Milford chronicle., 1934-03-02

the ROtaridnS celebrated Washing.
toms birthday in way very apprO,
pirate to the occasion. One of tho
members, William G. Smith, gave an
address on the life of the great
patriot entitled, "The Soldier, The
Statesman" The address is reprint
cd in connection with this article.
George Washington was born 2O2
years ago in Westmoreland County
Virginia. He died December A.
1899, after one days illness. the re-
suit of exposure on cold wet win
ter's day. He was the son of John
and Mary Washington. planters His
mother was the second wife of his
father and by this marriage there
were five sons and two daughters.
His grandfather and grandmother
came to this country from England
in 1867. so that it can be said that
George Washington came from Eng
lish stock. They were considered
fine people and were fairly weIl-to-
do.
Washington undoubtedly had Il
wonderful mother. She was strict.
fair. and painstaking in her efforts
TO bring up a family that would be
credit to their good name Little is
written about any of his brothers or
sisters. but Washington himself was
unquestionably IA bright yOungster.
Ripley, over the radio. the other
night made the statement that Wash
inGtOn's name was originally spelled
washington and that he changed
IT, If that is fact it was not men,
toned in any of the books have
read about him.
AT Is years of age Washington was
able to and did keep books correct
ly. At that age he kept the records
of his fathers business.
At 1G years of age he was sur |
veyOr and could and did use the in
strumcnts used at that time by men
At II years of age he left home,
and in the capacity of surveyor
and wOOdsman lie spent the next 3
twenty-five years of his life in the
woods and in the open country sur
vcyiug and laying out boundaries and
timber lines. lie had all the stamina
and back-b that comes to man /
who leads that sort of life lie was
in truth pioneer. |
In 1854. while he was about -
years of age. he was sent by the
British Government TO represent
them in a series of conferences with
the Indians located at that time in
what was considered the inner coun-
try. Ills visit and conferences pri-
marily were for the purpose of Sc .
curing the report of the Indians in
the trouble that the British Govern
mcnt at that time was having with ,
the French. In the same year. 1851.
he asked for the appointment of 1t.
Colonel in the Colonial Army and to
the surprise of many he was appoint
cd
ON January II. 1859. he married +,
Martha cambridge. the wealthy wild
Ow of Daniel parkc Custis, aud soon
afterwards moved to Mount Vernon.
lie was childlcss. but most happy
in his domestic relations. aud adopt
cd two grandchildren of his wife.
In 1918 he was placed in command
Of the Colonial Army.
In l777 the Articles of the Con
federation were signed in Philadcl-
phia. lie then became the Command
erin chief Of the combined forces of
the United States aud the French sol
dicrs who were here AT the time We
arc all familiar with the trials
the suffering hunger. and privation
he as well as his troops were sub
iected to.
III 1881 CORVALLIS surrendered to
Washington in Yorktown. Virginia. "
Washington was the hero of the
hour.
In May 1897. lifiy-live delegates j.,
from the various states met in Phila-
lelphia to discuss the drawing up
IF a Constitution to take The place
If the Articles of Confederation. -.
representing the State =
If virginia. acted as President of the
II will be interesting
It this time to note that the United :,
states at that time consisted of just :,
birteen states which were: New :,
HAMPSHIRE. Massachusetts. Virginia, -
New York, Rhode Is :
and. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Del ~
ware, Maryland. North Carolina, T..
iouth Carolina. and Georgia. This l.,
difference lasted until September
Z, 1887. >,
II would be useless to attempt to :,
escribe the differences of opinion
Dund in the many meetings that
rere held during this conference. :"
ut the Constitution was finally
greed upon and referred to the sew u
raj states on September 28, 1887 III
,r ratification, it being agreed that ul
h.. anFUa tnfn