Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01

Few men could deserve more credit for the
success Of the American Revolution than Baron
Won Steubsn. Well equipped for service under
Gen. Washington-he came to assist the colo
MES with the highest military honors his coun-
try could bestow upon him. He fought with
distinction in the Seven Years War, at its end
becoming grand marshal Of the Prince OF
Hohenzollern- Heichingen. in which position he
remained until about 1774.
Early in 1777 he came to America and of
fered his services as a volunteer to Congress.
which were accepted and he joined the Army
at Valley Forge, later becoming instructor gen.
eral Of the Continental Army, an assignment he
was exceptionally well fitted for. We told:
"At Monmouth he rendered valuable service,
and in 1850 he was sent with a separate COM
mand to cooperate with Gen. Greene in Vtr-
ginia, where he opposed the marauding expedi-
ton of Benedict Arnold, and finally took an
active part in the siege of Yorktown. In 1870
he prepared a manual for the Army which
came into general use. After the he re-
ceived grants of land from several States, and
finally Congress voted him tardy pension OF
81. 400. For several years he lived in New York
City and then removed to the tract Of land
(Steuben Township granted to him by New
York, where he lived in a log cabin (near the
site of the present Utica) until his death,
November %, 1884"
The reader is no doubt familiar with the
statue of Won Steuben in Lafayette Square,
erected by the United States Government.
A T 3543 Warder place the writer also found
a few relics of the Schuetzen Park but
not near so valuable the Won Steuben
statue. He also found that this house once be-
longed to Asa Whitney, who died in Washing
ton in 1872, and after whom Whitney avenue
was named, this thoroughfare now being known
as Park road.
Just when Asa whitney first came here is
not certain; in fact but little seems to be known
of him, though it Is evident he was here at the
time of Early's raid on Washington in 1864
The city directory for 1870 gives him as resid-
ing at 9TH West, mr.. 1st tollgate" and the
1873 directory speaks of the road named after
him as whitney ave-, private road running to
Queen Chapel road from Capt. Asa Whitneys
residence bet. B. & o. r. r. and Brentwood
road" rather indefinite description
An obituary notice of Mr.. Whitney printed at
the time of his death briefly states: ASA
Whitney an enterprising and energetic mer-
chant, for many years resident in New York,
whose attention was early called to the neces-
Sity and feasibility of Pacific railroad and
who by public addresses and earnest appeals
and petitions to Congress succeeded in pro-
curing the appropriations for the first explora-
tions and surveys, which made its necessity
apparent, died in Washington, D. c., aged rs
years."
The city directory for 1878 also gives the
name of "Catharine whitney, wild. Asa Whit
ney, Whitney Ave. mr.. 7th st. rd.," which indi-
Gates that his widow lived there for at least
awhile after her husbands DEATH Mrs. Whit
ney had two sisters living with her but whether
sne mad any descendants is not known though
Lieut.. Col. Clement H. Wright, u. S. A., Is
known to be a great-nephew of Catharine
Whitney.
The Whitney residence was bought many
years ago by Mrs. Reinmuth mother of Miss
Kate Reinmuth, who married John A. Moore
son OF George f. Moore, a Scotchman, who lived
south or the Soldiers Home grounds on the
property known as Moores Lane Mrs, Wal
lace F. Randolph daughter Of John A. Moore
and her family reside in the old homestead
and few days ago showed the writer through
the property, the basement Of which Is pecu-
hariy interesting, since the joistS are made Of
half-round logs and other parts are of rough
hewn dmbers, the walls being Of rough stone
At one time this was large-acreage property
and known as Locust Hill. but the subdivision
Is now known Park View.
NOT far to the east Of the whitney home in
the Soldiers Home srounds-about where
the Scott Statue Stands-was the girlhood home
OF the parents of Miss Mary Virginia Scrivener
who when grown, became Mrs. Cook and the
mother Of our genial Col. C. Fred Cook. Mrs.
Cook sim has fond recollections of the days
when she scampered over the steep slopes Of
the grounds near her home eVading rs best
she could the threatened slipper for some
childish prank
An old house in this neighborhood stands
just on OF Georgia avenue on the south side
OF Newton street. 1t was standing In 1856
when purchased by Stewart James GaSs Mr.
Cas- daughter, Bessie Amelia, married f. W.
Macintosh, and their daughter Mrs Grace
Watrous, the writer understands is the pres
ent owner Of the property. Another daughter il
Mrs. =. Raymond Horton, who kindly loaned
the picture Of the house which accompanies
this article.
One can get an idea Of the extensiveness OF
the grounds around this old home when he in
told that the winding road that led up to the
old house started at the northeast corner Of