Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-27
George Washington
BY a Richland
Junior

George Washington was born IN a
plain, old fashioned house IN "es YES.
Moreland county, Virginia on the -"
day Of February, 1892.
He was sent to what was called an
| "old field school" The county scnooi
houses in Virginia at that time We're
built in fields too much worn out 10
grow anything.
George had an elder brother named
| Lawrence and as the custom III tIose
! days, the land was left to the oidest
! son. So Lawrence was sent to England
| to be educated.
When he returned with many d
strange story to tell, George was very
proud of him, and Lawrence was
equally pleased with his little brother.
When George was a small IVY
school he began to think much OF Sol
diers life, and to drill the boys IN scnooi.
| There was many a battle fought among
IN. tufts of broom straw in the old
field, and in these George was captain.
George was very much Of an athlete.
It was said Of him that he could throw
farther, run faster, and was a very
powerful wrestler.
He was so Just that his schoolmates
used to bring their quarrels Tor. MIN 10
settle.
When Washington was eleven years
old his father died, but his motner tooh
mains to bring him up with many Ideas.
George wrote over one hundred rules
for behavior in company, because ne
wanted to be gentleman IN every way.
He stayed at school until ne was SIX
teen wears old. A great deal or the
northern part of Virginia belonged to
Lord Fairfax He was wealthy man.
George had studied his books or sur
yeying very carefully, for when he was
but sixteen years old he accepted the
offer of Lord Fairfax to survey his lana
over beyond the Blue Ridge mountains.
While George was surveying ne slept
most Of the time out under the SKY, oy
a camp fire, with a little hay, straw or
fodder for a bed.
George was good surveyor anu re-
ceived large pay for his work, earning
from seven to twenty-one dollars DAY
at a time when things were mucn
cheaper than they are now.
When Washington was but nineteen
wears old the governor Of Virginia mace
him a major of militia. The people OF
Virginia were looking for trouble Win
l'thes French, as they were gettlng on
English ground. SO washington was
sent to warn the French that they were
on the English ground. But the frencll
had no notion Of living up their 1orts
| to the English. When washington was
returning home he came very near De-
! ing killed by their Indian guide, He
| shot at Washington in the dark. out
missed him. Then Washington and Glst
the man who was with him, caught the
Indian before he could reload his gun
Gist wanted to kill him, but Washing
ton thought best to let him go. They
now travelled night and day till they
came to the Alleghaney river. Inc
river was full of floating ice and they
| tried to cross on raft. washington
was pushing the raft with a pole when
the ice caught it and knocked him OF
into the river So they had to spend the
night on an island in the river, and
walked ashore in the morning on the
| ice
In 1855 troops were sent from Eng
! land under General Braddock. Braddock
was a brave man and one VINO tnousn'
he could not learn anything. He laugh
ed at the lank, American soldiers VINO
cut sorry figure alongside the Engnsn
with their bright red uniforms and me
drill. He thought they were of no use
F., But on July 8, 1855 he found out OH
ferent. AS they were marching through
! the woods they were attacked by the
| French and Indians The woods was full
| Of the Indians war whoops, but the
! English could not see them and dld no|
know what to do. Washington and MS
men got behind stumps and trees ana
returned the fire, in Indian style: But
Braddock would not take ms adVlce
and kept his men in line until ne fell
| mortally wounded. Washington tried to
rally the men, but they fled back to the
settlement.
This war was closed in 1853. Wash
4p
Vernon and was married to Mrs. Mar
tina Curtis, a widow, and lived quietly
for some time.
But later when the English parlia-
ment tried to collect tax from the
American people they rebelled. Ihes
declared that as long as they elected nc
mmber to the parliament that 1t was
taxation without representation. Iney
agreed to wear nothing made or Eng
lish goods, nor to drink their tea. rms
was what caused Boston to become a
great teapot, for they empt1ed cargo
of English tea into Boston harbor.
There was a meeting called In l7l4
and each colony sent a man. Washing
ton was member Of this meeting
which they called congress- They
sent letters to the king Of England de-
manding that they be granted the same
| liberties as his subjects in England
!, But the king would not grant them. and
| this led to the revolutionary war which
| was declared on April 10, 1915.
washington was again chosen t;
command the army. They endured
great hardships during the war. The1r
winter in Valley Forge was very Sc
| we're but Washington prayed to God &c
protect and lead them to the victory.
This war last for several years ano
after its close a new constitution was
adopted and Washington was elected
president
He took the oath of office on April
30 1889. He was elected the second time
/ but refused to be elected for a thirc