJ. Mexican. long residing on
18th street; James L. Anthony of George
town and Asbury Dickens of F street were
here prior to 1890. Mr. Mexican was
clerk here for nearly fifty years. and Mr..
Dickens was the secretary OF the Senate
for twenty-five years from 1885 to 1851.
The controllers Office under Mr.. Steele,
who had represented South Carolina In
the First and Second congresses, was
after his incumbency from 1893 to 1904.
turned over to Gabriel Duvall, former
the position for ten years. later being
the chief judge CT Maryland for twenty
years.
r. Loughborough was the chief clerk
acting controller. Ezekiel Bacon In the
latter year was appointed controller. Mr..
1.oughborougf1 resided in the county
above GEORGETOWN for some time. He
commanded volunteer cavalry troop.
and for many years served In the levy
court.
Others on the roll were John Woodside
and his son, John, who came here from
Philadelphia. The former was a veteran
long time leading citizens Of the old
first ward, prominent especially In the
fire company there.
John and Jacob Lamb Of George
town were the first OF the name
for the larger portion OF the last
century. John Lamb became the chief
clerk in Monroe's time. Among dozens
Of others there were Joseph and Henry
Chambers. David Kawn. John Malcolm,
w. G.. Orr and william FeIch, the latter
here in 1870
Joseph Anderson. who had served as a
territorial Judge in the southwest, as SEN
ator from Tennessee from 1907 to 1876
became the controller in the latter year.
death in 1885. in his eightieth year
Among the clerks about 1890 were Sam
uel Hanson. long here and In other Of
Aces; David p Polk, Thomas r. Ander-
son. who was in Office till near ninety
years Of age: r. S. Briscoe. for thirty
years or more in ONCE. an influential cit
izen Of the first ward. and John Under
wood OF Capitol Hill, afterward chief
clerk of the first auditors Office. and VIII
liam Williamson.
The auditor for the department was
Richard Harrison Of Virginia, appointed
by Washington. long having his residence
near 18th and streets. who had about
fifteen clerks. Among these were Paul
Farrell, Robert Underwood, Robert Gill
lespie. Charles Shoemaker, J. B. Pickford,
Joseph Taylor and E. King.
Twenty years later there were on the
roster Pontius' d. STEELE. who about 1900
conducted a hotel on Capitol Hill and
from 1912 to 1919 was the secretary of
the common council. then living on Penn
sylvania avenue; Thomas G. Slye Of
Georgetown. whose name was associated
with the Franklin Park section. in which
he owned much property; Thomas Bar
clay. then living on G street west Of 18th
street; D. P. Porter. with others William
Parker. living in the Six Buildings was
the chief clerk.
Many Nourses In Service.