Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-23
II. Cn>sic Moncure Lyme.

In these days OF patriotic awaken
ling, when sentiment that has lain
: dormant in the breast OF many Is
stirred through world activities
when the spirit of prc-war days Is
hovering about. and when the very
atmosphere teens with recollection.
OF the early days of American civili-
zation. II is delightful TO read that
the recent efforts of the Society OF
tho Descendants of the Signers OF
the Declaration of Independence to
obtain copies of the Wills of the
sieners has revealed some interest
ing data. Especially as to the Viz
ginians who contributed SO material
ly to the drafting and formulating
81 Ihis wonderful title deed TO lit-
erty"
Though the Wills of Thomas JET
terson, Francis Lightfoot Lee. Rich
ard.Renry Lee and Benjamin Harri-
sonhare still In the hands OF their
descendants. the records of Thomas
Nelson were destroyed by Are In
1866. and those of Carter Braxton
sharcd like fate during the raw
AGES of the War Between the states
One. OF Carter Braxton's descendants
Was the late Caperton Braxton, OF
stanton. Many of the Tabb family
are, also connected. and among his
descendants IN Richmond Is Mrs.
.L-...- Two Died Interstate.
According TO report made to
JOHN Calvert, secretary and regis
tfhf of the society, there Is no copy
of.uGeorge Wythes will as yet OBJ
tsanable. Nine of the ffty-six sign
arst1 including William Paca. Of
Maryland. and John Hancock. OF
Massachusetts. died intcstate.
Wit is interesting to note that the
IGperty Bell. at Philadelphia. was
CRACKED when pealing the funeral
kneH of Chief Justice John Marshall
pfrEinia's greatest jurist.
The man to whom the spirit of tho
Declaration was largest due was
Richard Henry Lee. Lee was an
orator of the highest rank, and was
tndefatleable in his patriotism. That
the duty OF drafting the docume I
fell upon Thomas Jefferson was due
TO the Illness OF Mrs. Lee, to whose
bedside her husband was called, thus
giving Jefferson the privilege and op-
partunity OF acting as secretary on
this great OCCASION
BUT 1t Ia not as the writer of tho
Declaration that Jcffersons greatest
beneAt to America Is fixed. His fore
sight in securing the Louisiana Pur-
chase stands paramount The ad-
dillon of this vast area, extending
Americas boundaries 10 tho Pacific,
through the explorations of Lewis
and Clark, augmented by the victory
OF Vincennes. through tho sword OF
General George Rogers Clark. which
already had added the great North
west territory, gave to the United
states complete control of the Mis-
sissippi, and frontier bounded by
oceans.
Died In Ignorance.
Yet. geography in that day was
r. hazy proposition. and Jefferson
died in Ignorance OF the wonderful
benefits of this acquisition. which
would Justly have added a post
script to his epitaph. and rightly
have entitled him 10 monument
taller than the greatest Oregon
evergreen and larger than the big
gest giant in the Mariposa.
Among the descendants Of Jeffer-
son, who are prominent in civic
and State affairs, are Colonel George
Wayne Anderson. of Richmond. and
Mrs. Virginia Randolph shack eltord.
ii Orange. one of the national vice.
presidents Of the Daughters Of the
American Revolution.
The Harrisons OF Virginia have
ever played noble part In history.
Fame, paradoxicaily, worked back :
wards TO the illustrious signer. who
was erstwhIle Governor of Virginia
His son and great gra ndson were
President of the United states. while
Garter Harrison and Burton Harri-
son sill carry on" the ideals OF
their distinguished ipr"beurs. as H.
Illustrated in their efforts 10 elevate
tho municipal life OF Chicago and in
the Philippines.