Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

SeAS0A6NSN
quirements of the work, yet later on, when the
contract plan was given UP, we find him again
doing the public printing as a subcontractor,
and subsequently he was doing practically all
Of the Government printing, which led him. in
1856, to erect the largest printing Office in the
city, at H and North Capitol streets, and still
referred to by limited number of old-timerS
as Wendell's Printing Office.
On June %, 1861 the President approved
Joint resolution passed by Congress, which pro-
vided for superintendent of public printing,
who was authorized and directed to have ex-
ecuted the printing and binding authorized by
the Senate and House of Representatives, the
executive and judicial departments, and the
Court Of Claims" This act also provided for
the erection or purchase of the necessary build
tngs machinery and materials for that purpose.
1T was under this congressional provision that
President Lincoln, on March %, 1861, APP
pointed John D. DefreeS the first public printer,
or. as his title was then, superintendent of
public printing" to which Office he came eSpe-
cially well equipped for the performance of the
duties
Born in Sparta White County, Tenn. on No
Vember g. 1911 Mr.. DefreeS was apprenticed by
: his father, at very early age, to printer in
Ohio, in connection with which he took up the
study of law. Having moved to Indiana he
was admitted to the bar there by the Supreme
Court of that Gtate. However it does not ap-
pear that young Defrees practiced law to any
extent, preferring rather to engage in news
paper work and devote his spare moments to
his duties as a legislator, having been sent to
the State Legislature and continued in Office
for several terms.
Resigning his seat in the State Senate in
1874, he bought the Indiana State Journal,
weekly paper, published at Indianapolis He
lived at the capital of the State and made his
paper daily, which he continued to edit and
publish for number of years.
When the Republican party was organized he
left the Wing party, then on the decline,
eSpouSed the cause Of the new party, and in
1856 became the first Republican State chair
man, which position he occupied until 1860.
Mr.. Defrees was born politician and his
intimate friends included such outstanding per-
sons as Henry Clay, John ]. Crittenden, Daniel
Webster and Thomas Corwin. Lincoln highly
regarded him, as is evidenced by his appoint-
ment to what was then, and is even today, con-
Eidered almost a cabinet post which he flied
with such marked ability that after surrender
ing the office for brief while to Mr. Wendell,
ne was later returned by President Johnson as
congressional printer" the title having been
changed In the meantime. When Gen. Grant
became President, in 1862 he appointed Almon
M Clapp, the title Of the Office being again
changed to that of public printer" and he
continued Mr.. Clapp as such during his two
administrations, 1869 to 1877.
President Rutherford B. Hayes upon taking
Office; again appointed Mr. Defrees, and after
his term of office expired in 1881, he continued
70 serve under President Garfield and for a
while also under President Arthur having
served as public printer or its equivalent, under
six Presidents-the entire time being about IL
years, or about one year short of the record
made by Frank w. Palmer
Mr.. Defrees died at Berkeley Springs, w. Va.
October 19, 1882, and was mourned by a host
OF friends, who esteemed him for his many
benefactions and his regard for his fellow man.
Following Mr.. Defrees came Sterling p
Rounds, who served from 1882 to 1886; then
Thomas E. Benedict, 1886-1889; Frank w.
Palmer, 1S89-1S94; then Mr. Benedict again,
1894-1897, and Mr.. Palmer again for a second
term, 1897-1905; to be followed in order by
Charles A. Stillings 1905-1908; John S. Leech,
1907; Samuel B. Donnely, 1908-19I3; Cornelius
Ford, 1913-1921, and the present public printer,
George H. Carter, who has served continuously
since 1921.
nearly every instance except in the case of
the present incumbent this Office has been
hlled by the President to pay some political
debt. But with Mr.. Carter technical fitness
Tor the duties was an important factor in his
selection by President Harding, as he had &C
quired a thorough knowledge Of the needs of
Government printing, particularly through his
service as clerk to the congressional Joint COM
mittee on printing