Evening star., 1935-10-06

controversy arose as to whom credit
should be given for its development.
However, no one has ever questioned
the fact that Mr. Bancroft brought the
original plant to this country and that
it was first grown ii his H street gar
den.
On next Wednesday afternoon. Oc-
tober 9. at o'clock, the Committee on
Permanently Marking Points of His
toric Interest in the District will un-
veil with appropriate ceremonies a
bronze marker on the site of the H
street residence of George Bancroft
where he lived for 16 years and where
he did some of his best work. The tab
let, which is of special design adopted
by the Historic Sites Committee, bears
the seal of the United States in the
upper left-hand corner and reads:
GEORGE BANCROFT
l800-l891
HISTORIAN
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
1S45-1846
RESIDED ON THIS SITE
To him Is given credit for the estab-
nshment Of the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis.
Here, in the garden then attached to
his home, he originated the American
Beauty rose.
Erected by the Permanent Committee
on Marking Historic Sites
The exercises will be under the di-
rection of the Navy Department and
the arrangements have been made by
Brig. Gen. George Richards, U. S. Ma
rine Corps, and special committee
selected by him.
Bancroft was married twice. His
first wife's maiden name was Sarah H.
Dwight. She died June 26, 1887, leav-
ing three children. Louisa Dwight
(died at the age of I'D, John Chandler
and George. Prof. Wilder D. Bancroft
Of the department of chemistry, Cor
nell University, son of John Chandler
Bancroft and grandson Of the noted
historian, will take part in the exer-
cises.
George Bancroft's second wife was
the widow, Elizabeth Davis Bliss.
They had one daughter, Susan Jack
son, who died in early childhood.
There has been great change III
this neighborhood since George Ban
croft, with his flowing white beard and
white horse, was conspicuous figure
hereabout, when he set out and re-
turned on his long rides around Wash
ington. Sometimes these extended
into the country as far as Great Falls
and always the return was made the
same day, even when Bancroft was
well up in his 80s.
OF his neighbors, who probably saw
him frequently, Senator Bayard re-
sided in the house until recently at
the northwest corner Of Connecticut
avenue and H street, known as the
Shubrick house, where lived Admiral
William B. Shubrick, who served
with distinction in the War of 1925
and in the Mexican War, when he
commanded the Pacific Squadron. In
1859 he was sent in command OF a
squadron to Paraguay after United
States steamer had been fred upon.
For this affront he obtained an apol-
ogy and a promise of indemnity.
TT WAS here that Admiral Shubrick
= died in May, 1874, and from him
it descended to Mrs. Bayard, whose
husband. Thomas F. Bayard, served
as Senator from Delaware, Secretary
of State under President Cleveland.
Ambassador to Great Britain, and who
held other high offices.
Mr.. Bancroft's nearest neighbor,
who resided in the house still standing
on the east side of the alley at 1923
H street, was his nephew, j. c. Ban
croft Davis, son of the historians
sister Eliza During the life of Mr..
Bancroft, the northeast corner of H
and Seventeenth streets was for years
occupied by the Richmond, we'll
known hotel and boarding house.
Across the street, on the south side
of H between jackson place and
Seventeenth street. there lived in the
eighties, at No. 1916, william F. Mat
tngly, lawyer; at 1918. M. w.
Beveridge, once of the firm of Webb
& Beveridge, whose china and glass
ware store was at 1909 Pennsylvania
avenue. Next, going west, resided
Thomas J. Hobbs. disbursing clerk.
4 Z