Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11
nery Last Mayor of Washington Was Conspicuous Leader

Emery Place is a landmark Of the
Civil War period. It was occupied by
Mr.. Emery and his family at the begin
ming of the war, but finding 1t to be OF
strategic military value-being one Of
the highest points around Washington
he early gave it over to the Army, which
used 1t as a signal station, and many
we're the messages transmitted between
it and the dome of the Capitol. De-
presSions, still visible near the house.
and raised plateauS of earth indicate
the presence of soldiers and tents In
the grounds. During the lifetime of
William v. Cox. son-in-law of Mayor
Emery. collection was made of Civil
War relics found on the extensive
grounds of Emery Place. The old man.
sion still belong to the family and Is
occupied by Mrs. Cox formerly Julia
Hazeltine Emery and her son, Capt.
Theodore S. Cox, an overseas World
War veteran. Mrs. Cox also has two
other children, Emery and Hazel, the
latter now Mrs Charles O. Parks.
The Emery house at 205-7 street
is che of three houses known to the
old-timer as Minnesota or Douglas row.
When the Civil War broke out they
we're still under construction, and in
January, 1852, they were taken over by
the Government for hospital purposes
and, together with a number of tenn
porary frame buildings erected on the
remainder Of the square. became known
as Douglas Hospital and remained such
until December IL, 1865. Originally the
three houses were intended for Stephen
A. Douglas, Henry M. Rice, first United
States Senator from Minnesota, and
John C. Breckenridge, Vice President of
the United States from 1857 to 1861.
After the war they were completed,
and the Breckenridge house, or the one
farthest from Second street, occupied
for a short while by relative of Gen.
Grant, but was shortly afterward
bought and presented to that distin-
guiShed soldier by his friends. and here
he lived for about two weeks after he
was inaugurated President and until
he went to the White House The
house was then purchased by friends
and presented to Gen. William T. Sher-
man. who made 1t his home until he
moved from Washington to st. Louis in
1875. 1t then passed into the posses
sion of Mr.. Emery, who died here Octo-
Der IL, 1901. 1t is now 0$cupied by
Mr.. and Mrs. William A. Hannay, SON.
in-law and daughter Of Washington
last mayor.
THE first executive to serve under
the territorial form of government,
which went into effect on June 1, 1871.
was Gov. Henry D. Cooke of George
town, who was born in Sandusky, Ohio.
November %, 1925, and died in George
town, D. c., February "a. 1881. He re-
signed September Is. 1873. and Presi-
dent Grant Immediately appointed to
the Office Alexander r. Shepherd, who
served until June 20 of the following
year. when the present commission
form of government went into effect,
first as a temporary measure and four
years later as a permanent law.
Alexander r. Shepherd was a native
Washingtonian and was born In South
west WaShington--over on the Island,
as we used to Say-on January 81, 1885.
His career was typical of success. AT
the age Of 10 he was apprenticed to
carpenter and at II began to learn the
plumbers trade. Later he became
partner In the firm of John w. Thomp-
son e. Co., plumbers and gagfitters, and
finally succeeded to the business in his
own name. From 1851. when he be-
came member Of the city's Common
lContinued on Sixth Paee.l