Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-23
Some Things You Want to Know
George washingtOn's win.

While the whole nation today will honor
the memory Of George washington, the
people at large little dream that, through
the fault OF the government itself, his estate
stun remains unsettled, and that much Of
the property which the general thought he
owned when ne died has been diverted TO
other people. Yet such Is the case. In
order that his will may be carried out an
administrator de bonis non has been APP
pointed and steps are being taken to have
the government right the wrong which was
done him. Robert p. Lee, jr.. grandson OF
the confederate commander. is the admin
istrator. and Greenlee Letcher, q son OF the
famous war governor OF Virginia, is one Of
the lawyers for the estate. Lawrence and
samuel Washington are the agents for the
heirs.
II will be remembered that General
Washington accepted no pay for his serv-
ices ns commander Of the revolutionary
forces. when offered 1900 acres of land
as a g~ratulty for his services he refused
II, saying that he had enough to provide
those who were Of his family with a com
petence. A part OF the estate at the time
he made this declaration was 1900 acres
OF land In Clermont county. Ohio. He had
! come Into possession Of this land through
The purchase Of q and warrant calling
for 3,OOO acres to be located west Of the
Ohio river. Il had been issued regularly
by Governor Dunmore In favor of John
Rootes. In 1855 the Virginia Legislature
passed an act making valid such warrants
as that held by washington and pro.
v,ding that they should be located on the
western side Of the Ohio river in the va.
cant land reserved for the officers ant
-oldlers OF the revolution.
Later Washington bought a warrant foi
10 acres Of land issued 20 Thomas Cop
or service in the continental line from
Virginia. He then had his two warrant
ssued, with 500 acres OF land in Franklin
.ownship. Clermont county, Ohio; l,23
.cres In Miami tow nship. on the Littl
Afiaml river; SlS acres in Union township
ind 129 acres in Anderson township
Hamilton County. The Virginia legislator
afterward perfected w~ashington's titles
When Virginia coded to the general gov
eminent the territory of which the stat
Of Ohio now forms a part it was expressl
stipulated that all necessary land between
he Scioto and Little Miami rivers shoul
be reserved for the satisfaction of sue.
military land warrants as Virginia ha
issued or might issue 10 those who tough
in defens Sc OF their country. Under the gen
sral laws Of the state every major genera
IN its line of the revolutionary army wa
entitled to approximately 5000 acres G
land. Washington was the only one c
them who did not take advantage Of thi
provision, and in keeping with his fixe
principle to accept no compensation 70
his services except that which arises froi
a sense of patriotic duty earnestly pei
formed, he never accepted a foot OF Ian
or other financial reward from the natio
he had done so much to found.
A rumor at one time reached the ears {
General Washington that others we're Il
eating upon his lands in Ohio. lie wrote I
the officers In charge and was assure
that such was not the case, but that
any steps were taken placing them in kecI
ardy he would be notified. He paid taxi
on these lands until the time Of his deaf
and his heirs continued to do for some tin
, thereafter. In his will he beaueathed Il
property to certain dfl,6is heirs and Q,
+, vised them against selling at an early dat
= as he believed the rapid advancement
its value would. provide them a better fl
, vestment than any other securities
which the money derived from it's sa
could be invested. 1t was on this advi,
. of Washington that the heirs held the Ian
: Meanwhile other people came in and mac
S a second entry upon the land. That tht
/. were squatters is shown by the fact thu
a the surveyor used the field notes of Il
Washington survey in locating the entire
There were various proceedings in congrei
from time to time Intended to protect Il
= title of the Washington estate to the Oh
! land. but the matter was never adjuste
and was finally lost sight Of after the la
action Of the original executors of the e
$ tate.
There were otner second locations
= lands on the Western Reserve, but in eve
s case it is said that the losses were ma,
3 good either by relocations or scrip. Was.
ington's estate alone lost It's lands for goo
In 1852 there was a law enacted providii
T for the issuance Of scrip in such cases, b
Il the affairs of the Washington estate h,
u been settled and there was no one to NAL
the application for scrip. In 1899 there WI
another law enacted which cut off Il
{ right to have these old warrants satisfi,
by scrip.
1t is held by the Washington heirs tn