Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-10
Che Stgners Of
the Declaration
Of Independence

! This week and next we will give you
"a little history Of the "Signers OF the
Declaration Of Independence. Whlle
many Of the Juniors have written ex-
cellent stories we thought we would
give you few more details. We are
Indebted to the ST. Nicholas for the
following excellent story of the sig
hers:
Georgia.
Georgia sent three delegates. and OF
these (1) George Walton was the
youngest. He was an ambitious boy
who was apprenticed to carpenter
80 niggardly that he would not allow
the lad candle by which to study
Luckily, wood was plentiful and by
the light of a burning torch Walton
studied hard and in time became a
lawyer. (2) Lyman Hall came from
New England. Before he was twenty
pne he had married and settled in
Georgia, to which place he was &C
companied by about forty families.
The patriotism Of these settlers has
left a permanent impress on the state,
Tor its counties we're named after sucn
British statesmen as showed them
selves friends to the American colon.
les. Look them up on the map and
see If this is not so. You will find
also a county named after this signer
l(3l Button Gwinnett was an Eng
Rishman who came to this country
when he was thirty-eight years old
He took up the cause Of the Cypress
ed colonies with much enthusiasm
too much, in fact, for he became in
Holved in quarrel, and in the due
(which followed he lost his life.
South Carolina.
South Carolina furnished four dele
gates. among them ID Edward Rut
ledge. who was the youngest man t.
sign the Declaration, for he was onl.
twenty-seven at the time. All of tn
South Carolina signers-Rutledge
|(2) Arthur Middleton, (S) Thoma
Hayward, Jr and a. Thomas Lynch
pr.-came Of wealthy families, an
the three former had received tn
benefit of a foreign education. Thre
wears after signing the Declaration
Thomas Lynch, then in poor health
sailed for France, and his ship neve
sEas heard Of again. While Arthu
middleton was In Philadelphia, del;
gate to the Second Continental COZ
gress, he and John Hancock, Wit
their families, occupied the sam
house. Both men were wealthy an
hospitable, and they drew around thel
"a choice circle of friends. Lynch We
The only signer from South Carolir
who did not suffer imprisonment II
his efforts in his country's behalf.
North Carolina.
North Carolina sent three delegate
9fo Joseph Hewes was born
Quaker: he was man Of inten'
patriotism, and in time he became tt
first secretary Of the navy, with
most unlimited powers; and though
him the war meant great financi
loss. he never swerved in his devote
to his country. ~ William Hoop
was a Boston man who was part
educated by his father, who was pc
for of Trinity church. Having str
led law, he settled in North Carolin
hut his life in the new country prov
hard one, for the only way of trt
Il bling was on horseback, and some
the courts were two hundred mil
from his home. go John Penn W
q bright boy whose early educati
was neglected, but this loss "
speedily made good when his relati
the distinguished Edmund Pendlet
placed his fine library at the la
!, disposal. John Penn filled many
fees, and on the return of peace
withdrew to private life, not enri
ed, but impoverished, by the Offices
had held.
Maryland.
Maryland sent four delegates.
William Paca was man of grace
address and polished manners
came of fine old family, while
Thomas stone was a younger
with no prospects at all. But he
nooor For ON eduoation. and he secu