Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-10-06


be sold within "a hours to brewer,
who intended to turn this historic
place into q rOadhouse. The American
had been fascinated, even as boy In
Michigan, with the old woodcut repre-
sentation in Prescott's "Hlstory of the
United States" showing the house in
which General Washington, Sir Guy
Carleton, then commander in chief of
the British army, and Governor sClin-
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-
gulshed gentlemen ever met. The pa
pers there signed obligated the British
TO give up all claim upon the allegi-
ance and control of the country, gave
freedom to a nation, and initiated a
remarkable test of republican instltu-
lions. BY some the house has been
called "the birthplace of the United
States" The young American, Mess
more Kendall, of this city, when he
heard that the historic place might
be 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
until he has spent $4,000 to restore
it, 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, 1871,
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, a British sloop of
war fired II guns in honor of the
American commander In chief, the
first 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 lawyer, spent
last winter in France, and became sur
charged with its patriotism. His stock
is American from early days. At the
first call for volunteers in the Revolu-
tionary war, 1863 Kendalls responded
and did their bit. MessmOre Kendalls
neutrality-suspicious., DR.. Joseph
GOodhue by name, was at one time
surgeon general of the Revolutionary
army. His grandfather Col. /. Il.
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 member of con-
gress for several years, and received
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 Bellamy
Storer, former minister to Austria
Hungary. AS attorney for Jennie M.
Legs, Mr.. Kendall recovered verdict
against the New York Central railroad
for 100000, said to be the largest ver-
dict on record in personal injury ac-
ton. He organized the Braden Cop
per company, which is now part of the
Kennecutt Copper company, one of the
largest corporations of It's kind.
Beats the Brewer to II.
He had, in a word, the patriotism
and the means, and everything con-
spired to arouse within him 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
quaint, rambling house fronting the
old post road, over which the stage
coaches used to pass, he noticed that
IL 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 a 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. Mr.. Taylor In
formed him that 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
roadhouse. Mr.. Kendall did not sleep
until he got 1t. Now he is going to
put the house into the hands of artists
and architects, who will make IL look
as II did in the days when cannon balls
from the enemy's gunboats lodged In
the cherry trees. "a few of these
cannon balls are still to be seen around