The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-10-20
BUYS WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS
TO PRESERVE IT TO THE nation
Messmoe Kendall Takes Possession Of the Historic House
0obbs Ferry New York, Where Famous Military Farley Was
Held After Battles of the Revolution Ended-May
Restore It and Give II to the Nation

1 u
American heard that Washington
headquarters at Dobbs Ferry would
be sold within "a hours to a brewer,
who Intended to turn this historic
place into roadhouse. The American
had been fascinated. even as boy in
Michigan, with the old woodcut repre-
'entation In Prescotts History OF the
United States" showing the house in
which General Washington, Sir Guy
Carleton, then commander In chief Of
the British army, and Governor Gin
ton met on May 3, 1888, after the sus-
pension Of hOstilities, to settle the
terms for the disbandIng OF the two
armies.
1t was the only time these distin-
guished gentlemen ever met. The pa
pers there signed obligated the British
to give up all claim upon the nllegi-
ance and control Of the country. give
freedom to nation, and initiated
remarkable test Of republican institu-
tons. BY some the house has been
called 1.-THE birthplace Of the United
States.' The young American, Mess
more Kendall. of this city, when he
heard that the historic place might
De used for undesirable purposes. did
not rest until he had bought the house
and its 3A acres for 100000 He may
give 1t to the state or nation. but not
untl he has spent $4,000 to restore
L, says the New York Times.
The inscription on monument
placed near the house on June IA,
1894, by the New York State Society.
Sons of the American Revolution. re-
lates that here on August IA, 1881.
Washington planned the Yorktown
campaign. which brought to trium-
plant end the war for American indie
pendence. And that opposite this
point, May 8, 1888, British sloop of
war fred II guns in honor of the
American commander in chief, the
tirst salute by Great Britain to the
United States of America.
Memorable Conference.
The memorable conference which
was fraught with such Significance and
led to the evacuation of American soil
by British troops lasted several days,
and during that time the Dobbs Ferry
house was carefully guarded by sew
eral companies of soldiers, while
mounted messengers carried dispatches
hourly to the Continental and British
camps.
Mr.. Kendall, who is a lawyer, spent
last winter In France, and became sur
charged with its patriotism. His stock
Is American from early days. At the
hrst call for volunteers In the Revolu-
ionary war. 1863 Kendalls responded
and did their bit. Messmore KendalPs
great-great-g grandfather, DR.. Joseph
Goodhue by name, was at one time
surgeon general of the Revolutionary
army. His grandfather, Col. /. f.
Messmore, organized the Fourteenth
Wisconsin volunteer infantry regiment.
fought all through the Civil war, be-
came Judge of the supreme court of
Wisconsin, served as a member of con-
gress for several years, and received a
letter from General Hancock when
that man believed he would be made
president of the United States, offer
ing Colonel Messmore, in that event, |
the post of secretary of the interior
Messmore Kendall. who was born in
Grand Rapids, Mich, in 1872, has a |
record of his own. He herded cows |
in the West and, after being gradu- |
ated from Columbia university. was
secretary to United States Senator
John l.. Wilson. and later to BeIlamy |
Storer, former minister to Austria |
Hungary. AS attorney for Jennie NJ.
Legs, Mr.. Kendall recovered a verdict
against the New York Central railroad |
for 100000, said to be the largest YER
dict on record in a personal injury ac-
ton. He organized the Braden Con
per company, which is now part Of the
kennecutt Copper company, one Of the
largest corporations of its kind.
Beats the Brewer to It.
He had. in word the patriotism
and the means, and everything con-
spired to arouse within him u keen in
terest In the fate of the Washington
headquarters at Dobbs Ferry. Mr..
Kendall had long known the history of
the place, and while motoring by the
old post road. over which the stage
coaches used to pass, he noticed that
ii seemed more neglected than ever,
and that several signs on the trees
indicated that the property was In
the hands of real estate agents Fol
lowing sudden inspiration and the
advice of one of the signs, Mr.. Kendall
drove to the real estate office of james
l.. Taylor at Dobbs Ferry and an
nounced that he felt like buying Wash
Ington's headquarters. MIR. Taylor in
formed him that a brewer had first
claim on the property, being expected
that afternoon, when papers were to
be signed, and that what had been
called the birthplace of the United
States would soon be prosperous
Mr.. Kendall did not sleep
until he got 1t. Now be Is going to
put the house into the hands of artists
and architects. who will make Ii look
as 1t did In the days when cannon balls
from the enemy's gunboats lodged In
the cherry trees. "a few of these