Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1911-02-22
Today the Nation Revers the Memory
of General George Washington
Who Threw Off the Yoke of
the Mother Country.
FEARLESS soLbIER, STATESMAN
AND A POLISHED
GENTLEMAN.

Out of respect to the memory of
George Washington, first president
of the United States, father of his
country, and foremost American SOL i
dier and statesman, schools, banks
and all seats of government
throughout the country, besides
many business institutions, are today
closed, in order that all may show
respect and pay homage to the man
who successfully led the revolution
airy forces to victory and threw off
the yoke of the mother country.
While the history of our first
president should be common knowl-
edge to all, nevertheless it might
be well to briefly picture the life
of the man who today, at least, is
the center of interest of all Ameri-
cans. Washington was born Feb
ruary %, 1882, at Bridges Creek,
Westmorland county, Virginia, and
was of the fourth generation of
Washingtons who had lived in
America His father, Augustine, a
wealthy planter, died when George
was but IL years old, leaving to
his widow and orphans farm on
the beautiful Rappahannock, and
precluding George, the fifth child
from the benefits of an education
in England, the privilege afforded
his older brothers.
Receiving what meager education
was afforded by the colonial schools
of Virginia, George, at the age
of 16 years, took up the profess
sion of surveying, which he fol-
,wed for several years, becoming
N'uch more expert in woodcraft than
he was in mathematics. During this
time, however, he did not fail to
neglect the military training, which
was in those days considered as the
principal part of the education OF
gentleman with the standing OF
his brother Lawrence, George was
given his place in the Virginia
militia, and in 1852, while but 2t
years of age, commenced the ad
vancement which was later to place
him in command of the revolution
airy forces, being commissioned a'
major and adjutant general.
While holding this commission
Washington saw considerable activ'
service in warfare against tn,
French and Indians, being appoint
ed member of the staff of Gen
eral Braddock and thus gaining eX
perience which made his invincibl
when pitted against mother country
AS nearly as 1863 Washington
realized that some steps must b
taken to offset the oppressive rul
of England. However, ever a ma
of peace, he at first favored mil
methods and strongly advocated tn
starving of the trade between tn
colonies and the mother country
hoping by this means to bring Kin
George to a realization of the pos
ton of the lands separated by tn
great Atlantic. This means provin
of no avail, Washington, after te
years of growing irritation, favore
secession. The history of the reN
olutionary war, the vicissitudes {
the colonists and the uphill strus
gle which eventually spelled victor
is too we'll known for repetition.
With the victory of the revolt
tionists at Yorktown, the war ent
ed and the colonies were free
however, the work of Washingto
was by no means ended. AS
had been 'first in war" he was no
to be ''first in peace" and althoue
the political leadership of the il
fant government was most una
tractive to him, he accepted it ;
his duty and General Washingtc
became President Washington. c
April 80, 1889 Washington W
Augurated, serving two terms al
Giinging the new nation out of
state of chaos into conditiC
which launched it on it's way to
come the leading nation of t
world, the position which it occ
pies today.
After retiring from the toll al
strife of the presidency, Washingt'
moved to Mount Vernon, where
fingered three years in retiremel
dying December IA, 1899.
AS he lived, he died, ever fait
full to "his" people and beloved
all who knew him.