Evening star., 1932-03-06


but was one of the first settlers in Washington,
having been here frcm the laying of its foun-
dation stone At the time of his DEATH and
for many years previous, he superintend-
ent of the masons employed on the Capitol
an alderman of the city and director Of the
Bank of Washington In every relation he
ever held to society, and particularly in his
religious connection tas the founder Of Rev.
Mr.. Posts church,, he was esteemed and re-
spected The whole city mourns his sudden
death
THE writer is not familiar with the descend
ants of George Blagden, except that one of
his children was Thomas Blagden, perhaps
still known to many, and who for many years
conducted extensive lumber business here
a business we find him engaged in early
1843, at the south side of what was then Georgia
avenue between Third and Fourth streets
southeast Third His residence at that
time was on the east side of New Jersey avenue
between and K streets southeast. A Miss
Blagden, probably a sister of ThomaS lived
ON the south side of Indiana avenue between
Third and Four -and-a-half streets, no doubt
IN one of the residences known Blagden
Row, and built by Thomas Blagden. These
houses recently have been removed in the
clearing Of the site fer the Municipal Center
Thomas Blagden. 2nd. lives in this city, as do
other descendants. The New York BlagdenS
are related.
In an article in the Records of the Columbia
Historical Society, Douglass zeyely sheds some
light on these houses well the members
Of the Blagden family. He says:
Next to this house Is row Of five houses,
built in 1852 by the late Thomas Blagden.
william Baldwin, one of Almon Baldwin's sons,
was the architect Of these houses, and they
ky,Cu uhor oiy a1jx I,,,i1f
Row. I think this name for them is still ne
tanned. Robert Toombs of Georgia, at that
time United States Senator, occupied one of
these houses; also Chief Justice Taney, and
the Minister from Peru to this country. In
comparatively recent years Senator ChriStiancy
of Michigan was an occupant of one of the
houses.
Thomas Blagden was the son of George
Blagden, who came from England and settled
in this city in 1793 where the son was born
In October. 1803 and he continued to have
his home here until his death, February g.
1870 Mr.. Blagdens second wife is still living,
also his two sons and daughter The
widow and one of the have home near
the city known as Argyle, and portion of
the original estate in that section has been
improved IN recent years by the construction
of suburban homes. brother of Mr.. Blag-
den's-Rev. George w. Blagden-settled in
Boston early in the last century and was at
one Ilne pastor OF the Ola SOuln CnuICn.
G INCE the residence of Thomas Blagden is
- not given in the city directory for 1885, it
may be assumed that he moved to Argyle. on
Piney Branch road prior to this date. as the
directory generally failed to make mention of
people living in the County of Washington.
Boschke's map of 1857-1860 gives him living
there, and he died there, as we find by The
Star of February 3, 1870, which prints the
following
Death of an Old Citzen:-Thomas Biagden
one of our oldest and most respected citizens,
died at Argyle, in this District, this morning
in the 65th year of his age Deceased had
been during his whole life one of the most
prominent business men of this city, commenc-
ing, as he did early, in the lumber business,
on what has ever since been known as Blag
dens Wharf, at the foot of Third street east
and among other results of his prosperity is
the row of magnificent residences bearing his
name, Indiana Avenue between Third and
Four-and-a-half streets. The father of the
deceased was killed by the falling OF bank
at the southwest corner of the Capitol during
the erection of that building, on the Sd Of
June, 1926"
A diy,y he fInp n Mr.